Role models: Shefali Chowdhury n Afshan Azad

[Hemast]

Harry Potter's new film is the latest to join the Hollywood trend of casting actors from South Asia. In the forthcoming film - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - two Asian actresses will get to share the screen space with Harry Potter, currently the heartthrob of millions of children.

The girls - Shefali Chowdhury and Afshan Azad are second-generation Bangladeshis currently based in London. They play the characters of the 'Patil twins' in the film slated for a worldwide release this November.

Shefali's parents had migrated to England from Sylhet (in Bangladesh) in the sixties. Shefali was born in London in 1989.

Shefali and Afshan who play Harry and his best friend Ron's dates for the Yule Ball say they are "overwhelmed" to be a part of this huge film.

"I can't describe what I feel right now when I await the release of the film. I feel very very privileged. It's an opportunity of a lifetime," Shefali said from London.

This 17-year-old who is pursuing her A-level in college and has Sociology and Religious studies as her subjects says she's glad she did what interests her "the most".

"I was always interested in Drama and even took it as a course earlier. So when this opportunity of acting in a film came my way, I was only too ready to take it," she says.

It was different for 16-year-old Afshan - also an A-level student learning Chemistry, Biology, English and media language in her college - who auditioned for the role for pure kicks.

"It was a total joke for me. The casting agents came to my school and my friends and I did it for fun. But I became very serious about the entire thing once I got in."

Interestingly since the Patil sisters in the original book, authored by JK Rowling, are twins of Asian origin, the casting agents of the film - the fourth in the Harry Potter series - spent time visiting schools in the Bradford area searching for the perfect pair of Asian girls to play these characters.

However, when they failed to find twin Asian girls, they zeroed in on two girls, "who just had fantastic chemistry" between them. Hence Shefali and Afshan studying in two different parts of London were chosen to play the roles of Parvati and Padma Patil respectively.

The girls have generated a lot of interest owing to their South Asian roots and the cinema owners across India feel it will only add to the film's business.

"As it is Harry Potter films have done exceedingly well in South Asia. With two South Asian girls grabbing important roles in the fourth film, it will impact the film's fortunes very positively," says Kamal Gyanchandani, Vice President, PVR Pictures.

The girls who are making their Hollywood debut with this Harry Potter film follow Indian films too and would "definitely consider" any Bollywood project that comes their way.

"As of now, there are no offers. But if they come, then why not." asks Shefali.

"Though I haven't seen a Bollywood film for quite some time, but I do enjoy them," she continues adding that her favourite Indian actor is Shah Rukh Khan.

Afshan too is an SRK fan though she also admires Aishwarya Rai and Salman Khan. In fact she makes it a point to watch every Indian film "that everyone's talking about in London." Her last being No Entry.

However, even as their first Hollywood venture hits the marquee, the girls are unsure if they would continue with acting and remain tightlipped about any future projects in Hollywood, "taking each day as it comes".

While Shefali says she doesn't know if she would take up acting as a profession, "studies" are Afshan's "main" priority and she'd rather not say anything about her career span as an actress.

"I want to concentrate on my studies. The future is undecided. If I get offers, then let us see, may be I would take it up. But as of now, I'm taking each day as it comes," says Afshan.

The girls who have not been to south asian part of the world so frequently, do hope that South Asians like the film and appreciate their effort.

"I hope they are glad to see a Bengali girl in a Hollywood film. I want them to see my talent and see me as an individual," says Afshan, who is the more forthcoming of the two.

And glad they will be, chirps Shalini Narayan, a young Harry Potter fan in India.

"I think this time people will come to see the film not just because of the story line but also because they will be curious to see a South Asian face in a Harry Potter film," she says.

Shefali and Afshan are keeping their fingers crossed as the year's most keenly-awaited film hits the theatre on November 18 worldwide.

[Post Script: Asians and/or Africans have equal opportunity to make a success of their lives in the UK or USA (unlike in France)if they put in efforts at making themselves equal to the task. For ur own sake, do not allow ur world-view n attitude be `coloured' n prejudiced by racial-discrimination gag or the ideology of the ghetto ultras.]

[Edited by Hemast on 18th November 2005 at 06:33]