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One of Bollywood’s hunkiest stars is headed to South Africa to shoot his first solo film. Upen Patel will play the lead in Hum Aap Aur Pyar (Me, You & Love) which is scheduled to begin shooting in Johannesburg early next month.
The British-born Patel began his career as a model representing global brands like Hugo Boss, Paul Smith and Zegna. He made the switch to acting with an award-winning performance in 36 China Town, a 2006 Bollywood crime thriller directed by Abbas Mustan. He followed this up with supporting roles in Suneel Darshan's Shakalaka Boom Boom and Vipul Shah's Namastey London, amongst others.
The chisel-jawed actor, who is fast becoming a hit with female fans around the world, is excited to be shooting his first solo outing in South Africa.
“I had a really good time shooting Shakalaka Boom Boom in Johannesburg a couple of years ago,” he says. “It’s a city with some great locations, and for the first time we’ll be showing it as itself, not a stand-in for London or New York.
The film will also star Miss India 2007 Esha Gupta, widely known as the "Angelina Jolie of India", veteran Indian actress Neena Gupta & comic actor Kurush Homi Deboo.
Three of South Africa’s top models - Lee-Ann Liebenberg, Kerry McGregor & Tanya van Graan – will add to the film’s South African feel when they appear in one of the film’s music videos, to be shot at Sandton’s glitzy Club Taboo.
Tyrone Watkins, a judge in the TV show Strictly Come Dancing, will choreograph several of the film’s dance sequences.
The film’s South African producer is Natalie Stange of Red Pill Productions, the company behind the critically acclaimed Triomf.
"Bollywood is a global phenomenon that produces over 400 feature films a year, while South Africa produces just a fraction of that,” she says. “We view this as an amazing opportunity to learn how the Indian film industry works, not just in terms of production, but also marketing and distribution.”
The 40-strong Indian cast & crew for Hum Aap Aur Pyaar are scheduled to arrive in Johannesburg next week.
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