Veteran actor Om Puri on 'The Hundred-Foot Journey'
Renowned Indian-British actor Om Puri discusses his latest film The Hundred-Foot Journey and the importance of food, family and film.
Om Puri is a renowned, who arguably warrants the often, but not always appropriate, title of legendary. He has starred in an astonishing 250 films in a career that has spanned over forty years. He is a major contributor to his native India cinema, where, in the past, he has been honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award, as well as being a graduate of Film and Television Institute in India. He has starred in acclaimed Indian films like Ardh Satya (1981) and Dharavi (1991) and is recognised in British cinema for his memorable roles in East is East (1999) and The Parole Officer (2001). After appearing in Richard Attenborough’s Ghandi (1982) and Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), Om Puri returns to the big screen in The Hundred-Foot Journey.
The film tells the story of a heart-warming Indian family who moves from Mumbai to the conservative French countryside after their restaurant and home are destroyed. After finding an abandoned building, Papa (Puri) decides to open up a quintessential Indian restaurant directly opposite the most prestigious French eatery in town. A rift soon erupts between Papa and opposing restaurant owner and neighbour, Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren).
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lasse Hallström, director of Chocolat (2000), with a screenplay from Steven Knight (Locke, 2014) – adapted from the best-selling novel by Richard C. Morais – The Hundred-Foot Journey examines the true meaning that lies behind food and family. Om Puri plays Papa; the respected head of the household whose love for food and family lands him in some hot water. His onscreen son, Indian American-born actor Manish Dayal, portrays Hassan – a devoted son who is a talent in the kitchen.
I spoke to veteran actor Om Puri about his love of food, filming in France and working with Dame Helen Mirren.
You have such an extensive and impressive film career, starring in over 250 films; what attracted you to The Hundred-Foot Journey?
A number of things: first thing; I am honoured to hear my name associated with Steven Spielberg. I am a huge admirer of his work – he has such versatility. I met him for the first time in New York, and I was struck by him – he is such a fragile-looking man who has done such an extensive amount of work. He is a true guru of cinema. Then Oprah Winfrey as co-producer; who isn’t a fan of her? Also Lasse Hallström – to be honest I had not seen his films – I had a friend who asked if I had heard his name and when I said no, he said: ‘you idiot! You haven’t heard of Lasse Hallström? Here is a list of films that you should see!’ So I went to the library and took out four of his films, and I was amazed.
Did you watch What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)?
Yes, I did, and I enjoyed it. My Life as a Dog (1985), Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011) and then Chocolat (2000). And he turned out to be so gentle, and that was another attachment. Finally: Dame Helen Mirren [smiles].
How was it working with Dame Helen Mirren?
I was amazed at her massive bundle of talent and The Queen (2006) was just a flawless performance – absolutely flawless performance – and I was thrilled to work with her. Also, I have a great part in the film; romancing with Helen Mirren. She was absolutely wonderful, and I was looking forward to meeting her. We started filming, and she joined one week later. I thought to myself: ‘how am I going to meet her? How will I greet her?’ Then I got an idea; when we were on set, I heard that she was having lunch, and I fell on my knees and said: ‘your highness. I am thrilled. It will be such an honour to work with you.’ She picked me up and gave me such a nice, warm hug. So that’s how I met her. She is a wonderful human being and obviously a wonderful actress.
What was it about the character of Papa that appealed to you?
Papa is a great character: he is humorous; he loves his children, and he loved his wife – and the memory of her keeps coming back to him – he keeps talking to her. He seems like a man who is self-made; worked very hard in life. He is also stubborn in a very positive matter; adamant to succeed and eventually he does.
Did you enjoy filming in France?
The South of France is for a dream for anybody. The weather was perfect when we were working there; it was not cold, and it was not warm. The countryside was absolutely amazing where we were shooting. I stayed in the town that is a huge town but in a small city. I had a wonderful apartment where I enjoyed doing cooking. I love to cook – I cooked practically every day – more on Saturdays and Sundays because I used to invite everyone: the cameraman; the director; the third producer Juliet Blake also came over; and my film family. We all used to have meals together, and they used to bring gifts for me – usually a bottle of Scotch! My birthday happened to be during filming, and it they were incredibly kind, which was very touching. During a lunch, they brought me a huge cake and sang me ‘Happy Birthday’ in my mother tongue – which is Hindi – I don’t know how they learnt it! I was in tears, and I was supposed to give a speech – I was very, very moved. People gave me gifts; a cardigan, hat, so many lovely things.
So it was a real family on set?
Yes, very much so.
Was it interesting working with such a diverse cast – people from India, Britain, France and America – was it a good experience?
Absolutely! It was a wonderful experience. The children – Manish [Dayal] was born in America – and the other children were all from Britain. Helen is British playing French and Charlotte [Le Bon] is French-Canadian and Lasse, and his camera crew are Swedish. It was a unique experience.
The Hundred-Foot Journey explores a wonderful subject: food. What first springs to mind when you think of food?
Food is life. When you’re hungry you look for food; it gives you nourishment. I love food from practically all over the world. I used to be very particular; I just liked my own food; from my own region. However, gradually I got the exposure. There was also a restriction because I was a vegetarian until the age of twenty. In drama school, I had a friend who was a Muslim and he said, ‘try some sauce off the meat.’ Then one day he gave me a small piece of chicken, from then on I started eating meat. I travelled a lot – I went to Czechoslovakia– there my interpreter asked if I had any reservations about food. I said that I ate chicken, but I don’t eat beef. One day, after we left the studio, we were hungry, but all the restaurants were closed. So we went to a coffee shop, and I said I’d have the beef and I did not care because I was dying of hunger! I had one, then I asked for another and after some time, my interpreter said: ‘see, we made you eat beef.’ I said, ‘listen, I worship Indian beef – this is Russian beef’ [laughs]. In India, the cow is worshipped and because it is used to plough the land and its milk gives nourishment to children –so they never kill the cow – that’s the history behind it!
Did you enjoy the French cuisine when you were staying there?
I did enjoy some dishes. I loved the fish and some soups, but I don’t eat meat as in the last five years I have been a pescetarian. Occasionally I can enjoy French food, but I am used to spices; my tongue is used to spices – that is not their fault. They are very subtle in their spices, but I love their desserts. Their presentation of food is amazing – they decorate it so well – that was fascinating.
As we were discussing before, you have such a renowned film career – working in Hollywood, independent and art films – what was different about working on The Hundred-Foot Journey compared to the many other films that you have done?
In India, I have played many roles in, what we call, apparel that is independent and cinema with social significance. In British cinema, I have also played main roles in films likes; My Son the Fanatic (1997), East is East (1999), West is West (2010), The Parole Officer (2001) et al. I have also done television like White Teeth (2002) and Second Generation (2003) – which was a modern rendition of King Lear – then there was Canterbury Tales (2003). I did a lot of good work here but in American cinema there are only five or six I have done – I did City of Joy (1992) with Patrick Swayze – I have also done many great cameos and worked with great directors like Mike Nichols (Wolf, 1994 and Charlie Wilson’s War, 2007). However, The Hundred-Foot Journey is such a different film to the others I have done; it is an elderly love story with the parallel of the younger love story as well.