Megan Suri is an American actress of Indian origin who has been acting ever since she was a kid. She made her debut in Valentine’s Day back in 2010. Over the years, she has been seen in notable projects like Never Have I Ever, How To Get Away With Murder, 13 Reasons Why, Modern Family, It Lives Inside, etc.
She now has Drew Hancock’s horror thriller Companion, which also stars Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid and is slated to be released worldwide on January 31. The film is about a group of friends gathered for a weekend getaway at a remote cabin. The evening turns chaotic after it is found that one of them is actually a robot.
Megan Suri had an exclusive and candid Zoom conversation with Bollywood Hungama from the US regarding Companion and her career so far. Excerpts:
What excited you about Companion when you heard it for the first time?
What initially excited me about Companion was the producing team behind it because I am a huge and massive fan of Barbarian that came about two years prior to when I got the script. That was a huge call to the project. It was also the cast. And I think on a personal note it was really exciting to play a character that was an adult – I generally don’t play that – and playing a character like Kat who is so different from the usual characters that I play. She is unapologetic and bitchy (laughs).
How did your casting happen?
This is a great story because I almost was never in the movie. The first time I received an audition for the movie, I taped for it, and I hated my audition. So, I just did not send. I was so embarrassed by it, and I was like, ‘You know what? I am just going to pass on this project altogether because I can’t send this in.’
And two weeks later my team came around and asked if I want to audition for this once more as they haven’t found their Kat yet. At that point, I just figured out that I have nothing else to lose. I taped for it again. This time, I did not watch it back. I sent it in completely blind to my team. I told them if they like it, send it in and if they don’t, then don’t worry about it. They sent it in and then two days later I got a call saying that I got the role, and I had to pack up, so I can go and shoot in New York. The moral of the story is if you can always try at least once more.
Does it get more challenging for actors when they have to shoot scenes of violence and bloodshed?
It might just be because I am as unhinged as this movie is (laughs). No, but I have had some experience in the horror genre. So, I had some of it coming into it. But because this isn’t strictly a horror movie – there are so many different elements of comedy, thriller, suspense, mystery and all the genres in total – it didn’t feel as heavy per se as a complete horror movie may have been.
What is your criteria to choose projects?
I really just want to be a part of projects that excite me. And what’s so good about Companion is that it gives the audience and viewers a visual reaction. I want to hopefully work with really awesome, new, fresh and classic directors. I want to work with a script that has a body. And like Kat, I want to play complex characters that don’t necessarily fit the stereotype, especially the south Asian actresses who get boxed into.
Box office matters a lot in India. How is it over there? Do you guys also think a lot about it?
Yeah, I definitely know that about Bollywood. I think for me personally, maybe, it’s not that big thing. But I think, of course, as an actor when you make a movie, you try not to focus on whether this movie will do well or not. It’s not a part of the artistic process. But I think as a crew if you are working with an amazing production team like Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema and BoulderLight Pictures, you want the movie to do well because it, sort of, reinforces the idea that you did do something that was special. I personally hope that people keep going to the movie theatres because cinema is such an important aspect of humanity. Like this movie that touches on the dangers of technology.
How important has Never Have I Ever been in your filmography so far?
I am here talking to you which may or may not have happened had I not done Never Have I Ever. It’s so funny that our director’s girlfriend actually recommended me to Drew because she was such a fan of Never Have I Ever. So, I will always be grateful for that connect. It’s connected me to so many different parts of the world. It has made south Asian community so represented. I think the impact is beyond what I say. I had been a part of that cultural moment, and it will always be a very special moment for me and my career.
You started acting at a young age. Your first film Valentine’s Day released back in 2010. How did you develop an interest towards acting in such a young age?
You know what’s still funny is that Valentine’s Day was my first movie and that was also distributed and produced by Warner Brothers. And my most recent one that’s coming out is also distributed and produced by the same company, which is a cool full circle moment for me. To answer your question, I got started into acting because of my incredibly supporting and loving dad who always believed in me and my love for entertaining. I think acting has always been escaping my usual and boring life. I like to play characters that I can sort of lose myself in and just pretend like I am living a much cooler, darker, richer and fuller life than I usually am. So, I think, that’s the appeal (laughs).
Do you watch Indian content?
I have a very heavy influence of Bollywood movies growing up. And I usually like to stick to what I have known back. That’s a very nostalgic moment. Bollywood has always been such a huge influence on me and my love and affection for cinema. So, I think I will always have a connection to that.
Coming back to Companion, the film ends while giving a slight hint about a sequel. So, is part two on the cards?
I mean… will have to just wait and see (laughs).
from Featured Movie News | Featured Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama https://ift.tt/6Aq5SlX
0 Comments