By Lily Radwan, Year 12
It is a well known fact that Dr. Hughes, the director of our school is a very busy man. He manages to lead our school all while writing philosophical books and being in a band. On top of all of this, he has travelled to many places including India, where he taught at a boarding school.
Last year, a video was found on youtube of an extract of a Bollywood movie which Dr Hughes starred in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D40vlAl3BAI&feature=youtu.be
This was an amazing discovery, so my friend and I took to discovering more about it. We interviewed the man himself, and this is how it went.
1)How did this situation come about ?
At the time, I was living in India because I was working at an International school. One day, I was walking down the streets of Puna (Pune) which was the nearest city and I was approached by someone who said “How would you like to act in a movie?”, so I said sure! One thing led to another and suddenly I was involved in this production, Rajkumar Santoshi’s The Legend of Bhagat Singh, starring Ajay Devgan.
2) Do you think you were approached because of your looks?
Honestly I think they were a bit thin on the ground for the type of physical properties that were needed. Some of the other actors in that film were teachers at that school too, there were three of us. So I’d like to say it was something to do with a dream I’ve always had to be in a film but it was by chance and it was kind of quirky.
3) Did you watch the film yourself?
Oh yeah, I watched it in India! People were jeering my character because he’s an awful white colonist who is assassinated by Bhagat Singh who is the informal hero of India. You’ve got Ghandi, who brought about the non- violent protest movement, but you’ve also got Bhagat Singh who was far more political and aggressive and anti colonial, if you like… It’s a little like comparing Malcolm X to Martin Luther King. Essentially Bhagat Singh is the unsung hero of the Indian nation. After the film on the way out of the cinema, people were looking at me a bit strangely like “Haven’t I seen this guy somewhere before?”
4) How was it to play the antagonist?
It was a fun experience. I’d rather play a villain than a good guy in a film because it’s much more interesting.
5) How did people react to this film?
I remember that some of the teachers at the school saying “It isn’t worth it, why are you bothering to do it?” I think they were wrong, because teachers, like anybody else, should have a life outside of work. I’m glad I took part in the movie because now it’s a memory that marks the time I spent in India.
ADVICE FROM DR. HUGHES HIMSELF:
If given an opportunity that’s a little quirky or a little off the wall, as long as it’s not dangerous, go for it. You don’t want to look back on your life and realize you haven’t tried your best or taken opportunities when they were there for the taking. Once they are gone they might never come back
