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00:00Hi everyone, this is Manjusha Radhakrishnan. I'm the entertainment editor Gulf News. Today
00:08in the latest edition of Dubai Success Series, I have Mr. Aman. We know him as the producer
00:16and of course actor. But how I want to know him and how I want all of you all to know him
00:22is how he went into Bollywood without knowing a word of Hindi, stayed in Mumbai, tried to
00:28crack the Bollywood code. Amin, what a wonderful step to take or what a scary step to take?
00:34I'm not very sure. Which one should we call it? Leap of faith?
00:37First of all, I'm very happy to be here Manjusha and finally I make the step and send you a message
00:43so we meet each other, okay? That's beautiful. First of all, you don't need to have some kind
00:50of skills, this, that. You just want to do it, you know. If there is something you want
00:56to do it, so you just have to do it. Don't think much, just do it, you know. This is
01:01which I learned from when I was a kid. I was seven years old, I saw Disco Dancer in my village
01:06cinema in Armenia. Armenia? That's lovely. Yeah, I grew there, you know, so yeah, and when
01:12I saw Disco Dancer, it was the 18th, you know, I was seven years old, I said, wow, I'll become
01:18older, I will be an actor and I will go to India one day, I will meet Mithun Chakraborty.
01:24And like, when I was 30 years old, I left everything in Moscow. I was in Moscow that time. Yes.
01:33I took my bag, just flew to India without anybody there.
01:37From Moscow to Mumbai? Without anybody there. And just, I don't know anybody, no need, no,
01:42don't have any connections, doesn't know English, doesn't know Hindi, just nothing, just like
01:48a movie. Yes. So I take my bag and my movies, video cassettes, you know, and the CDs.
01:54That's all. And Mithun Chakraborty, did you meet Mithun Chakraborty? Did you go to his home
01:58as you landed or was the struggle and hustle in Mumbai crazy? Oh, it was adventure because
02:05I don't know anybody, you know, I just, from the first step, the taxi was cheating me. They just,
02:10he took me to taxi. I told them, took me to some hotel. It was in Old Town, Dongri, you know,
02:17because the train station was there. So I was living there, you know, like for one month,
02:21going to the production houses. I just have one CD and like few pictures and my dancing skills. I was
02:29dancing. So going, I was going to the production places and telling them if I'm an actor, I came
02:37here, I want to be an actor. Everyone was laughing, you know, say, come on, what is this? You know,
02:43but there was a few people who, with whom I'm in touch still now. There are producers, directors,
02:51you know. So in one and a half year and I did five movies in Bollywood. Okay. It was 2008.
03:00Tere Bin Laden. I was a policeman. Yes. Who is beating Ali Zafar. I was in
03:05in a weird movie with Salman Khan, Sohel Khan, Mithun Chakraborty, Jackie Shaw. So that movie was for me,
03:12I was sitting in the place in one setup where all the actors, like from my childhood, Mithun Chakraborty
03:20and Jackie Shaw, I saw them only when I was a kid. And today I'm sitting with them, I can chat with them,
03:25I can talk and I can tell them how much I love them because of them. I came to Mumbai and they said,
03:30this guy is crazy. What is this? You know, I was not playing like one of the like leading part or this,
03:35but I was like two months on the set. I was doing like horse weeding, this old stunt kind
03:41of stuff, you know. Right. I was in the frame also. I was playing like British Sarkar, you know.
03:45Yes, the British officer. Yeah, British Sarkar. Yes, yeah. So everyone can see me on the frame,
03:51but doesn't, doesn't say any words. Yes. Because of my struggle with the language and everything,
03:58you know. But I was on the frame with Salma, with another actors from UK. I mean, so it was fun
04:05and it was a huge experience and it was a huge production, historical movie and all the, I mean,
04:10lots of actors were there whom I saw only in the movies when I was a kid. This is magic. For me,
04:18that's lots of, for me this means lots of things. What I find fascinating about your story is that
04:33you took a leap of faith, right? What year was it? How young were you? Because it helped that you were
04:39young, that you didn't know really. So you kind of were willing to struggle because Bollywood is the
04:44toughest and the most brutal place. And I tell you why, because it's Nepo Kid Central. It's like,
04:49if you know somebody, your grandfather is an actor, it opens doors. How does a guy from Armenia manage to
04:56gain a toehold in an industry that's legendary nepotistic? See, for me, I don't have any, any
05:02borders, you know, for me personally. And I, and I proved that when I was a kid till the days,
05:08and I proved myself and I proved people that that doesn't necessarily to have, I mean,
05:14that's very good. If you, if you, if you have someone who can like protect you, support you,
05:19push you somehow, you know, that connection, that's very good, that brilliant. But for me,
05:26I don't have so much to do to sit and say, you know, I don't have anybody. I don't want to do
05:30anything. Come on. From the village in Armenia, I went to Mumbai, Dubai, Moscow, US, in Europe,
05:38I've done a lots of things. I mean, and nobody can say, and I'm thankful that the people whom I
05:44meet in my life, they have, they're like, you know, big support, small support, whatever. But
05:49those support comes because of me, because I want to do this. Right, right. You are, you are keen to
05:54do it. You want to make connections. Absolutely. How important is networking to get into Bollywood?
05:59Because when we talk to a lot of stars, I do, they say that it is important to be seen at the
06:05right parties, hang out with the right people, look a certain way. Some of them live in small
06:09apartments, but then they drive around in Audis and fancier cars, just to show that they have
06:15arrived. How difficult is a hustle? You know, it's, it depends. It's, luck is there for sure,
06:21but luck is coming to those people who's always want to do, I mean, who's always, you know, on the
06:27right. He is like fighting for his space. He is like, want to meet people, want to messaging,
06:33sending emails, calling these, that's networking is very important. I'm still,
06:38I'm a networking guy. I don't have like much education. Unfortunately, I grow on the street,
06:43but the networking and the work to which you're getting this all experience, that's very important.
06:50So networking that, that's very important because I'm still networking with Bollywood, with US,
06:56in Russia. I've done, I mean, in all these places I've done projects because of only my networking.
07:02Unfortunately, very last time when someone is calling some, I know this guy, come, hey,
07:07listen, come. No, I'm calling everyone. Nobody calls me never. When I do projects, I remember
07:13everyone. I'm calling everyone. They're all around me. Tell us about your Dubai leg of the hustle.
07:17Why did you choose? How did you reach Dubai? From, from Moscow, you born in Armenia,
07:24brought up by the, in the streets, which I think is quite fascinating. So,
07:27yeah, it wasn't a great childhood for you, or?
07:31My childhood in Armenia, I grown with, with my grandparents. It was a beautiful time. So I
07:36saw all Bollywood movies in my, in my village, you know, so those things,
07:40Amitabh Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rishikapur, Sanjay Dha, Raj Kapoor,
07:46Short, I mean, Shashi Kapoor, Dharmendra, oh Dharmendra, beautiful, Jackie Shouf, everyone.
07:53Yes.
07:54Vinod Khanna, all these people, they, they, I saw them, I watched many times the movies,
07:59I get inspired by them, thanks to them. You know, I took Jackie Shouf to Armenia with the big Bollywood
08:07movie. Really? Which one?
08:08I managed my dream. I, I, I took Bollywood to Armenia.
08:11No, but which movie was this?
08:12It was a movie like, it was,
08:14That's amazing.
08:14Ahmet Khan production, Ahmet Khan production.
08:16Oh, I see.
08:17It's, uh, called, Ahm, The Battling Within, with Aditya Roy Kapoor, Jackie Shouf, and,
08:25Right.
08:26Yeah, yeah, so, I've been in the premiere in Mumbai, we showed the part in Armenia,
08:30and I give, and I knew Jagouda from where.
08:35How did Dubai happen?
08:37Okay, ah, I was in one and a half year already in Mumbai, so I went,
08:41When was this? How old were you?
08:422008.
08:43Oh, 2008.
08:44Yeah.
08:44So, 2000, till 2010 you were there.
08:46I, I should have read the book, and my way, trip to India, you know, and.
08:50You should, I would read it.
08:51It's beautiful.
08:52Yeah.
08:53I mean, I think it's, it's, it can be like a good movie.
08:56Yeah, it can be a good movie, and also Bible for all those, or a crash course.
08:59Absolutely.
09:00Ah, you know, a kind of like manifesto on how to make it in Bollywood,
09:04even if you're a foreigner in that country.
09:05Absolutely.
09:06And I, I can't say I make it big, but the things which I wanted to be done, I, I'm, I've done,
09:14and I'm doing this still.
09:15So, okay.
09:16I'm still working on it.
09:17I'm maybe, now we are in talk like, for the Armenian Indian production, maybe Armenian movie
09:23will shoot in, in India, you know.
09:24Ah, I see.
09:24So that's, that's another my dream coming, coming to.
09:26So now you are a producer as well, because you just saw a printing press right now, and you were like,
09:31this is a great place to shoot, and that's how you look at it, isn't it?
09:35So, Dubai taught you the production part?
09:37Yeah, so, yes, so, uh, I get married here, that's why I stay here.
09:41Oh, it's for love.
09:42Yeah, it's for, it's for love, for sure, and I'm, I, so I changed Mumbai to, to Dubai.
09:49But I, I, I don't understand that the movie is happening in India.
09:52Yeah.
09:53But I changed, it was 2010.
09:54So, where is your wife from?
09:56She's Armenian.
09:57Ah, but she's based in Dubai.
09:59Yeah, she's based in Dubai.
09:59So for love of movies, you went to Mumbai, then for love of your life, you came to Dubai.
10:04Yeah, and the, the, the most interesting things that the connection which I had before when
10:09I was in Mumbai, those connections starts working for me like later on, you know, when I was,
10:14I've done movies here, like, in Dubai.
10:18So, I've done many TV commercials here, you know.
10:21Excellent, excellent.
10:22So, would I, what would I describe you now as, an actor, producer, location, expert?
10:30No, actor, producer.
10:31How has Dubai helped you in your journey?
10:34Dubai helping and still helping because, first of all, it's a good place to live,
10:39to raise the family.
10:40It's very safety, which is very important nowadays.
10:43The world is crazy, you know, everywhere, I mean, everywhere something happening.
10:47But I, I just can be sure that my wife, my kid and everything will be safe here and
10:54everything will be okay.
10:55And now, Dubai is, uh, one of the best places, destination, the people is coming, wants to do
11:02something, Dubai, Abu Dhabi.
11:03My visa, by the way, is a golden visa by, uh, Abu Dhabi, uh, 2454, it's a government.
11:10Yes, of course, Mino 2454 and they do all the shootings for Salman Khan's movie as well.
11:15Absolutely, yeah.
11:16So, so, it's giving me the opportunity to present, uh, UAE as a producer, as an actor,
11:24like, uh, filming destination.
11:26I was in U.S., so I was like...
11:27Which part of U.S.?
11:29In Los Angeles.
11:30I was in Los Angeles for my documents, for like, and I meet so many companies, so many producers,
11:35and I, uh, told them, I welcome them to UAE, like, to shoot the movies, this, that, so we have this...
11:41So, it gave you a lot of opportunities, didn't it?
11:43Absolutely.
11:44Dubai, because it's central as well, right?
11:46Unfortunately, as a movie industry, there is the... unfortunately, I am saying, like,
11:51because everything is there, but no movie is there.
11:54We had the film festival, I remember.
11:56I've been...
11:57I love Dubai Film Festival, Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
12:00It was brilliant.
12:01I miss it.
12:02I truly do.
12:03I don't know why it's...
12:04Yeah, it's also, but...
12:05It's been cancelled, but it is one of the biggest, uh, art event in the region,
12:11in the Middle East.
12:11Right.
12:12I've been, like, four times in the...
12:14And it was beautiful.
12:16And it's so sad that it's not happening again, you know?
12:18Right.
12:19It is sad.
12:19But you need to tell me, like, you met with even Amita Bachchan.
12:22I was going through your scrolling history on Insta.
12:25What was that like, meeting the legend himself?
12:28I have done, uh, uh, projects with, uh, Abhishek Bachchan.
12:33Ah.
12:34For which one?
12:36TV commercials.
12:37Ah.
12:37So, I shoot him, like, you know, and we had an agreement, contract,
12:41I mean, on another, uh, another business, you know?
12:43Yes.
12:44Yes.
12:44So, we shoot for the brand, him.
12:46So, I meet them, we've been in their house, in, uh, Juhu and the office.
12:51We have a tea.
12:52It's beautiful.
12:52It was there.
12:53I mean, I love those, that family.
12:56And to be in that place, to see all these pictures in the walls, like,
13:00you know, Amita Bachchan, Abhishek, and this all, and Jayaji, this is all things.
13:05It's like, I saw his movies when I was a kid.
13:09You can imagine.
13:09And I'm there, sitting in the house, and drinking a chai, and talking to them.
13:15It's beautiful.
13:16It's beautiful feelings.
13:17Bollywood, would you, how easy has it become, after, let's say, the 2008 to 2010 stint?
13:23No, for me, it's easy, because I know now so many people, and I work with so many people.
13:28But it's not an easy industry, is it?
13:30It's not an easy industry.
13:31For example, I can't say I'm getting so many requests, uh, like, to come as an actor, you know?
13:41But I know that if I do something, so I can easily get the actors, or get the people on the set,
13:46you know, so I can, because I know the ways now.
13:48Because I know so many people, I know them personally.
13:50So this is for me, like, okay, like, Jagooda, I have this, this, this, this, you know, so, for example.
13:56So it helps.
13:57Okay, so you've made contacts now, it's much easier.
13:59Yeah, yeah, sure, because we meet many times, we spend time, some, by time, time, you know, so it's easy.
14:05As an actor, I can't say I've grown something.
14:07I've done TV commercial with, by the way, with Abhishek, uh, me and him in the one TV commercial.
14:12Where, in Dubai?
14:14In India?
14:15Yeah, yeah.
14:15India, okay.
14:16Yeah, I was a producer there.
14:17Oh, okay, lovely, lovely.
14:18Yes.
14:19If I came with the fans, for example, and I said I want to make the movie, I will make this movie.
14:25I have a partner there, I have people, I know people, I mean, everything will be done.
14:29But without fans, I mean, if you want to be as an actor in the movies, so,
14:33no, sometimes I'm getting self-tape requests, you know, but small, small roles, I don't want to go on that.
14:38I don't, I mean, because it was like 15 years ago, I don't want to do the same things, you know.
14:44Right.
14:44I mean, also, Bollywood, it's so tough to crack it that you often have side hustles.
14:48So, in a way, I think maybe even producing production, doing other kinds of projects helps you, you know,
14:56attain that dream of being an actor.
14:58Because you can't be a full-time actor if you're not from a film family, isn't it?
15:02That's why I'm making my documents, by the way, in the US, that I can fly and work as an actor,
15:07with an agent and everything, you know, because I want to explore myself as an actor also.
15:12Yeah, for now, I can't be only an actor.
15:13I mean, for now, I have to do the things aside.
15:17That's right.
15:18As an agent, celebrity agent, for example, to sign for some of the brand or this or that, to manage something.
15:25By the way, now I'm trying to bring from, let's say, like make some event workshop,
15:32masterclass producer, casting director and Oscar-winning actor.
15:35Okay.
15:36So, I'm trying to do this kind of things.
15:38Right.
15:38Yeah.
15:39So, you know, you have to mix up all.
15:43That can help then.
15:44Okay, excellent.
15:45I got that.
15:45That can help.
15:46I mean, today you're an actor, tomorrow you're a producer.
15:49And the idea is to hustle and reinvent.
15:52Yeah, as much as I can, you know, because we have to survive.
15:55I'm taking family.
15:55I'm taking my people around me and all.
15:57Yes.
15:58So, it's also about money.
15:59We have to work.
16:00Yes.
16:00Okay.
16:01Yeah, unfortunately.
16:02Okay.
16:02So, tell us about the Hindi that you learned.
16:04Yes, I have a lot of Hindi.
16:08So, I watch many movies, so many movies.
16:12So, Hindi, it's very easy to me to deliver.
16:17I mean, I can learn the lines and I can deliver.
16:20Of course.
16:20I've done casting requests for a Patan movie.
16:23Oh, Patan.
16:23Okay.
16:24Yes.
16:24Yes.
16:25And they was like me.
16:27From the Yash Raj was the assistant, the director was calling me and doing this way,
16:32doing this way, doing this way.
16:33So, you know, the director was happy with you, this, that.
16:36So, sudden, at that time, it was a COVID time.
16:38You remember?
16:38It was like, it's all closed.
16:40Dubai, Burj Khali.
16:41So, I think because of that, I couldn't make it.
16:43Yes.
16:43But they was very happy with me because I did a, or I personally think,
16:48not a Hindi speaker, but I have done a good job.
16:58Tell me something.
16:59What's the biggest tip that you have for the readers today
17:02who want to perhaps go to Bollywood and crack it from Dubai?
17:06As I said already, don't think much.
17:08You know, you just have to go and face the issues on your way.
17:12If you think that, oh, there is this wall, there is this wall, then don't do anything.
17:17But you just have to start.
17:19Then sort the things out if the problem come in your way, you know.
17:24What is next for you then?
17:25What's your plan next?
17:27I'm in two productions now.
17:29I've done recently one Hollywood movie.
17:32It will come out with a good role.
17:34It's a tragedy, the drama, you know.
17:38Who is in it apart from you?
17:42It's from, all from Armenia, US and Iran.
17:45Oh, I see.
17:45It's like, but it's a Hollywood movie.
17:47Okay.
17:49And I've, it was a good role, you know, one of the supporting roles.
17:54And it was a good, and next time now into production, pre-production.
18:00It's Armenian movie about the things.
18:02What about Bollywood?
18:04Bollywood.
18:04Bollywood now we are on conversation.
18:07This is one of my, another dreams maybe come to.
18:10I will shoot the Armenian movie in India.
18:13And it will be like Armenian Indian production.
18:15Right.
18:16So now we are on conversation.
18:17I'm flying after two days to Armenia to meet the people, to talk about this.
18:22I know the story and everything.
18:25So, yeah.
18:27You want to show a slice of, I guess, Bollywood.
18:29You wanted to experience Bollywood as, you know, in your, with your own thing.
18:34That experience will help you, right?
18:35Now that you go.
18:36Absolutely.
18:37That's, that's why the people came to me that the, I know everything.
18:40I mean, I can say, not everything,
18:42but I can't, I know many things in Bollywood.
18:44I, I've been there like for the last 15 years and I know people.
18:48I have done projects there.
18:49I've done projects abroad India, Indian projects in Moscow.
18:52How many movies have you done as an actor in Bollywood?
18:56Like maybe six, seven.
18:57Oh, six, seven.
18:58Okay.
18:59It's not much, but I have done also as a producer.
19:01I was line producer for Hero Pant in Moscow.
19:04Yes.
19:04I was a producer for this Jagooda and Aditya Rukapur in Armenia.
19:09I was a producer.
19:11You know this song very much.
19:12It was a big hit like three years ago.
19:14Bijuli, Bijuli, Hardy Sandhu.
19:16Yes.
19:16Yes.
19:17Of course.
19:17I was a line producer in Moscow.
19:18I was an actor who's beating him in the, in the, in the scene.
19:22You remember that?
19:23Yes.
19:23Of course.
19:23What was that like?
19:24What is the scene like?
19:25That seems like a fun scene.
19:27It's a fun scene.
19:28I am saying, and I'm telling very bad, bad in Russian language, very bad things to him.
19:33Because the director say, Arvinder Khaira is a beautiful guy.
19:37Right.
19:37I've been in, in his wedding also, Arvinder Khaira in Punjab.
19:40Are you worried about being tokenized?
19:42Because you're an Armenian, they just give you these villain roles or these cop roles.
19:47You know, those token stereotypical roles.
19:49That's why I, that's why I don't take any more of these kinds of things.
19:53Because I think I can do more, better work and more interesting roles.
19:58Excellent.
19:59Yeah.
19:59That's why, I mean, I'm, I'm telling you, I'm getting like self tips for a small things,
20:03things.
20:03I said, no, I don't do this thing.
20:05Yeah.
20:05Sitting in Dubai, I suppose it's a success story for you, right?
20:09Did you expect, you had a school dropout, then went to Bollywood, made it on your own steam,
20:15learnt a new language.
20:16Did you expect your life to take off in Dubai?
20:18Now, Dubai helped me because as a hub, you know, I'm in the right place because east
20:25to west, you know, this is all coming to here.
20:27So we have a production house, so a production house.
20:30You have a production house here?
20:32Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure.
20:34In myself, you know, I always been free, free achiever, free art man, you know.
20:41I never belongs to anyone, to any production.
20:43I never work for someone.
20:45Yeah, I mean, you can imagine, I never work for someone.
20:49I always, from when I went out from my house, I was 16 years old only.
20:54I never work for anyone.
20:57It was hard and still I'm getting hard, but I want to be free.
21:01That tomorrow I get a project for in India or in the U.S. or somewhere, so I can take a flight
21:06and, you know, and go there.
21:09But if I work for someone, so then I, I don't know, I will, okay, I will get a monthly payment,
21:15monthly salary, this, that, okay, that's good.
21:18I can take care of some things, but I cannot be free.
21:21Okay.
21:21The free, the free man is, for me, is very important.
21:24So, I'm so happy that Dubai let you be free to pursue your dreams and, uh, and you know,
21:29it's a status, you're living in Dubai.
21:31I mean, so many people, you're only dreaming about Dubai.
21:33Yes.
21:33Let's be honest.
21:34Yes.
21:35I mean, in Europe, in, uh, in many places.
21:37I mean, I've been in many places.
21:39Dubai, oh, Dubai, oh, Dubai.
21:42Yes, it's, it's, it's, it's a good place to live.
21:44It's a status that people do live in Dubai.
21:46Okay.
21:47Let's talk a serious now, you know?
21:48Yes, yes.
21:49Okay.
21:49It really helps you.
21:50Oh, you do have production house?
21:51Oh, you have done, you have done.
21:53Oh, okay, okay.
21:53Let's take a small.
21:54So, Dubai gives you street credit.
21:55It gives you legitimacy.
21:56It's like a credit.
21:57Ah.
21:58Absolutely.
21:59Yeah, sure.
21:59Oh, love it.
22:00It's like a credit and, and I appreciate it and I, and I, and as a UA resident, proud,
22:07proud resident.
22:07Oh, the pride.
22:08You feel a sense of pride.
22:09Pride and proud resident.
22:10Ah.
22:11Being proud resident of UAE in Dubai.
22:13I want to make something that, you know, uh, to show this place as a, in the, in the movie,
22:19I mean, as a movie way.
22:21To make the movie, I mean, represent the UAE in, in all of the world, in this way.
22:27Yeah.
22:28This is, this is another my dream.
22:30To make that can do movie that I can present the UAE, you know, I've been in the festivals,
22:35but I've been with the Armenian movie.
22:36I, I produce, I act, I get like awards as the best actor, best movie in other places,
22:42Europe, Europe, in America, but here I want to make a movie and I want travel and I want to
22:49like show that here also we can do a movie.
22:51Yeah.
22:51It's a land of dreams as you said.
22:53Absolutely.
22:55So I hope one day it will happen.
22:57Unfortunately, no movie industry here, but we all trying to make it.
23:01Excellent.
23:01Thank you so much for sharing your incredible success story here.
23:06And I'm so glad you actually had the courage to go to Mumbai, try your luck in movies.
23:11And now you're hoping to take Bollywood to Armenia, Armenia to India and all via Dubai.
23:16Thank you so much for your incredible success story.
23:18Thank you very much for your time and I wish you the best.
23:21I wish you the best.
23:22I wish you the best.
23:23I wish you the best.
23:24I wish you the best.
23:25I wish you the best.
23:26I wish you the best.
23:27I wish you the best.
23:28I wish you the best.
23:29I wish you the best.
23:30I wish you the best.
23:31I wish you the best.
23:32I wish you the best.
23:33I wish you the best.
23:34I wish you the best.
23:35I wish you the best.
23:36I wish you the best.
23:37I wish you the best.
23:38I wish you the best.
23:39I wish you the best.
23:40I wish you the best.
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