Entertainment
Freida Pinto still super proud of ex-boyfriend Dev Patel: ‘Look at the amazing strides he’s made as an Indian-British actor’
Freida Pinto stars in new Christmas romcom, A Christmas Number One (Picture: Metro.co.uk/ Anthony Harvey/REX/Shutterstock)
Slumdog Millionaire actress Freida Pinto, 37, on her festive romcom, Backstreet Boys posters, her ex-boyfriend Dev Patel and Miss Universe.
Your new film, A Christmas Number One, sounds jolly…
Yes, definitely! I play a music manager on the hunt for a Christmas hit song. It’s a romcom but it brings in quite a few other elements. It’s funny and heartfelt.
Our goal was to put smiles on people’s faces and bring cheer to their lives. I’ve always wanted to be part of a Christmas movie. I’ve been on the lookout for the perfect one to be part of and here it is.
When it comes to Christmas are you a Grinch or an elf?
Oh, definitely an elf. I get very excited about Christmas. The only sad part about Christmas is that the build-up to Christmas is so fun and then it just all happens in one day. I wish we had a Christmas week!
There’s an Indian festival called Diwali and there’s, like, one day that is for actual celebration but then there’s another day, which is like the brother-sister relationship celebration, then another day where there’s the puja ritual, so it feels like Diwali is spread out.
Was Christmas a big thing for you growing up?
Oh yes. I was also born and raised in a Catholic family and I went to a Catholic school, so there was Christmas mass and carol singing and all of that fun stuff. I get very nostalgic around Christmas time.
It’s definitely my favourite holiday but not so much for the commercial reasons, the gift-giving or whatever. The way we celebrated Christmas was really more about friends and family coming over and decorating the tree and enjoying the food. Making Christmas cake was a huge thing.
Who was your teen pin-up?
I had posters of the Backstreet Boys. I liked AJ… or was it Kevin? Everyone liked Nick Carter but I wanted to stand out and be different.
But I only ever had one proper crush my whole life – Leonardo DiCaprio. I don’t think I made space for anybody else. I was loyal!
Leo was Freida’s teenage crush (Picture: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Netflix)
Growing up, you said Miss Universe was an inspiration…
The reason why I brought up Miss Universe is not because I necessarily wanted to be part of a beauty pageant but because that was when, for the first time, I saw how an Indian woman was being celebrated and given respect on this massive world platform.
We’re talking about 1994, I was, like, 10 years old. I must have willed it hard enough that my first movie immediately put me on a world stage in a very similar way, where everyone on earth pretty much knew the name of the movie [Slumdog Millionaire] and my name. It really went bonkers.
Are you and Dev Patel still ‘special friends’? You broke up ages ago [in 2014 after six years together] but everyone still wants to believe in your fairy tale…
Of course! And I’m happy people think that way because that film really gave so many people so much hope. When Slumdog Millionaire hit we were the only two people who were sailing in that same boat at the same time together.
So whenever there’s a moment of celebration, there’s always this urgent need for both of us to tell each other how proud we are of each other.
Look at the amazing strides Dev has made in his in his career — the first Indian-British guy to be playing David Copperfield. I mean, come on, that’s huge! That’s massive! And then I’m so excited about him in The Green Knight.
It’s been a tough journey because you’re constantly getting stares and glares, like, ‘You want to play what?’ I feel like we’ve earned it now.
Dev and Freida rose to fame in hit 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire (Picture: Film4)
Frieda is so proud of her ex-partner Dev for his career moves (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Next up you’re in Mr Malcolm’s List, which is an English period romance set in 1800 with a racially mixed cast. It sounds like Bridgerton.
Actually, it’s based on a short film that was made almost a year and a half before Bridgerton.
Way before! But I’m very grateful for a show like Bridgerton because [American TV producer] Shonda Rhimes is Shonda Rhimes.
She gets people to take note. So even though we came first, Shonda made it more… what’s the word? Acceptable.
There’s a great competition to be first but in the grand scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter. And I truly believe that, no matter who came first, if someone opens the door and you have the opportunity to go out there and make what you want to make, then that’s massive. We all work hand in hand, often without even realising that we do.
Finally, what’s your favourite Christmas film?
The Holiday. It’s with Cameron Diaz, who doesn’t seem to age. We were watching The Mask the other day and I was like, ‘How has she not aged one bit?’
A Christmas Number One is available on Sky Cinema and NOW from December 10
MORE : Steve Harvey slammed for asking Miss India for animal impression
MORE : Golden Globes 2022: Lady Gaga lands best actress nod for House of Gucci as nominations announced
