Dev Patel worked on Hindi, Punjabi for his role in ‘Hotel Mumbai’

British actor of Indian origin Dev Patel said that he had to work on his Hindi and Punjabi while working for the film Hotel Mumbai. Dev Patel has played the role of a turbaned Sikh who works in Hotel under Chef Hemant Oberoi played by Anupam Kher. Patel, in an interview, added that he spent around a month with his coach Raghuveer Joshi working on the accent and pitch.

Read: Hotel Mumbai: Anupam Kher, Dev Patel Film Set To Release In India

Plays a fictional character

The film is based on the 2008 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. But Patel claimed that the character he has played is fictional and there was no reference point for it. He said playing a Sikh character was unchartered territory and he was glad that the film pushed him to try it out. Dev Patel rose to fame with Slumdog Millionaire, a Danny Boyle drama, which went on to win numerous Academy Awards in 2009 including the Best Picture.

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Accusations of 'cultural appropriation'

The actor was blamed for cultural appropriation by Indian characters in films like Hotel Mumbai, Lion and Slumdog Millionaire.

“I get flak sometimes because people will say, ‘Why aren’t they giving these roles to a real Indian?’ I wonder, What does that even mean? The only way I can converse with my grandparents is in Gujarati. Does that make me real enough? Or am I only allowed to witness the moments of prejudice and racism going through airports? Is that the only bit that I’m allowed of the culture?” Patel had said in an interview. The actor said that he was trying to understand his heritage and it reflects in the movie choices he makes.

Hotel Mumbai, a directorial debut of Australian filmmaker Antony Maras, is set to release in India, on November 29. It released in the UK last month retelling the horrors faced by hostages at the Taj hotel on November 26, 2008.

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Read: 'I Get Flak Sometimes': 'Slumdog Millionaire' Actor Dev Patel Talks About Facing Criticism For Taking Away Roles From Indian Actors

(With Inputs from Agencies)