Panjabi seeks out films that explore cultural issues<\/p>\n
Paul Agusta, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A British citizen of Indian decent, Archie Panjabi delights in
\nexploring different cultures in both her acting career and her
\npersonal life.<\/p>\n
She has deliberately sought out films with cultural themes,
\nplaying a young Indian woman from a straight-laced Hindu family
\nwho is set on choosing her own husband, in Gurinder Chadha's Bend
\nit Like Beckham.<\/p>\n
She also took on the role of a Pakistani woman who fights for
\nthe release of her husband after he was wrongfully incarcerated
\nas a suspected terrorist in the wake of 9\/11, in Kenneth
\nGlenaan's film Yasmin, currently being shown at JiFFest.<\/p>\n
She played the lead role of a feisty Persian bride-turned-
\nmatriarch in the popular mini-series adaptation of Zadie Smith's
\naward-winning novel, White Teeth (2002).<\/p>\n
Panjabi makes the point, when she can, to involve herself in
\nfilm projects that allow her the opportunity to travel, as in the
\nfilms Yasmin and The Constant Gardener, also at JiFFest.<\/p>\n
Currently in Jakarta for the screenings, Panjabi took a little
\ntime to discuss her life, studies, career and her experiences in
\nthe world of film.<\/p>\n
\"As a child I was attracted to acting. It was something I
\nthought I could do for the rest of my life, but my mother wanted
\nto make sure that I tried something else and had something to
\nfall back on\", she said of her degree in management studies from
\nEngland's Brunel University.<\/p>\n
Archie started her acting career at the young age of 13 with a
\nTV role in Cologne, Germany. Even while studying management and
\nlater operating a tailoring business, she continued to follow her
\ndream.<\/p>\n
Her first major international role came in 1999 in director
\nDamien O'Donnell's East is East. She then took a variety of roles
\nin several television series before she landed the pivotal role
\nas the fashionista sister, Pinky, to Parminder Nagra's soccer-
\nloving Jess in Bend it Like Beckham in 2002.<\/p>\n
In 2003, she joined the cast of the television series Grease
\nMonkeys in a lead role, which made her somewhat of a household
\nname in England. Continuing to build on her past successes, she
\nappeared in director Michael Winterbottom's science fiction
\ndrama, Code 46 (2003).<\/p>\n
Then, in 2004, her reputation as a versatile actress earned
\nher the role of Yasmin Husseini in Yasmin. I first read the
\nscript -- it was very soon after Sept. 11.<\/p>\n
I asked quite a lot of questions -- as an individual, about
\nwhat happened to the Muslim community, and the hatred it (the
\ntragedy) had given birth to,\" she said.<\/p>\n
At the time, I was working and I a received a script about
\nthis girl who had suffered after Sept. 11. I read it and felt it
\nwas a wonderful and important story to be told.<\/p>\n
What made it great was that it was based entirely on real-life
\nsituations, so it was all true. I have met quite a number of real
\n\"Yasmins\".<\/p>\n
It's very special when you're doing an important film, an
\nimportant theme, as well as, professionally, such a big role,\"
\nShe said of her first lead in an international film.<\/p>\n
JiFFest viewers will be able to catch this gifted and
\nbeautiful young actress, not only in Yasmin but also in Fernando
\nMeirelles' film adaptation of John Le Carre's novel The Constant
\nGardener.<\/p>\n
In 2006, she will appear alongside Russell Crowe and Albert
\nFinney in director Ridley Scott's A Good Year.<\/p>",
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