Aged 17, Suraj Sharma was plucked from obscurity to play the central character in Ang Lee's Life of Pi, Piscine Molitor ″Pi″ Patel, an Indian boy from Pondicherry, who is stranded at sea for 227 days on a boat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. The film went on to win four Oscars and Sharma was instantly propelled to global fame.

While he had no real plans to become an actor prior to bagging the life-changing role, Sharma was clearly bitten by the bug and subsequently went on to win roles in Million Dollar Arm and Homeland. Still only 22 he has enrolled on a filmmaking course at NYU and he is now intent on making movies his career, either in front or behind the camera.



Sharma was in the UK to open the 6th London Indian Film Festival with the screening of his most recent film Umrika. In the movie, the 22-year-old plays Ramakant, a young boy who embarks on a journey to locate his brother who has left his family village to build a new life in America. Directed and written by Prashant Nair, the movie premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award.

In an interview with Digital Spy , Suraj Sharma discusses his role in Umrika, as he contemplates his future career, his ever changing accent and his life after Pi.

How does it feel to be the opening night guest at The London Indian Film Festival?

"It's super exciting because it's a different kind of film compared with what I've done so far. It's smaller but it's got a lot of meat to it, so it's going to be interesting to see how it plays out. Also the festival is awesome because it's really integral. The India film industry really needs pushing in the independent sector. If you can watch independent cinema in UK or India do so, because that's the only way to change the game for us. So I'm stoked to be here at LIFF. It's really special. A lot of weird things have happened in my life. And this is one of the better weird things."

Your film Umrika is the opening film at LIFF. What are the central themes behind Umrika?

"To me, the story is many things. Umrika is about culture and how people see things from the outside versus living on the inside and the difference between the two. And how things can turn into a spectacle more so than they are in real life, just because of hearsay. But for my character it's more about trying to achieve his mother's love and appreciation really, and also to look for his elder brother, who he looks up to, but at the same time, he's also in that person's shadow. And so, in trying to do so he ends up becoming the image of what his older brother was."

These are the days you live for. A perfect blend of talent & versatility in one pic. Pic Creds: krushil

@LoveLIFF pic.twitter.com/6JTxKi4Gjf — Prerna Shekhar (@ShekharPrerna) July 17, 2015

How was the experience of working in Umrika as compared to the grand canvas of Life of Pi?

"It was awesome. It was hard. Long days, crazy situations. But it was awesome. Winning the audience award at Sundance. That was crazy. That was insane. I don't think anyone expected that but it happened and I'm so happy about that because it's a small film and it's a heavy film, so you never know how people are going to react to that. It's also edited in a strange way and it's not Bollywood per se, so there are a whole bunch of things that you don't know how they are going to play out. I'm happy with the way it worked out."

Can you describe the impact Ang Lee had on you personally as well as professionally during the shooting of the film?

"He's a master. He's a great director, but everybody knows that. He's also a great human being. He is an immensely humble, amazing, genius guy. He's got this Zen to him. He's just an amazing person. I think what I learned the most was the importance of keeping grounded. He cooks for people. And he'll never talk about his films when he doesn't have to. He's calm, gentle, listens to other people. On set everything's going haywire and crazy and every day you need a miracle for it to work, but he never raises his voice. Always calm. He's always calm. It's amazing. I didn't know people like that. Also, most of the crew. I didn't know people like that. So it was amazing."

You were plucked from obscurity to work with such an acclaimed director in a movie that went on to win worldwide acclaim and Oscar glory. Can you recall a pinch-me moment during that journey?

"There were lots. One time I was at the Oscars. I didn't have my glasses so I'm completely blind. I was awkwardly standing there with Ang. I look to my right and Robert De Niro is there and he looks at me and he kind of smiled and nods. And I didn't know what to do so I started whistling and walking back and forth. That was one of my pinch me moments for sure. That was funny."

Can you describe your life after Pi?

"It was insane. It was different. Life changed. I got a direction for my life. I didn't know what I was going to do before the movie happened. So I got a direction. My life changed. How I walked into situations kind of changed. It gave me a lot of opportunities that I wouldn't have had otherwise."

So your first film goes on to win four Oscars. You get nominated for a Bafta Most Promising Newcomer award. When you start out at such a high, how do you approach your career and what does that early success do for you?

"It's all down hill from there. No. I'm joking. Having that behind me, it does give me a lot of help that I need. Honestly, I wouldn't know what to do. So with that success having people approach me for a script is really helpful. And I'm really grateful for it. I try not to think about that, and what's done and just get on with my work."

David Bloomer



So what is next?

"There was Million Dollar Arm. That was cool. Homeland . That was great. I'm still at college right now. I'm studying at NYU so scheduling-wise it gets hard, but there might be another independent film happening. I'm not quite sure. But if it does, we shoot in August and it'll come out next year. I'm studying writing, directing, producing and cinematography, so maybe something will work out."

In view of your Indian origins is a Bollywood film a possibility?

"All I care about is if the people are good, the story is good, the character's are good, wholesome and kind of fulfilling. That's what matters. It doesn't matter if it's Bollywood, or Hollywood or Tollywood."

While Life if Pi changed your life, it also appears to have changed your accent. What's with the American twang?

"I know right? It's changing. It's just happening. Because I go places and then it changes and it just catches. And then it's hard to let go of it. Unless I'm in India, then it goes back. It's weird. And I keep asking people, does this really happen to everyone? And it does. It's weird. It sucks."

Do you ever have nightmares about Richard Parker?

"Yes. Very often."

The London Indian Film Festival runs until 26 July.