After acting in Chinese and Hollywood films, actor Michelle Yeoh has now set her sights on Bollywood.
The Malaysian-Chinese star, who shot to international fame with her roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and as a Bond girl in Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), is now looking forward to producing a mainstream film in India. This development follows Yeoh's recent release, Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey, for which she is an executive producer.
"We are thinking of a movie that is based in Ladakh, Nepal and India. We're in the process of writing the script. It will be a mainstream commercial film," says Yeoh. So will we see her shake a leg, Bollywood-style, in the movie? "I think I have to brush up my singing and dancing and hopefully you will see me in Bollywood soon," she says.
The actor goes on to profess her love for Hindi cinema saying, "I love Bollywood. This is the place where tradition, colour and emotions are shown. You share your culture with love and passion. For me, cinema is magic and that is what you do." With such a stellar acting career, Yeoh will not be short of offers from Bollywood film-makers, but when asked if there's a queue of directors already forming outside her door, she says, "I will have to start talking to some Bollywood directors."
Yeoh's latest film has a message on environmentalism. The actor was recently in Goa as the chief guest of the closing ceremony for the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2013, where her film was also screened.
Yeoh's latest film has a message on environmentalism. The actor was recently in Goa as the chief guest of the closing ceremony for the 44th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2013, where her film was also screened.
The movie, narrated by Hollywood actor Daryl Hannah, features an Eco-Pad Yatra (spiritual journey on foot) that His Holiness Gyalwang Drukpa undertook with his followers. The group trekked across the Himalayas to spread awareness about the increase in plastic waste in the region.
"His Holiness is really humble to do this film. He has done it out of love and passion, not only for human beings, but nature as well. He wants to make the world a better place for us. Through documentaries we can share messages with the rest of the world. When you watch something like this, you suddenly realise that it doesn't take too much for us to take that first step," says Yeoh.
(The writer travelled to Goa as a guest of IFFI)