Being an extra in Bollywood

Mumbai ( Bombay ) is famed for its film industry (Bollywood) which rivals Hollywood for the number of films it produces. So I managed to land myself a part as an extra in a prime time TV series. I also did a voiceover for a mainstream film. Both were hilarious. In the TV series I was a patient in a lunatic asylum (what westerners were doing in an asylum I still don't understand). I saw the episode that I was in and well, fortunately there aren't any copies of it in Scotland so I won't have to endure too much pain when I get home.

The dubbing for the film was so crazy. Having being to voiceover recordings for ads I knew what to expect..or rather not. Even the fundamentals were missing - there was no script for me to read from. I just had to try to lip sync a few lines that they verbally told me. With dialogue such as

Me: History is ok but geography is better.

Man: Geography?

Me: Yeh I arrange the geography of your face. (Then I slap him?)

And please don't think that this doesn't make sense just because it may be out of context - this was just about the whole conversation! I also had to dub a beach volleyball scene - lots of grunts & panting.absolutely hysterical. There were a few lines in Hindi which was mad. Absolute tongue twisters of words that i couldn't pronounce, let alone say at the correct speed! But my favourite was the world's longest kiss on the cheek which must've lasted for about 60 seconds, which is an incredibly long time to make the 'kiss on cheek' sound (try it yourself!). 

And for each of these I got 500rs (about £6) for a day's work; needless to say that you do it for the experience and not the dosh. And I bet you all thought that I was just bumming around India & not working. Tsk.

Aside from the Bollywood experiences, Mumbai was alright. It's a tough place because there are areas that are so unbelievably rich and cosmopolitan. But at the bottom of the skyscrapers and phenomenal architecture left over from the raj, there are huge groups of people sleeping on the streets. The poverty really hits you when you see it contrasted against this backdrop of riches.

We went to some famous caves after Mumbai ( Ajanta and Ellora). They were really interesting to wander around and explore. Some of them are from BC times and yet the carvings of deities are so detailed.

BY: Jenny