Harmeet Virdi caught up with one of the youngest new hot rods gracing the Brit Asian scene from the streets of the east end of London and took down some vital stats on the young heartthrob
BY HARMEET VIRDI | JAN 26, 2010
VITAL STATS
Name: Asad Shan
Ethnic Origin: I’m British!
Resides: London
Height: 6’0
Weight: 75KG (11 stones, 7 lbs)
Eyes: Brown
Family: 7 of us all together. I’m the eldest
Living Alone/Parents: Alone
Status: Single
Ideal Woman: Eva Mendes
Fave Hollywood Actress: Eva Mendes
Fave Bollywood Actress: Nandita Das – she’s very sexy! I use to have a crush on Raveena Tandon when I was younger!
Fave Hollywood Film: Too Many! Cinema Paradiso
Fave Indian Film: Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander, Andaz Apna Apna
Fave Song: Songs of “#7-Welcome To London” !!!
Fave Food: Oooh I love food, chicken, Bindi (urgh), Keema, Aubergines, I’m a foody! Sushi, Burgers, grilled food.
Lifetime Ambition: To Be Happy, have a healthy life with all my loved ones around me.
Quote of the Year: Live & Let Live!
Q. So Asad, you are from the East End of London, has it taught you much?
A. I was born in Canning Town. I’ve always been a proud east ender although my parents sent me to a school in Brentwood. For some strange reason I never ended up with an East London accent! But it’s definitely part of my identity and I’m proud to be from East London.
Q. You’re the founder of Iconic Productions and all set for your first full feature length film in “#7-Welcome To London” in which you also star, what’s the synopsis all about?
A. I play one of the roles, I play #7! (Laughs) No I’m joking. It’s about how times have changed in London. It’s about a person that arrives from Delhi to London and is completely unknown to London. It’s the journey of a guy that finds friendship here and true love. And I play the guy that arrives from Delhi. There’s a hard lesson to be learnt from this film.
Q. Most actors do a lot of acting before they set up a production company of their own, but for you it’s been the opposite, what made you do that?
A. I just came back from a break from India and I had an idea to set up an acting school in London as I feel we have a Niche Market here. In the UK we have immense talent, so why not set something up and make films here, which is why I did it. I wrote the film, it was set here in London, so I put my money where my mouth is. So with the help of a friend we wrote the screenplay and by the end of it we had 70 crew members and I hand picked them all! I always wanted to make it in London.
Q. Are you nervous? When are you hoping “#7-Welcome To London” will release?
A. No I’m not actually. We shot for 40 days and had it all planned. We took the plunge and went for it. Well I get my first copy in February and we will take it from there. I plan to release it around the world.
Q. What was Mumbai like with the Modelling/VJ?
A. I always wanted to go to an acting School, so I packed my bags and went to New York in 2005 and went to an acting School. I was a VJ for B4U. I always watched it and wanted to be on it. I remember when B4U did the casting and I had to do the audition there and then whilst I was all sweaty. A day later I got the job, for me it was great as I had already done lots of catwalks, fashion shows and now B4U. It’s worldwide so for me, it was a huge boost that all around the world people would watch my show.
Q. Do you miss Mumbai? Will you go back? How about Hollywood films?
A. I don’t miss VJ’ing. I’ll go to Mumbai, act then come back, The life is great but it’s just an experience for me. My life is here. I wouldn’t live there. I don’t think there is such a category as ‘Hollywood’, I want to do good films.
Q. So clearly busy with the final stages of “#7-Welcome To London”, does that give you any time to partey?! If so where do you like to hangout?
A. I go to No 5 Cavendish Square, Bungalow 8 with friends. I don’t really go to parties here in London but like going to places like Zuma. For work, of course then I will go to parties.
Q. Are you a people’s person? Or do you like to keep yourself to yourself?
A. Both when I have to be. I’m a people’s person, I’m very warm and giving, some things don’t need to be told to anyone. My life is all over the internet because of what I do, so that’s unavoidable.
