On yet another addition to his international body of work, actor Gulshan Grover will now be seen romancing Salma Hayek in an upcoming Hollywood project called The Driver. And to top it all, Hayek, a Mexican by origin, will be seen playing an Indian for a change. “She plays my wife and an Indian in the film,” says Grover, who will play the lead role in this film, which is to be directed by filmmaker-actor Bill Duke. “Till now only Indian actors like Katrina Kaif, Bipasha Basu and Diana Hayden have played Indian wives to me.”
A few days before Grover was approached for the role in The Driver, he was in Los Angeles for a charity event, where his Indian fans spotted him. “They were chasing me for autographs and pictures,” says Grover, who was surprised to see all the frenzy around him. “There was a strange curiosity among the people who were in the midst of this situation.”
Salma HayekIt was then that director Bill Duke, who was present in the same gathering, began asking who Grover was. “He must have made up his mind then. We met a few days ago and he told me he wanted me to play the lead. He also said that he was aware of my work and popularity in India as a villain,” says Grover, who was pleasantly surprised to hear that.
Apart from Whoopie Goldberg and Janet Jackson, the film will see a lot of comedians, celebrities, Hollywood stars and sports people making special appearances. Even though he does not disclose the purpose of the cameos, he does say that the script demands it. “All I can say is that I play the role of an accountant, an average man, who at one point decides to pursue and follow his dream. Salma, who plays the role of my wife, plays a crucial part in helping him make his wishes come true. It is on his journey to fulfilling his dreams that he encounters all these big people.”
Even though Grover has worked in numerous film industries in the US, France, Italy, Germany, UK and Canada, this role is something he is really looking forward to. “Bill is a very respected filmmaker and I am really excited about this project.”
