Freida Pinto took a break from her jury duties at the Red Sea Film Festival to talk to Variety about her career and her hopes for the future.
The Indian actor shot to world fame for her starring role in Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) and remains committed to the breadth of cinema. “I’ve always looked at cinema globally,” she tells Variety. “After ‘Slumdog,’ I could have easily played all the Indian roles, the girlfriends and sidekicks, or just gone and done something only in India.”
Instead, she sought out challenging roles, often playing non-Indian characters such as Iranian or Arab women, for example a Palestinian girl in “Miral,” a choice that she recognizes is now controversial.
“I know it’s not okay these days, because the world has opened up and there’s so much talent,” Pinto says. “But — and I don’t mean this in a pompous...
The Indian actor shot to world fame for her starring role in Danny Boyle’s “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008) and remains committed to the breadth of cinema. “I’ve always looked at cinema globally,” she tells Variety. “After ‘Slumdog,’ I could have easily played all the Indian roles, the girlfriends and sidekicks, or just gone and done something only in India.”
Instead, she sought out challenging roles, often playing non-Indian characters such as Iranian or Arab women, for example a Palestinian girl in “Miral,” a choice that she recognizes is now controversial.
“I know it’s not okay these days, because the world has opened up and there’s so much talent,” Pinto says. “But — and I don’t mean this in a pompous...
- 12/3/2023
- by John Bleasdale
- Variety Film + TV
Harry Potter franchise alum Jason Isaacs will be joining Vanessa Redgrave and Freida Pinto in The Boy at the Back of the Class, the family feature based on the bestselling children’s book written by Onjali Q. Rauf. Stephen Herek is directing.
The story kicks off when a mysterious new boy called Ahmet enrolls at nine-year-old Alexa’s school and the two become friends. As Alexa learns that he is a refugee, separated from his family, she will do anything she can to help. With the grown-ups out of the way, Alexa and her school friends come up with a daring plan to reunite Ahmet with his family – marking the start of an extraordinary adventure that will take them all the way to Buckingham Palace.
The Boy at the Back of the Class has sold over a half a million copies in the UK.
The story kicks off when a mysterious new boy called Ahmet enrolls at nine-year-old Alexa’s school and the two become friends. As Alexa learns that he is a refugee, separated from his family, she will do anything she can to help. With the grown-ups out of the way, Alexa and her school friends come up with a daring plan to reunite Ahmet with his family – marking the start of an extraordinary adventure that will take them all the way to Buckingham Palace.
The Boy at the Back of the Class has sold over a half a million copies in the UK.
- 5/10/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter, Mrs Harris Goes To Paris, Mass) has joined Oscar winner Vanessa Redgrave (Mission: Impossible, Finding You) and Freida Pinto (Mr. Malcolm’s List, Immortals, Slumdog Millionaire) in the upcoming family feature The Boy at the Back of the Class, based on Onjali Q. Rauf’s acclaimed children’s book. Stephen Herek (101 Dalmatians, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure) directs, with WestEnd Film handling worldwide sales later this month at the March de Film in Cannes (WestEnd also co-reps North America with Gersh)
In The Boy at the Back of the Class, when a mysterious new boy called Ahmet joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school, the two become friends. As Alexa learns that he is a refugee, separated from his family, she will do anything she can to help. With the grown-ups out of the way, Alexa and her school friends come up with a daring plan to reunite...
In The Boy at the Back of the Class, when a mysterious new boy called Ahmet joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school, the two become friends. As Alexa learns that he is a refugee, separated from his family, she will do anything she can to help. With the grown-ups out of the way, Alexa and her school friends come up with a daring plan to reunite...
- 5/10/2023
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Vanessa Redgrave and Freida Pinto have boarded the family feature “The Boy at the Back of the Class,” based on the acclaimed children’s book.
Directed by Stephen Herek (“101 Dalmations”), the film centers on a mysterious new boy called Ahmet who joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school. As Alexa learns that he is a refugee, separated from his family, she will do anything she can to help. With the adults out of the way, Alexa and her school friends come up with a daring plan to reunite Ahmet with his family – the start of an adventure that will take them all the way to Buckingham Palace.
The film is penned by “A Street Cat Named Bob” screenwriter Tim John. Adam Rolston and David Braithwaite at Studio Pictures are producing. Nicola Pearcey of Picnik Entertainment and Paul Grindey are executive producing. Casting director is BAFTA nominee Carolyn McLeod.
“The Boy at the Back of the Class,...
Directed by Stephen Herek (“101 Dalmations”), the film centers on a mysterious new boy called Ahmet who joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school. As Alexa learns that he is a refugee, separated from his family, she will do anything she can to help. With the adults out of the way, Alexa and her school friends come up with a daring plan to reunite Ahmet with his family – the start of an adventure that will take them all the way to Buckingham Palace.
The film is penned by “A Street Cat Named Bob” screenwriter Tim John. Adam Rolston and David Braithwaite at Studio Pictures are producing. Nicola Pearcey of Picnik Entertainment and Paul Grindey are executive producing. Casting director is BAFTA nominee Carolyn McLeod.
“The Boy at the Back of the Class,...
- 2/19/2023
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Screen is rounding up the key projects launched before and during this year’s American Film Market.
Screen International is rounding up the key projects launched before and during this year’s American Film Market.
Refresh the page for latest updates.
From the US
The Pack
Alexander Skarsgard marks his feature directing debut with this psychological thriller starring Florence Pugh. Production begins in March 2023. CAA Media Finance and 30West jointly represent US rights.
International sales: The Veterans
Immaculate
Sydney Sweeney produces (with Fifty-Fifty films) and stars in this psychological horror set in the Italian countryside. Michael Mohen will direct with...
Screen International is rounding up the key projects launched before and during this year’s American Film Market.
Refresh the page for latest updates.
From the US
The Pack
Alexander Skarsgard marks his feature directing debut with this psychological thriller starring Florence Pugh. Production begins in March 2023. CAA Media Finance and 30West jointly represent US rights.
International sales: The Veterans
Immaculate
Sydney Sweeney produces (with Fifty-Fifty films) and stars in this psychological horror set in the Italian countryside. Michael Mohen will direct with...
- 10/31/2022
- by Screen staff
- ScreenDaily
Stephen Herek is to direct, with Laura Haddock starring.
The UK’s WestEnd Films has come on board to launch worldwide sales at AFM on family feature The Boy At The Back Of The Class, based on Onjali Q Rauf’s 2018 children’s book of the same name. Stephen Herek – the US filmmaker behind 101 Dalmatians and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – is to direct.
The screenplay will be penned by A Streetcat Named Bob screenwriter Tim John. Guardians Of The Galaxy actor Laura Haddock is attached to star.
When a mysterious new boy called Ahmet joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school,...
The UK’s WestEnd Films has come on board to launch worldwide sales at AFM on family feature The Boy At The Back Of The Class, based on Onjali Q Rauf’s 2018 children’s book of the same name. Stephen Herek – the US filmmaker behind 101 Dalmatians and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – is to direct.
The screenplay will be penned by A Streetcat Named Bob screenwriter Tim John. Guardians Of The Galaxy actor Laura Haddock is attached to star.
When a mysterious new boy called Ahmet joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school,...
- 10/25/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Stephen Herek is to direct, with Laura Haddock starring.
UK sales outfit WestEnd Films has boarded worldwide sales for family feature The Boy At The Back Of The Class, based on Onjali Q Rauf’s 2018 children’s book of the same name. Stephen Herek – the US filmmaker behind 101 Dalmatians and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – is to direct.
The screenplay will be penned by A Streetcat Named Bob screenwriter Tim John. Guardians Of The Galaxy actor Laura Haddock is attached to star.
When a mysterious new boy called Ahmet joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school, Alexa and her group of classmates befriend him.
UK sales outfit WestEnd Films has boarded worldwide sales for family feature The Boy At The Back Of The Class, based on Onjali Q Rauf’s 2018 children’s book of the same name. Stephen Herek – the US filmmaker behind 101 Dalmatians and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure – is to direct.
The screenplay will be penned by A Streetcat Named Bob screenwriter Tim John. Guardians Of The Galaxy actor Laura Haddock is attached to star.
When a mysterious new boy called Ahmet joins nine-year-old Alexa’s school, Alexa and her group of classmates befriend him.
- 10/25/2022
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.