Actor My Story

This story belongs to Suhaana and Daddy Raj.

It's a tiny tale about Daddy Raj's life and the things he used to do.

-You know the wire-walkers, the people who walk on wire?

-Mm-hm.

They hold a pole and look straight.

We have to pretend we're holding a pole too. Look straight.

With confidence, we can do it.

And here we go.

Yes!

Now it's time for Daddy Raj to share his memories

and take Suhaana on a journey of discovery.

Right, Suhaana, do you know what this is?

-A hat.

-Yes, but this is not an ordinary hat.

This is worn by the kings and prince. Do you know that?

Do you know who this hat belongs to?

This belongs to me, because I'm a prince.

Not really, in a film. Yes?

-Shall I wear it? Shall I put it on now?

-Yes.

-Really?

I'll turn into a prince straightaway.

It's a bit tight now. I've grown up. How is that?

You look funny?

Daddy Raj used to be an actor.

An actor is someone who plays a character in a film,

on television or in the theatre.

HE SINGS

This is a Daddy Raj dressed as one of the characters.

Do you love dressing up and acting?

Of course, I loved it.

You see, as an actor, I could be so many different people.

I could be a doctor, inspector, a poor man, anything.

-I really enjoyed it.

-What age did you start making films?

I was just nine years old when I made my first film.

But on stage, I've been acting since age of two-and-a-half.

-Very young, isn't it?

-Yes.

-Yes.

Do you know acting is hard work? I'm sure you know.

We had so much fun on the sets, but it was also very hard work.

And I had special permission from my school

because I used to go in films, but I always studied well

and when I got famous, everyone in the school was very happy.

They said, "We know him, he's in our class."

And Daddy Raj talks some more about his life as a boy.

Nowadays, Daddy Raj lives in Wales.

But he was born in India, where he became very famous film star.

Look, here he is, acting in his first film

when he was only nine years old.

This is one of the most popular Indian films ever made.

And people have been making films in India for a very long time.

Many of the most popular Indian films are Bollywood films.

Bollywood films are made in a language called Hindi

and are usually very bright and colourful

with lots of singing and dancing.

Daddy Raj acted in lots of Bollywood films.

But Daddy Raj wasn't the first actor in his family.

His mummy, Snehalata, was an actress too.

Daddy Raj used to love watching her act.

Here are some old pictures of her acting.

When I was a child, it was so fascinating for me

to watch my mother perform on stage

and it was a great feeling for me to see she's acting

and people are clapping for her, and I could say, "Yes, she is my mother."

When she used to act onstage,

you know, I used to always feel that one day I would like to do that.

And fortunately, Mum was also thinking the same thing,

that yes, I would like my son to be an actor.

And eventually, I did that.

Let's meet Daddy Raj's mama, Snehalata.

This is my grandma.

She's an actor, writer

and the best nana in the whole wide world.

And you are the best granddaughter in this world.

Hello.

Suhaana's nana, Snehalata, is going to tell her a story

about Daddy Raj when he was little.

Should I tell you something, Suhaana?

You know, when your daddy was just two-and-a-half years old,

-he acted on the stage. Can you believe that?

-Yes.

So there was one play, in that play, he was supposed to sleep,

but he was not ready to do, and he just sat.

And the artists standing in the wings,

they were whispering, "Raj, sleep, please sleep.

"Please, lie down, close your eyes."

Finally, he managed it, and I can say my lines.

What was Daddy like when he was a little boy?

His nature, just like you.

All the smiling and very lively and very patient.

Suhaana, do you want to be an actress when you grow up?

-Yes, and also a hotel manager.

-Also hotel manager? Oh, that's wonderful.

Now, it's time to find out if Suhaana has the skills

to become an actress, just like her nana.

Daddy Raj is taking Suhaana to do a screen test.

A screen test is a way of checking

if an actor or actress is the right person to play a part in a film.

And Suhaana's brother, Aazaan, is going to film the screen test.

-Suhaana, this is your big day today. Do you know why?

-Why?

It's your screen test. I want to see whether you can act well or not,

so I can give the part not. Now, Aazaan, what we're going to do,

take the clapperboard in front of the actor and say,

"Suhaana, My Story," go like that and run to the camera.

Suhaana, when I say action, you've got to say the word "Why". Ready, go.

Suhaana, My story, take one.

Action.

-Why?

-Why?

Why?

-Why? Why?!

-Very good.

-And now can you do some emotions? Do you know what are emotions?

-No.

When you are angry, you are sad, you are happy, and when you show these.

They are emotions, right?

So, let's say, what's this? Tell me, look at me.

-Sad.

-OK.

-What is this?

-Happy.

Angry.

-Really happy.

-Really happy, exactly.

Right, let's see your faces, show me a sad face.

More sad.

Happy.

More happy. More happy.

Angry.

More angry.

More cross.

Yes, very good, you have done a wonderful job!

As well as acting, dancing is a very important part of Bollywood films.

There are lots of famous dance moves, like these.

Daddy Raj is going to screen test Suhaana's dance skills.

Let's see you dance, OK?

-What are the three moves of Bollywood you can show me?

-Feed the pigeons.

Let's see how you feed the pigeons.

Very good.

It looks like Suhaana is throwing seeds to feed the pigeons.

And now the light bulb.

I see. It looks like they're screwing in light bulbs.

Wash the face. How do we do that?

Now Suhaana is pretending to splash water on her face.

Congratulations, madam, you have been selected.

I'm so proud we have another star in the making from the family.

And I love you.

You are my star.

-And well done, Aazaan.

-Thanks.

Nice work, Aazaan.

Films like the ones Daddy Raj acted in

are filmed on something called a film set.

Film sets are very exciting, busy places,

full of lots of people doing lots of important jobs,

like building, painting the sets

and working the camera to film the action.

And then, there are the actors, of course.

Here is Daddy Raj again.

The song is being sung in Hindi,

the language Daddy Raj grew up speaking.

But Daddy Raj is only pretending to sing. This is called miming.

He's moving his mouth to the words of the song, but not really singing.

In the Bollywood films,

the songs we danced to are sung by the famous professional singers.

I know many actors who have a good voice,

but we still prefer that we have a good singer and we just mime.

So they record the songs first

and then the actor mimes or dances on it later.

Bollywood films are so popular now

that people in Wales, both young and old,

ask Daddy Raj to give them lessons

in Bollywood singing, dancing and acting.

The Bollywood dance moves he teaches might look very modern,

but many of them are based on very old Indian dances,

which have been around for thousands of years.

Now, Suhaana, Aazaan and Daddy Raj are going to perform

their very own Bollywood dance routine.

Right, guys, it's showtime. OK, let's do some Bollywood.

-Ready?

-Yes.

-Start music.

BOLLYWOOD MUSIC PLAYS

Oh, how did he do that?

This should be fun.

Oh, they are doing the light bulb. I remember that one from earlier.

And there's feed the pigeons.

Bollywood dancing is so much fun.

Nice light bulb, Aazaan.

Great footwork, Suhaana.

Bend those knees, Daddy Raj.

And bang. Lovely. That was fantastic.

Well done.

And well done. And well done.

What a brilliant Bollywood routine. Bravo!

Thank you, Daddy, for a lovely time.

Thank you, darling. Did you enjoy knowing everything

-about Bollywood and acting?

-Yes, I did.

Right. And do you remember all we did?

-Yes.

-What was that?

You showed me a beautiful hat you wore in the film.

Grandma told me stories about you when you're a little boy.

You gave me acting lessons in front of the big camera.

We danced together like a Bollywood film.

And tell me, what was your favourite part?

-Spending time with you.

-Ah, what a lovely answer.

-Do you know what was my favourite part?

-What?

Spending time with you. Give Daddy a hug.

-Thank you, Daddy.

-I love you. Daddy's daughter.

The best daughter in the world, yeah?

What a fabulous heap of fun.

That was Suhaana and Daddy Raj's tiny tale

about the things Daddy Raj used to do.

Now Daddy Raj has shared his story with Suhaana,

it's time for Suhaana to start her own story.

Do you know someone who has a story to share?

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd