“Success does not boil down to charisma”, actor/model Kiran, face of ASOS and SPLIT STAR, told us, “it’s about a deeper genuine voice. If you speak louder, show who you really are, that’s what matters”. Kiran isn’t kidding. From his recent venture, raising a cool £15,000 standing outside Waterloo Station to fund his current film ‘Parachute’, to internationally hustling in Dubai and Argentina – where he was booked by ten top modelling agencies – the professional always presents himself bravely: “At Waterloo, I didn’t pretend to be anyone else. I stood there in my Calvin Klein suit. I communicated to people- ‘look I need this money for my production”. All that glitters, as we see, isn’t necessarily sequin-deep:
Tell us a bit about how you got to this point?
Coming from an Asian background my mum and dad wanted me to be a doctor or a lawyer, but I always wanted to create my own projects. I put together a one man show in the West End, drawing from my cultural experiences, which I consequently took to New York. Nothing was given to me. I don’t have GCSEs so I’ve made sure to fight. I’ve stood outside Shoreditch theatre giving out CVs, with all these snobby posh actors giving me abuse. I’ve chased after casting directors, and snuck into events just to get that job. I always think if I don’t reach for it now, what’s the point?
Tell me about your film ‘Parachute’?
Well, it was based in Sri Lanka and it’s about a guy who falls in love with a Sri-Lankan girl and her family don’t like it. I’m playing the role of a policeman. It’s a typical Asian drama, and you know, I fall out of a parachute!
Tell me more about the £15,000 you managed to raise for it?
I was scared, but when I want something, I will go after it. At the end of the day this is my life- it’s my career. I may have seemed like a liar, but the money wasn’t coming through the production company and investors weren’t going to give it to me. I got attention gradually because people were talking. They saw that I was serious. One person gave me £450 after seeing me there for seven days in a row. I said loud and clear, ‘I need the money for my movie; please can you help finance me?’
What have been some of the highlights in your career?
When I got to the West End, I went straight in from nothing, working with top actors with minimal experience myself. I just had a script, adrenaline and enthusiasm. Then when I got to take it to New York it was a big deal. Being made Head of Media for the world corporate games really opened doors too, especially for my modelling career.
Has your Background Played a large role in Life?
It’s made me very humble. I come from a Hindustani family - my mum is an air hostess, and my dad has a business background – so there’s never been that cockiness. I have no interest in that. I just do my work and go home. I like to relax too: I go swimming, take friends to dinner, and enjoy my time. You need a balance in life or you’ll never have a life!
What are your Current Projects?
A cooking/fashion show called ‘On the Menu’ which has just been commissioned by Sky. I’ve also got a film coming out in October and I’m going to be doing a huge photo shoot soon. I’m also looking to launch a book about my life as a young British boy. I want to tell people it doesn’t matter if you’re Asian or Indian, you don’t have to go to Bollywood. There are different options for success; you don’t have to be boxed in.
And where do you get all the energy for this?
Some people have good relationships with their mothers, I didn’t. We are not the best of friends and I have always wanted to prove to her that I am worth something. Her absence makes me strive harder.
Who is your inspiration?
Dev Patel- he jumped from one project to another, from ‘Skins’ to ‘Slumdog Millionaire’- the man’s a genius. Meera Syal has also done really well- she’s a good writer, honest and grounded.
What is your advice to other trailblazers like yourself?
You’ve got to go out and do things yourself. Do the groundwork to get to the good work.
