A brisk late spring day finds us in Soho, where Dev Patel arrives, still shaking off the cold and providing a friendly elbow as a greeting in place of a handshake, his hands still damp. The impressionable young man we knew from “Skins” and “Slumdog Millionaire” has gracefully transitioned into an acclaimed actor of 33, who fills the room with his endearing persona. Although somewhat bewildered due to his work commitments lately, Patel exudes an unmistakable aura.
With a chuckle, he confesses being a little out of practice with social interaction, equating himself to the character Gollum emerging from his cave. Despite this, the recent film response has been nothing short of extraordinary. He is speaking of his latest film “Monkey Man”; a pulsating, gory action-packed film that Patel has directed, based around a young Indian man who embarks on a perilous journey of retribution for his mother’s murder. The film, with its intimidating palette and grungy visuals affirms Patel as a capable action hero. It’s quite a gamble to see him still intact, considering the physicality his role demanded.
Patel admits, with a nod, that it was one of the most gruelling yet invigorating experiences of his life. Lately, he’s been burning the candle at both ends. “Monkey Man” premiered on March 11th at the South by Southwest Festival in Texas, received a resounding approval, and subsequently clinched the audience award in the Headliner section. Patel’s versatility had already been demonstrated through his roles in “The Green Knight” (2021) and an Oscar-nominated performance in “Lion” (2016). However, his latest venture still carries a dash of his earlier infectious passion. I wonder if “Monkey Man” was intentionally trying to showcase a grittier version of Patel – the premise of a cosy film seems far-fetched.
“Indeed,” he acknowledges. “For over a decade, this concept has been bouncing in my head.” He shares that this idea was conceived out of his love for the action genre, despite never being a part of it, unless playing the supportive roles, such as the amusing sidekick or the tech guy. Also, he expressed his annoyance with the meaningless, thoughtless films produced by the studios. He pondered, envisioning what the younger version of himself would want to see on-screen, and fashioned a film accordingly.
This takes us back to the early days of Dev. Born in the London borough of Harrow to Anita, a caregiving professional, and Raju, a tech expert. Both parents were of Kenyan origin and were part of the Indian community in the country, but independently made their move to London where they eventually met and got hitched. Patel dabbled in acting at school, but appeared to not be fully committed until he auditioned for the well-known E4 series Skins.
I present to him a peculiar theory – perhaps his upbringing in Rayners Lane, a distant location on the Piccadilly Line, fuelled his creativity. This wouldn’t be the first instance; many innovative people have originated from the outskirts – take for example David Bowie and Siouxsie Sioux, propelled by the desire to break free from suburban life.
He doesn’t promptly dismiss my proposition. “Certainly. The city appeared somewhat unreachable to me,” he shares. “It was entirely unfamiliar. Going out to dine in the city was beyond our means. Both my parents were holding down two jobs simultaneously. Hence, life was challenging. Sitting here with you in this upscale hotel, feels surreal. The London I experience now is starkly dissimilar to what I grew up in.”
His narrative suggests that his mother was a key influence in his life. According to Patel’s personal history, it was actually her suggestion that he audition for Skins. The Bristol-based show was a launch pad for talents such as Nicholas Hoult, Kaya Scodelario, and Jack O’Connell. The series was watched by a generation, depicting the debauchery of the millennial era in the southwest. Patel confesses that he required some convincing to take the audition for the series seriously. His mother even considered abandoning the plan a couple of times.
He compares the sensation to unearthing a golden ticket from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in a mucky street, encapsulating the amazement. He shared his reflections about it with his mother recently. He admits it was tough for her as he was a willful, obstinate, and challenging child. Eager to avoid embarrassment, he was reluctant to attend with his mother. He is deeply grateful for his mother’s resilience as he has no idea where he’d be right now without her. He praises her innate intuition.
He confesses that arriving on set at the age of 16, he was clueless about the TV industry; even the simplest details, like what a boom was, eluded him. To him, the technicalities of the showbiz industry were as confounding as quantum physics. However, his intelligence is evident and his learning curve was steep, as can be seen from his technical achievements in Monkey Man. He honed his craft and learnt the ropes of film making on the set of Skins, where the amateur swiftly leveled up to a professional.
The phenomenal success of Slumdog Millionaire, a film with relatively unknown actors, a third of which was in a foreign language, left a powerful impression, winning eight Oscars. The fact that the film was initially meant to be released directly to video makes its success even more compelling.
He admits he was pretty adrift during his days in Skins. He feels fortunate to have been part of such an exceptional ensemble, which was marked by the show’s stars. His world essentially revolved around hanging out with peers, skipping school, and living in a Bristol hotel – quite an overwhelming experience for a 16-year-old Dev from Rayners Lane. He acknowledges the valuable mentorship of a director named Adam Smith, who emphasised the power of subtlety and stillness to him. Smith spoke to him with true adult respect, which helped him realise he didn’t need to play the joker.
“Skins”, a popular series, concluded in 2008. What followed could have ranged from the return to an ordinary life, to roles in TV dramas, or a potential revival in later years. The acting profession is notorious for its uncertainty, early success doesn’t guarantee long-lasting career stability. The series end, however, was fortuitously timed. As it concluded, director Danny Boyle was in search of an Asian lead for his vibrant tale “Slumdog Millionaire”. Rumour has it that it was Boyle’s 17-year-old daughter who suggested Patel based on his work in “Skins”. Five auditions later, Patel convinced the director. The movie subsequently went on to scoop eight awards at the Oscars, including the prestigious best picture.
Patel recalls feeling unworthy during the victory lap of “Slumdog”, humbly sharing his experiences of walking the red carpets alongside legendary icons. He fondly remembers wearing his school shoes on the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival, rubbing shoulders with luminaries like Dustin Hoffman. Despite his success, he speaks of a debilitating sense of anxiety, wondering if he belonged amidst such elite company. His humility is evident as he acknowledges his small part in the grand machinery of the film’s success.
Patel appears to have deeply contemplated his unique journey, speaking at length about the ups and downs of his career. He does not entertain a carefree attitude towards his profession. This philosophy served him well, post “Slumdog Millionaire”. Although he found work, it was not as diverse as he desired, often playing roles of ‘funny sidekicks’ or tech geeks. Considered type-casting, he encountered the expectation to repeat prior roles. However, it’s hard to ignore the underlying racial bias that possibly influenced his acting opportunities.
Highlighting the positive aspects, he notes, “The film industry has taken an exhilarating turn with the introduction of streaming platforms and the copious content they produce, along with new faces and compelling narratives. It’s an electrifying period for actors.”
Discussing the recent shift in the film industry over the past 15 years, he recalled the impact of “Slumdog Millionaire”. He said, “Undoubtedly, ‘Slumdog’ and Danny’s work were pivotal. A film featuring virtually unknown faces, with one-third of it in a foreign dialect, bagged eight Oscars. Originally destined for direct-to-video, it instead delivered a powerful message to the industry. It was evident with ‘Parasite’ too. I vividly recall watching ‘East is East’ earlier and the influence it had on people who resemble me. We’ve seen a gradual evolution, but now, everything is up for grabs.”
The 2019 film “The Personal History of David Copperfield” by Armando Iannucci exemplified this evolution. This delightful Dickens adaptation positioned Patel as the titular character, surrounded by a diverse range of performers. With Benedict Wong as the drunken Mr Wickfield, Nikki Amuka-Bird as Mrs Steerforth, Bronagh Gallagher as Mrs Micawber, the film overflowed with fresh, dynamic talent. Concurrently, he was appointed the leading role in David Lowery’s film, “The Green Knight”, a creative adaptation of the 14th century classic poem ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’, largely filmed in Ireland.
He praised Ireland’s citizens as “the best conversationalists I’ve ever encountered”. He reminisced about his time there as a spiritual journey, spent in remarkable locations. He said, “Being in the sublime vastness, perched with my horse nibbling on some gorse, created a sense of epic grandeur.”
Amid all his ventures, he locked down an Oscar nomination, even though he didn’t catch the Slumdog wave. His poignant portrayal of Saroo Brierley, an Indian adoptee in Australia who sets out to locate his biological family in Garth Davis’s Lion, earned him ample respect from the academy. Though he didn’t bag the accolade for the best supporting actor against Mahershala Ali, he proudly added ‘Academy Award nominee’ to his titles. Attending the award show with his mother and being present when Faye Dunaway announced the wrong winner for the grand prize was an exceptional experience.
“Absolutely incredible,” he remarks, still somewhat astounded. “Wow! That was quality television, wasn’t it?”
Much of his time is now spent in Australia. Modish technology allows one to manage a film career from any corner of the globe. However, Dev Patel retains his image of a quintessential Londoner, with his dry humour and dexterity to tackle any circumstances with ease.
“London’s vibe is enthralling,” he states pointing towards Soho. “Every visit I make showcases a rapid transformation. The city’s strength lies in its multiculturality and diversity, both in people and in industries. I profoundly miss it. It’s simply splendid. And of course, my family resides here too.”
Undoubtedly, they would be taking pride in his accomplishments. His forthcoming film, Monkey Man is generating the right buzz. It’s an action film inclined towards addressing sectarianism, religious conflicts, chastity loss. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“I concur that the movie is concealing a more profound message behind a facade of entertainment,” he admits. “I was cognizant that highlighting themes such as religion, politics, caste system, violence against women, police brutality and corruption, and the third gender of India would make the film challenging to digest. But by embedding these themes within exciting action sequences, I believe the film could act as an access point.”
When asked about his next move, he remains tight-lipped.
“Currently, I am just catching the buzz created by this movie. Bringing this creation to life has indeed been a Herculean task.”
Monkey Man hits the silver screen from April 5th.