- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: LONDON PREMIERE OF FILM "THE GURU"
- Date: 19th August 2002
- Summary: LONDON, UK (AUGUST 20, 2002) (REUTERS) SCU SOUNDBITE (English) HEATHER GRAHAM SAYING: "It was really fun and you know to be totally honest with you like I believe a lot of those things so it was fun I just felt like...I felt like it was cool to play a character that people would think is sort of like a bimbo and not an idiot and then I was saying all these things that were actually so sort of like meaningful that it was inspiring all these people to worship him like a guru. And I think it's just kind of a really positive message about you know sex not being something bad and that it is spiritual and beautiful and that we don't need to feel guilty and bad that we're sexual people." SCU SOUNDBITE (English) DIRECTOR DAISY VON SCHERLER MAYER SAYING: "And the chemistry between Jimmy and Heather just on the set and in general was just fantastic I mean they were constantly giggling and joking around and you know running around practising their dance number and they were really like teenagers. So I think that comes across on screen and that's just what you hope for what you worry about is that they'll be in their trailers just not speaking to each other, but it was the opposite."
- Embargoed: 3rd September 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA85Y526NT444NPYC8RDWAA85V9
- Story Text: Heather Graham, Marissa Tomei and Jimi Mistry gathered in London to celebrate the premiere of their new film, The Guru, the story of a young Indian dancer who goes to America to find fame as an actor and finds himself transformed into a celebrity sex Guru - and finding the girl of his dreams along the way.
"Where else would I get to play a Hindi princess, a porn star, a bride and a teacher all in one film?" Heather Graham on the plus points of her latest role in "The Guru", a cross-cultural comedy of misguided love that premiered in London last night. Along with comedy siren Graham, the movie stars, Oscar winner Marisa Tomei, and British talent, Jimi Mistry of "East to East" fame.
The idea of a guru is nothing new to Mistry he thinks people have always looked for someone to listen to them, whether it be a guru, a partner or a mum. "I think everyone needs a guru of their own, in whatever form that is." Mistry plays, Ramu, a young Indian dance teacher who makes his way to New York in search of fame and fortune. But a penthouse and endless chorus line of blonde babes are not quite what await him. Reality amounts to a waiting job in an Indian restaurant and a role in a porn movie.
But the shy Ramu can't rise to the occasion despite the encouraging guidance of his co-star, Sharonna (Heather Graham). Fast-losing hope and employment, he shows up unannounced at a party catered for by his old boss for New Age therapy-crazed socialite, Lexi (Tomei). He starts the evening off as a waiter but by the end of the night he's playing guru to the host and her guests. The words of wisdom that come out of his mouth to feed the hungry seekers are those of Sharonna.
He's an overnight success and soon he's on the road to fame and fortune if not quite as he expected to be.
Mistry jumped at the opportunity to work with Graham and Tomei. Together the trio make up a first class comedy act. As soon as Director, Daisy Von Scherler Mayer saw Mistry she knew she'd found her guru. With Heather and Marisa she saw a contrast that would also work well. "There's a lot of beautiful actresses but the ones that are really funny and can nail the comedy is what I was looking for so that was great."
says Mayer.
Although it's a film packed with laughs and spectacular song and dance routines, for Graham it was the message that ultimately attracted her to the project. The film's good-humoured look at the New Age path to self-knowledge and spiritual enlightenment is one she's very comfortable with and its a path she's travelled herself. For her the movie had a positive message about sex, "not being something bad and that it is spiritual and beautiful and that we don't need to feel guilty and bad that we're sexual people."
And after playing the part of spiritual guide, Mistry's hot tip to happiness is a pretty down to earth one. "Basically do what you believe in. Follow the beat of your heart. Try your best and give it a hundred and fifty percent." Not bad advice for a sex guru! -- - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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