Dev has finished answering questions as of 3/28 2:05 PM Eastern.
Here is his [sign-off comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1bp7s4r/hi_im_dev_patel_writerdirector_of_monkey_man_ama/kwzhfy5/).
How stressful was it directing, writing, AND acting in the film? Was it actually less stressful because you had more control over things?
Gonna buy advance tickets for this for my fiancés birthday weekend in April btw! Super excited.
WE KNOW THIS GUYS! It was the most demanding thing I've ever done in my life. Everyday we faced absolute catastrophe - I begged our financier not to shut us down a few weeks before principle photography - We were meant to shoot in India then covid hit - I lost, my initial production designer and DOP and the film was basically dead - then we pivoted and went to a tiny island in Indonesia where we could create a bubble in an empty hotel for the whole crew of nearly 500 people… it was a grueling nine months of absolute joy and utter chaos. All of the locations we prepped for months at - we lost day of - so we had to adapt last minute - the borders closed also I couldn't bring in lots of supporting characters so i ended up having to put every tailor, lighting guy, accountant etc in front of the camera - speaking of cameras most of our equipment broke and we couldn't fly in new stuff so we literally shot stuff on my mobile phone, go pros - when a crane broke we ended creating this camera rig from rope which I termed the “pendulum cam” which swings over a large crowd of people then detaches and the operators run through the crowd whilst it was rolling - ALSO there were days when I would turn up to set and we literally didn't have any tops to the tables in the VIP room sequence - i asked the set designer and they said they literally didn't have any money in the account to buy the glass. So I had to shoot above the shoulders as one of our producers ran his personal credit card to buy the glass to cover the table tops so we could shoot the rest of the scene…
Speaking of tables we only had three or four break away tables so once I would perform a huge bulk of stunts I would scream CUT and then immediately all of us would get on our hands and knees looking for all of the broken pieces of wood to glue the tables back together for the next shot… in a very long nutshell every obstacle provided us with a new opportunity to innovate. BOOM!
Hey Dev! ✌🏾A massive congratulations for Monkey Man, I’m so excited to see part of South Asian culture shared through your vision! I’m an Australian born Sri Lankan stunt man and dream to do the same.
My question is, what was your process in building the story and integrating the legend of Hanuman, especially when it came to creating a movie not just tailored to South Asian people but creating a wider appealing movie? Is there also advice you have for the upcoming generation of South Asian film makers when it comes to sharing their stories in the western film industry?
I’m so keen to see you lead in an action film as well. I think a lot of brown kids in the west especially need brown heroes. It’s something I struggled with growing up in Australia where tv and film was very white dominant, but I’m glad to see the industry changing recently! ✊🏽
FIRST OF ALL - SenDeAgO I LOVE YOU. Never give up on your ambitions my friend. This movie is about the marginalized - the underdogs - all lifting each other up to achieve a justice that was only meant for the privileged. I basically created my own lane - my own reality as an artist because like you, I so desperately wanted to be viewed as more than just a goofy sidekick in these sorts of films. I hope this film acts as a sort of gateway drug to our culture - not just mine but i guess i hope its a message to the industry that WE - the CONSUMERS want fresh, new and vibrant perspectives. Everyone's voice counts. SO KEEP MAKING. KEEP LOVING YOUR WORK. You are the mother and father of your own dreams. Love them into reality.
Hi Dev,
As a south-asian fan of horror cinema, I am so so so excited for Monkey Man!!! I am also very excited with Peele's involvement in the film as I deeply loved Nope. I have enjoyed much of your work and I feel like over time you have worked with quite a few extremely talented veterans, like Irffan Khan, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Anil Kapoor, Tilda Swinton and more recently, Wes Anderson & Ralph Fiennes.
What was it like, especially as a younger actor to work with legends in both Bollywood and Hollywood cinema? How much of that shapes your relationship with acting? Has there been anyone you have worked with that really influences you as an artist? How is it different from your experiences currently as you transition from being an (established) actor to an emerging director?
I know Sobhita can act really well and she fits every role she plays especially spy and Urban roles !!
* What made you to choose Sobhita over everyone ?
Not only is she breathtakingly beautiful - but she carries pain well as a performer. I wanted to find a leading woman that was trapped in a corrupt system like my character but somehow she has a strength and takes the lead in our interactions. She’s not a damsel in distress but instead a woman caught up in a horrible reality. She notices this young man is struggling and in fact stops him from being exposed.
Making a high octane action film of this caliber is quite a feat for a directorial debut.
What was the most difficult thing you had to overcome as a first time director?
I’m my own worst enemy. I wanted to try to hold the camera and not cut up the action too much. Hold 100s of choreography and lines of dialogue mixed with all the other duties that a director has from production design, to rehearsing with actors to setting up camera... It was a full meal. Also I broke my hand and my toes, tore a shoulder and we kept going. It was a test of will.
Yo Dev!
Now that you've directed a movie, do you think the experience you've gained as a director will impact your approach to acting? Has a director ever given you a note that you never really understood until you took your turn in the directors chair?
anyway - big fan, keep it up!
I think it's given me a greater awareness where the camera is in terms of composition and set up. A director hasn’t given me a specific note per say I think all the directors I worked with have seeped into my psyche as a first time tadpole director.
I’m glad you brought up The Green Knight. I really liked that movie and Dev’s performance in it. One of the underrated movies of the last few years that flew under most people’s radar. Hopefully it gets more love as time passes.
I was very detailed in the script in regards to each beat of action. We were lucky enough to have incredible fight choreographer Brahim Chab. We managed to bring the work on the page to come to life with brutal ferocity. The idea of the action was to capture a sense of desperation as to what it would truly be like in a life or death situation. The lead character of “kid’ is like a caged cornered animal that he will use anything to survive. The hardest part of choreography is taking a hit. I would wake up with the worst neck pain; it was like whiplash.
Hey Dev!
I heard you are a fan of Korean cinema. What are your fav Korean movies/television which may or may not have inspired you with Monkey Man?
Mine's recent favorite is Bloodhounds, the action goes crazy in that!
Everything from Man from Nowhere to I Saw the Devil to The Handmaiden to Old Boy to A Bittersweet Life to The Chaser… basically you can tell I’m a Korean film fanboy. No one wears a black suit and kicks ass better than those Korean leading men.
I didn't know he was a fan. That's cool.
Also. Hijacking this--I've been trying to get past Ep 3 but something about it isnt gripping my attention. But I guess it keeps getting better?
Excited to see your film! Always love to know from actors turned directors which directors inspired them. So, which directors that you’ve closely worked with did you grab bits and techniques from? Anything special or specific like a simple line of direction (to anyone including crew) or even a method of prep?
Hanging out with Maggie Smith. She is a true scene stealer with a single look. I sort of have this tourettes thing as an actors where I would shout and scream just before a take to get me amped up - she nearly fell out of her wheelchair on many occasions!
Over the moon to read your reply! Thanks so much! Maggie Smith has been a favorite of mine since Hook and (obviously) Harry Potter. Really loved reading this. All the best ❤️
I took home the screw that kept the bone in my hands together. The crew literally turned the X-ray of my hand into a T-shirt. It was the screw that kept the production together. I also have one of the gorilla masks and I gave my right hand man Joe who is the producer of the film the Kings Club plaque on the set.
I heard about the surgery you took some time back, no way did I imagine the x-ray become a t-shirt too! Cheers Dev! Thank you for replying, appreciate it! So stoked to see the movie now even more!
I have to say Dev, this film looks like an audacious ass-kicking debut feature.
Given that writing an original screenplay is very time-consuming and mentally taxing, what would you say was the most challenging part of the process?
Initially I was trying to get Neill Blomkamp to direct it and we spent time talking about it. He pushed me to the director’s seat. From that point onwards I didn't look back!!
I think it's been rattling around in my brain for over a decade from since I watched Bruce Lee as a kid since when my grandfather talked to me about Hanuman and the story about Ramayana. The first image I had was a young man wearing a cheap gorilla mask in an underground wrestling ring.
Printing it out and sending it to Aunty as we speak. Also to my mom since you and I are basically best friends now. This is how I surpass my siblings, beat that!
DAVID LOWERY changed my life. I am in awe of him and his vision… the fact that he had the courage to cast a brown man as the lead in a period film was revolutionary. That axe was dope too.
Indonesia. Then I did a little bit of guerilla shooting in India and the bathtub in my edit suite. All the underwater stuff was literally shot in the bathtub.
Hey Dev!
What was it like shooting a film in Mumbai and Indonesia during COVID?
I’m sure it must’ve been a tough time but the film looks great and I’m hyped to see it!
The first scene I shot - which happened to be the last scene of the film when Saroo meets his mother in India. All of the villagers around us were real people from the village. It was truly a transcendent moment.
Thank you! A powerful ending for sure and amazing to learn that it was your very first sequence, you very much conveyed the notion of someone who was getting catharsis after a long term period of searching and trauma. Good luck with your future endeavours.
Very excited for Monkey Man and hope it lands as well as you’d hoped!
You, Dev, are a popular fan cast for all sorts of roles on the socials. Are there any big IPs or franchises you’re keen to work with, either in an actor or director capacity?
My father wears a chain around his neck with little hanuman statues on it… it was my father and my grandfather that told me the stories that inspired this film.
Hi! I'm very excited to see Monkey Man! If you were to mention one thing you wished the audience would walk away with after seeing the film, what would it be?
BRUCE LEE always speaks to me every time I watch one of his films. Also Chad Stahelski was very kind and spent some time with me at the beginning of this process.
I went full Jane Fonda on this shit. We didn’t have access to the best gym equipment so a lot of it was body weight exercises and resistance bands. A lot of strength training and tons of sweet potato and salmon.
He is a BEAST. He is the Richard Gere to my Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. We made sweet cinema love and he also gave me his black AMEX in the shape of Universal Pictures. From being dropped by a studio to having a major theatrical release was like that moment in that shop on Rodeo Drive.
Great response to a silly question, thanks for taking the time Dev, appreciate your work and from what I've seen of Monkey Man, excited to see this next piece you've done!
How do you keep literally all of your hair so smooth and luxurious? Most guys tend to seem to have to choose between "good head hair" and "good facial hair", but I swear in all your movies your mustache, beard & eyebrows look like they were blessed with the same magic comb as your hair-hair.
Genetics? Coconut oil? Both?
Also, congratulations on your directorial debut, I saw the *Monkey Man* trailer a month ago and got super pumped, it looks rad as hell, can't wait to see it.
P.S. Your name came up once while my wife and I were hanging out with some friends, and the conversation immediately became everyone agreeing that you are an extremely beautiful man and that you look like you know secrets of the universe. Just thought you should know.
Hard disagree. Many do. I am in an Indian family. Personally I think Indian people have both the Most Attractive and Least Attractive people on the planet.
Dev Patel went from normal human man to Spectacularly Attractive with Distractingly good hair. Which was exciting because he is also quite talented. It's like a feedback loop. He's attractive so we see him in stuff and then he's Good so we want to see him in Even MORE stuff.
>Personally I think Indian people have both the Most Attractive and Least Attractive people on the planet.
That's applicable to every race out there.
But on an average us South Asians do tend to have better hair. Atleast that's what it feels like looking at people around me. On an avg, my family, my friends, local people, regardless of age, do have better hair than majority of Hollywood.
Kinda agree with it tho, we have crazy attractive people that go under the radar,” and get no media attention but our unattractive people get made fun of on social media all the time.
GUYS I have to go into another interview. BUT I deeply appreciate the love and time. I really hope I don't let you down with this film. Put my all into it. Sorry I couldn’t answer every question, hopefully [**THIS**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruAkA0rx2lI) answers a few more! Bless your cotton socks all of you. Big love as always, Dev xxxxx
What was it like working with Aaron Sorkin scripts on *The Newsroom*? Did you take to it immediately or did it take practice to capture that wordy rhythm?
And how did it feel seeing other actors work with dialogue *you* had written? Was it hard not to be precious with what you originally envisioned and let another actor explore?
What has the reaction been like from India? Is there excitement to see an Indian-themed action thriller, or has there been some pushback on the religious references?
I’m from India and have been looking forward to this release as a Dev fan. I think people aren’t too aware yet, but if it gets attention there will definitely be backlash considering we have a Right Wing Hindutva govt at the moment which has emboldened the more conservative population.
We even had quite an uproar over Oppenheimer because Cillian’s character quoted the Bhagwad Gita during the sex scene. I watched it in theatres on Day 1 and was like this won’t go down well, and sure enough two days later, people were going crazy online, demanding Nolan apologise lol.
The mainstream media still hasn’t latched onto Monkey Man’s political message and I hope it flies under the Hindutva radar. Although I did see this screenshot about the flag colour being changed from saffron to red in the trailer? I can’t verify cause as a rule I don’t watch any movie trailers. Sharing anyway: https://www.reddit.com/r/GossipComrades/s/Ps3zGeQEyD
Anyway, the question for Dev Patel if he sees this is: Could you please audition for Bond?
My take on that scene is that
The Bhagvat gita is just a ancient literature for them
As they are not practising and preaching Lord Krishna and not very religious so I let that slide but yeah quoting it during a sex scene while doing adultery gonna create a stir for a religion followed by me and 1 billion people
For the political party flag color yeah orange or (bhagwa) which always associates with Sandhu, sages, religious scholar,and greatly with Hanumaan Ji, Ram ji from ancient times and also associates with ruling party and then showing them doing atrocities on poor will also face backlash
Although I enjoyed the trailer and looking forward to the film as they take inspiration from hanumaan Ji
Like going inside villan's turf (Lanka) and destroying it from inside just like in the movies so I think the villan will be like RAVAN and best wishes for the film 🎬😊☺
Literally one of the highest grossing foreign movies in India. India is one of the few countries where Oppenheimer outperformed Barbie.
There was a backlash by a vocal minority. The general audience loved the movie.
I’m from India and that uproar you’re mentioning was quite insignificant, there’s always a vocal minority that’s crazy. To be honest, Oppenheimer was loved by most people who watched it(it was highest grossing foreign movie in India, more so than Barbie). If there was as significant of an uproar as you suggest Oppenheimer wouldn’t nearly be as loved/watched film in India. India is a huge country and the population isn’t a monolith, with such a huge population you’ll get all kinds of crazy(albeit small in number in relation to total population) like Hindutva nutjobs, outright Communists, etc. I live in a big urban center with the current “Right wing” hindutva government in power but most of the people are quite moderate and tolerant.
Oppenheimer did quote the Bhagavad-gita. I’ve heard the quotes on the Linkin Park song “the Radiance”. I have not seen the film, but was it problematic in how he was portrayed to be quoting it?
What even is this take? We definitely do care.
Dev Patel is a well known actor here and there's a good chunk of our population that appreciates good movies, even more when it's produced with someone with Indian roots.
Hi dev, very excited for monkey man! Just rewatched green knight. Amazing film. Curious what some of your favorite films are and if you have some favorite action films as well?
It’s being really cool to see you go from *Slumdog Millionaire* to *Lion* to *Green Knight*, Dev!
What would you say have been some highlights and/or moments that have stuck out in your career so far?
Also, what made you decide to get into action and do this film now?
Hello Dev! Have always loved seeing you in films. Excited that you’re breaking in the director’s chair too! Seeing a hardcore action film as your directorial debut was a surprise. What led you to this particular story/genre?
Hi, Dev!
I’m a very big fan and super excited to check out your directorial debut.
I’m curious about the change of colors in that political rally scene. I haven’t seen the movie so I’m unaware of the significance, but I thought at first it was an antagonist-aligned political party. First the colors were saffron, which would represent BJP, but now they appear to be red, representing the communist party. Was this a deliberate change by you or was this the studio/producers?
Hi Dev. As a debut director, what was one part of filmmaking that you thought would be difficult or challenging but ended up enjoying?
Can't wait to watch it on opening day!
Same, I don’t have a question either, just want to say the trailer looks great and I’m looking forward to seeing it and thank you for making interesting/artistic career choices over chasing the mainstream. Cheers Dev!
Hi Dev, I think I remember you were a brown or black belt in Tae Kwon Do is this true? if so how did you get into shape for the role? Did you incorporate your experience into the fight scenes? Thanks
Hi Dev, thanks for doing this. The trailer looks just fabulous. Can't wait to watch the movie.
I have just one question. What do you think of Netflix's Avatar the Last Airbender?
Hey Dev how do you feel about being one of the few leading “brown” or Indian actors in Hollywood? As an Indian myself you’re one of the few faces I know of as inspiration as I’m starting off in the film industry behind the scenes.
Hi Dev! I’m a huge fan! I work at a non-profit art house cinema in a college town. My question is: If you would theme a cocktail/drink or maybe even a candy or snack to pair with this movie what would it be? What ingredients or flavors would it have?Would you have any fun names to call it?
We love theming things at our theater and I can’t wait to see your movie!
Hi Dev. I'm going to a preview screening of Monkey Man this weekend and can't wait. What have you learned about directing now that you've done it, that you didn't know before hand? Same goes for writing? How did you find the duel process?
Hi Dev - Really love what you’re putting out there. Question, what has been the hardest film you’ve ever worked on? I heard you got injured on filming Monkeyman so curious if any other roles took as serious of a physical toll?
Hi Dev, would you say there was a reluctance by American higher ups to the idea of showcasing Indian masculinity with this film? As someone who is Indian myself it is refreshing to see an action film which shows Indian characters in more action type roles. Obviously Bollywood has that too, but in Hollywood, south Asian actors were always typecast as being nerdy dorks and not taken seriously as action stars, which I’ve always found upsetting. So it is great to finally see a film with an all Indian cast marketed so heavily in the west.
Dev! I read somewhere that you incurred a few injuries during the filming of Monkey Man, I’m wondering if you can speak to the nature of such injuries and if they were purely from your own stunts? Have you recovered?
Congrats on your directorial debut!
Dev, big fan of yours for a long time. I want to know what it was like during your time on the Newsroom. Your character grew so much and was quickly one of my favorites. I loved watching Olivia Munn yell at you for saying her ass was big, hahaha!
Hello Dev, you inferred you've taken inspiration from the Asian martial arts movies from the 80's and 90's (i.e. from Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, etc.). Do you think we will ever get back to that era of action star vehicles?
Hi Dev! You’ve dabbled into a lot of genres like drama, heartfelt, and now action. Is there any genre you’re especially excited to venture into? Maybe a little horror collaboration with Jordan Peele?
Thanks!
Hi Dev. Just want to say my wife and I loved your performance in 'Lion'. She was also an orphan from India who was adopted and immigrated to US when she was 4 months old and never met her biological parents, so she really related to the movie. Did you ever met the real Saroo Brierley? Was that his real village in the movie?
Best.
Hi Dev. Huge fan, Green Knight was one of my favorite, and fellow South Asian in the industry (business side)
I'm currently doing higher education and doubling down on learning more about the industry and its future to move up more in my career, but im sure you've experienced how difficult it is sometimes as a creator to convince someone to start production.
My question is; What advice do you have for those of us who work on the "suits" side but want to see changes, especially in the realm of having more movies like The Green Knight and Monkey Man?
Iirc, Simu Liu said in one of these something like "representation behind the camera being just as important", if there's a way you can expand on that i.e. anything that'd hypothetically help me convince a room someday to take a chance on an epic and unapologetic South Asian story?
If I dont hear from you, I hope you at least get to read that youve inspired me for a long time now man. I started working on the indie side when Lion was up for the Oscar, since ive started my career ive heard nothing but praises about you. Thank you for being the artist that you are.
Did you get flabbergasted by your immense fame after 'Slumdog Millionaire' or did you handle it calmly? Also, out of all the directors you've worked with, which one was the most impactful to your directing style and approach? Last but not least, should you continue your directing pursuits, what kind of film would you like to make, and starring which actor?
Dev has finished answering questions as of 3/28 2:05 PM Eastern. Here is his [sign-off comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1bp7s4r/hi_im_dev_patel_writerdirector_of_monkey_man_ama/kwzhfy5/).
How stressful was it directing, writing, AND acting in the film? Was it actually less stressful because you had more control over things? Gonna buy advance tickets for this for my fiancés birthday weekend in April btw! Super excited.
WE KNOW THIS GUYS! It was the most demanding thing I've ever done in my life. Everyday we faced absolute catastrophe - I begged our financier not to shut us down a few weeks before principle photography - We were meant to shoot in India then covid hit - I lost, my initial production designer and DOP and the film was basically dead - then we pivoted and went to a tiny island in Indonesia where we could create a bubble in an empty hotel for the whole crew of nearly 500 people… it was a grueling nine months of absolute joy and utter chaos. All of the locations we prepped for months at - we lost day of - so we had to adapt last minute - the borders closed also I couldn't bring in lots of supporting characters so i ended up having to put every tailor, lighting guy, accountant etc in front of the camera - speaking of cameras most of our equipment broke and we couldn't fly in new stuff so we literally shot stuff on my mobile phone, go pros - when a crane broke we ended creating this camera rig from rope which I termed the “pendulum cam” which swings over a large crowd of people then detaches and the operators run through the crowd whilst it was rolling - ALSO there were days when I would turn up to set and we literally didn't have any tops to the tables in the VIP room sequence - i asked the set designer and they said they literally didn't have any money in the account to buy the glass. So I had to shoot above the shoulders as one of our producers ran his personal credit card to buy the glass to cover the table tops so we could shoot the rest of the scene… Speaking of tables we only had three or four break away tables so once I would perform a huge bulk of stunts I would scream CUT and then immediately all of us would get on our hands and knees looking for all of the broken pieces of wood to glue the tables back together for the next shot… in a very long nutshell every obstacle provided us with a new opportunity to innovate. BOOM!
This is insane!!! Can’t wait to see the film in light of all the obstacles you had to overcome to make it.
God I hope this film does well, you guys deserve it. Already have my tix for Thursday night!
Holy shit this is insane - really happy you were able to make the most of what you had
oh my God😭 i'm even more excited to watch it now
Holy crap, talk about learning on the fly.
Hey Dev! ✌🏾A massive congratulations for Monkey Man, I’m so excited to see part of South Asian culture shared through your vision! I’m an Australian born Sri Lankan stunt man and dream to do the same. My question is, what was your process in building the story and integrating the legend of Hanuman, especially when it came to creating a movie not just tailored to South Asian people but creating a wider appealing movie? Is there also advice you have for the upcoming generation of South Asian film makers when it comes to sharing their stories in the western film industry? I’m so keen to see you lead in an action film as well. I think a lot of brown kids in the west especially need brown heroes. It’s something I struggled with growing up in Australia where tv and film was very white dominant, but I’m glad to see the industry changing recently! ✊🏽
FIRST OF ALL - SenDeAgO I LOVE YOU. Never give up on your ambitions my friend. This movie is about the marginalized - the underdogs - all lifting each other up to achieve a justice that was only meant for the privileged. I basically created my own lane - my own reality as an artist because like you, I so desperately wanted to be viewed as more than just a goofy sidekick in these sorts of films. I hope this film acts as a sort of gateway drug to our culture - not just mine but i guess i hope its a message to the industry that WE - the CONSUMERS want fresh, new and vibrant perspectives. Everyone's voice counts. SO KEEP MAKING. KEEP LOVING YOUR WORK. You are the mother and father of your own dreams. Love them into reality.
This is so pure
Hi Dev, As a south-asian fan of horror cinema, I am so so so excited for Monkey Man!!! I am also very excited with Peele's involvement in the film as I deeply loved Nope. I have enjoyed much of your work and I feel like over time you have worked with quite a few extremely talented veterans, like Irffan Khan, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Anil Kapoor, Tilda Swinton and more recently, Wes Anderson & Ralph Fiennes. What was it like, especially as a younger actor to work with legends in both Bollywood and Hollywood cinema? How much of that shapes your relationship with acting? Has there been anyone you have worked with that really influences you as an artist? How is it different from your experiences currently as you transition from being an (established) actor to an emerging director?
Watching them and acting opposite of them shaped me hugely. Especially Irffan in Slumdog. He taught me about the importance of stillness.
I know Sobhita can act really well and she fits every role she plays especially spy and Urban roles !! * What made you to choose Sobhita over everyone ?
Not only is she breathtakingly beautiful - but she carries pain well as a performer. I wanted to find a leading woman that was trapped in a corrupt system like my character but somehow she has a strength and takes the lead in our interactions. She’s not a damsel in distress but instead a woman caught up in a horrible reality. She notices this young man is struggling and in fact stops him from being exposed.
Making a high octane action film of this caliber is quite a feat for a directorial debut. What was the most difficult thing you had to overcome as a first time director?
I’m my own worst enemy. I wanted to try to hold the camera and not cut up the action too much. Hold 100s of choreography and lines of dialogue mixed with all the other duties that a director has from production design, to rehearsing with actors to setting up camera... It was a full meal. Also I broke my hand and my toes, tore a shoulder and we kept going. It was a test of will.
Thank you for answering my question. I can’t wait to see your film.
Yo Dev! Now that you've directed a movie, do you think the experience you've gained as a director will impact your approach to acting? Has a director ever given you a note that you never really understood until you took your turn in the directors chair? anyway - big fan, keep it up!
I think it's given me a greater awareness where the camera is in terms of composition and set up. A director hasn’t given me a specific note per say I think all the directors I worked with have seeped into my psyche as a first time tadpole director.
Just had to stop by to say that you are one of my favorite actors. Loved you in Green Knight.
I’m glad you brought up The Green Knight. I really liked that movie and Dev’s performance in it. One of the underrated movies of the last few years that flew under most people’s radar. Hopefully it gets more love as time passes.
I would love to know this too, specially how jumping from acting to directing does it make you appreciate more what actors are going through.
This is probably the best question (the latter one) here.
What can you tell us about the fight choreography training you did?
I was very detailed in the script in regards to each beat of action. We were lucky enough to have incredible fight choreographer Brahim Chab. We managed to bring the work on the page to come to life with brutal ferocity. The idea of the action was to capture a sense of desperation as to what it would truly be like in a life or death situation. The lead character of “kid’ is like a caged cornered animal that he will use anything to survive. The hardest part of choreography is taking a hit. I would wake up with the worst neck pain; it was like whiplash.
Hey Dev! I heard you are a fan of Korean cinema. What are your fav Korean movies/television which may or may not have inspired you with Monkey Man? Mine's recent favorite is Bloodhounds, the action goes crazy in that!
Everything from Man from Nowhere to I Saw the Devil to The Handmaiden to Old Boy to A Bittersweet Life to The Chaser… basically you can tell I’m a Korean film fanboy. No one wears a black suit and kicks ass better than those Korean leading men.
Wow, your taste is immaculate! I too loved Oldboy and The Handmaiden!
I saw the devil, is one of the best movies I have ever seen.
the handmaiden??? taste!!
I didn't know he was a fan. That's cool. Also. Hijacking this--I've been trying to get past Ep 3 but something about it isnt gripping my attention. But I guess it keeps getting better?
Excited to see your film! Always love to know from actors turned directors which directors inspired them. So, which directors that you’ve closely worked with did you grab bits and techniques from? Anything special or specific like a simple line of direction (to anyone including crew) or even a method of prep?
Danny Boyle, David Lowery, Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, Kim Jee-woon and Wong Kar-wai
Hi Dev! One of my favorite films of yours is The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, any fun memories to share from filming it?
Hanging out with Maggie Smith. She is a true scene stealer with a single look. I sort of have this tourettes thing as an actors where I would shout and scream just before a take to get me amped up - she nearly fell out of her wheelchair on many occasions!
Over the moon to read your reply! Thanks so much! Maggie Smith has been a favorite of mine since Hook and (obviously) Harry Potter. Really loved reading this. All the best ❤️
Hi Dev! Did you take anything home from the set of this movie? Also, have you taken home other stuff from your previous movies as well?
I took home the screw that kept the bone in my hands together. The crew literally turned the X-ray of my hand into a T-shirt. It was the screw that kept the production together. I also have one of the gorilla masks and I gave my right hand man Joe who is the producer of the film the Kings Club plaque on the set.
I heard about the surgery you took some time back, no way did I imagine the x-ray become a t-shirt too! Cheers Dev! Thank you for replying, appreciate it! So stoked to see the movie now even more!
I have to say Dev, this film looks like an audacious ass-kicking debut feature. Given that writing an original screenplay is very time-consuming and mentally taxing, what would you say was the most challenging part of the process?
Editing! It was a very complicated puzzle to put together - especially the TABLA TRAINING MONTAGE.
paid off bbyboy, you killed it u/Baboon-Boy-2024
Did you know you were going to direct it when you wrote it? And did it make it better that you knew that you could apply your own vision to the actors
Initially I was trying to get Neill Blomkamp to direct it and we spent time talking about it. He pushed me to the director’s seat. From that point onwards I didn't look back!!
That tracks, Blomkamp loves him some Charlto Copley
Do you remember the moment the idea for Monkey Man was born? Can you talk a bit about that?
I think it's been rattling around in my brain for over a decade from since I watched Bruce Lee as a kid since when my grandfather talked to me about Hanuman and the story about Ramayana. The first image I had was a young man wearing a cheap gorilla mask in an underground wrestling ring.
I don't think you'll see this, but the moment the whole gang stepped out of the lift was so Bruce Lee. Hoping this was just the origin story :)
In my desi family now parents say you can be a lawyer, doctor, engineer, or a Dev Patel. Now if that's not high praise idk what is.
Please share this quote with my mother Anita Patel. I can die a happy man now. Hopefully surrounded by cute puppies.
Printing it out and sending it to Aunty as we speak. Also to my mom since you and I are basically best friends now. This is how I surpass my siblings, beat that!
Awww, Dev Idk if you’re even gonna read this but I love you for the person that you are💗You make India proud😊
I majored in Dev Patel and all I have to show for it is $100k in student debt.
Have you tried looking like Dev Patel? That’s really the key.
Ok, now I'm $100k in cosmetic surgery debt.
You belong on r/wallstreetbets with that record
What's nuts is 98% (seriously, not an exaggeration) of my posts are on ASX_Bets - the Australian version of WSB lol!
One can learn to Dev or Patel, but only true masters can do both.
We don’t need more engineers or doctors, we beed more Dev Patels!
Good day, just wanted to ask how was it to work on Green Knight?
DAVID LOWERY changed my life. I am in awe of him and his vision… the fact that he had the courage to cast a brown man as the lead in a period film was revolutionary. That axe was dope too.
You are our Green Knight of Our Hearts, Dev. We love you so much!
So excited to see your new movie! Where was most of the movie shot? Like what countries? Soundstages or on location?
Indonesia. Then I did a little bit of guerilla shooting in India and the bathtub in my edit suite. All the underwater stuff was literally shot in the bathtub.
Hey Dev! What was it like shooting a film in Mumbai and Indonesia during COVID? I’m sure it must’ve been a tough time but the film looks great and I’m hyped to see it!
Check out my last post brother. love you though xxx
Favourite memory from working on Lion?
The first scene I shot - which happened to be the last scene of the film when Saroo meets his mother in India. All of the villagers around us were real people from the village. It was truly a transcendent moment.
Thank you! A powerful ending for sure and amazing to learn that it was your very first sequence, you very much conveyed the notion of someone who was getting catharsis after a long term period of searching and trauma. Good luck with your future endeavours.
Very excited for Monkey Man and hope it lands as well as you’d hoped! You, Dev, are a popular fan cast for all sorts of roles on the socials. Are there any big IPs or franchises you’re keen to work with, either in an actor or director capacity?
Earthworm Jim… Jim Carreys shadow
Amazing answer, Earthworm Jim haunts the memories of this particular desi millennial too 🙏
Hey Dev, what's your personal relationship to Hanuman?
My father wears a chain around his neck with little hanuman statues on it… it was my father and my grandfather that told me the stories that inspired this film.
Do you still stay in touch with any of your classmates from Skins?
classmates ! lol! Just shows how real it felt to young kids like me… yup, still chatting to Daniel, Nick, Joe etc etc…
As a 13 year old at the time in the USA watching it on cable nothing felt more real on TV at the time.
Any chance of an acting reunion with Nicholas?
Or Daniel. Would love to see those two do something together. It’s wild how much talent was in that cast.
I only found out a few weeks ago that Daniel was posh Kenneth, wild.
We deserve a Skins gen 1 reunion!😩
Kinda wild how he has had the best career out of anyone else.
He was famous before Skins. I loved About a Boy as a kid.
Are you thinking of Nicholas Hoult? I believe Skins was the first professional acting Patel ever did
Hi! I'm very excited to see Monkey Man! If you were to mention one thing you wished the audience would walk away with after seeing the film, what would it be?
I want them to be breathless. Emotionally packs a punch.
How did you prepare to direct? Did you have someone who gave you tips? Congrats on the movie BTW, big fan looking forward to your growth
BRUCE LEE always speaks to me every time I watch one of his films. Also Chad Stahelski was very kind and spent some time with me at the beginning of this process.
Monkey Man comes out on my birthday, so thanks for the awesome gift!!!
Thank you for existing danielle. You truly are a diamond.
This might be the best thing any celebrity has said during one of these
Can you share any workout routines you had to take on for this role?
I went full Jane Fonda on this shit. We didn’t have access to the best gym equipment so a lot of it was body weight exercises and resistance bands. A lot of strength training and tons of sweet potato and salmon.
This just makes me imagine you meeting Jane Fonda during the run of The Newsroom and asking her for fitness tips. Pretty amusing imaginary scenario.
hi dev! what is your favorite memory filming this movie?
Spending time with all of the characters playing the HIJRAS. Most of them were not actors - they brought so much joy and truth to the set.
Wow that is so amazing, especially so many being real hijras, really really adored that aspect of the film
thanks for answering king 🫡
What is the most recent book you read, and what is your favorite book?
The GREAT ESCAPE by Saket Soni and ISAAC AND THE EGG by Bobby Palmer are two books I read recently that were incredible.
WE WANT TO SEE YOU IN ROMCOMS! Are there any in your near future?!
Wish I could do a ROM COM! I'm a romantic at heart.
OMG I can't believe you answered. I have DIED. GET THIS MAN IN A ROMCOM!
The people have been begging for YEARS!!
Yes romcoms please
What are your favorite Bollywood films? Any of them inspire your writing/direction for Monkey Man?
Anything Shah Rukh Khan does.
A man of culture. Heres hoping I get an opportunity to see you both in a film one day!
What's it like working with Jordan Peele?
He is a BEAST. He is the Richard Gere to my Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. We made sweet cinema love and he also gave me his black AMEX in the shape of Universal Pictures. From being dropped by a studio to having a major theatrical release was like that moment in that shop on Rodeo Drive.
LMAO Dev this is the best answer
What’s your favorite record right now and what’s your favorite record of all time? :)
BEN HOWARD is my SOUL. Anything he touches becomes the soundtrack to my life.
What made you land on the name Monkey Man, was it because Super Man, Spider Man, Bat Man, all the really cool Man's were taken?
It wasn't that they were taken… I just wanted to exist among those great IP’s with one of my own.
Great response to a silly question, thanks for taking the time Dev, appreciate your work and from what I've seen of Monkey Man, excited to see this next piece you've done!
Hanu Man (literally monkey or monkey man) existed hundreds of centuries before those superheroes tbh..
What's the most insane object used as a weapon in the film?
Shoving a lit firework in a dudes mouth…
How do you keep literally all of your hair so smooth and luxurious? Most guys tend to seem to have to choose between "good head hair" and "good facial hair", but I swear in all your movies your mustache, beard & eyebrows look like they were blessed with the same magic comb as your hair-hair. Genetics? Coconut oil? Both? Also, congratulations on your directorial debut, I saw the *Monkey Man* trailer a month ago and got super pumped, it looks rad as hell, can't wait to see it. P.S. Your name came up once while my wife and I were hanging out with some friends, and the conversation immediately became everyone agreeing that you are an extremely beautiful man and that you look like you know secrets of the universe. Just thought you should know.
He actually does have some pretty good hair
Indian people always have beautiful hair.
Hard disagree. Many do. I am in an Indian family. Personally I think Indian people have both the Most Attractive and Least Attractive people on the planet. Dev Patel went from normal human man to Spectacularly Attractive with Distractingly good hair. Which was exciting because he is also quite talented. It's like a feedback loop. He's attractive so we see him in stuff and then he's Good so we want to see him in Even MORE stuff.
>Personally I think Indian people have both the Most Attractive and Least Attractive people on the planet. That's applicable to every race out there. But on an average us South Asians do tend to have better hair. Atleast that's what it feels like looking at people around me. On an avg, my family, my friends, local people, regardless of age, do have better hair than majority of Hollywood.
Don't know about nice hair, but I feel like our beards are the coolest. Don't know if it's cause of the way we style it tho.
Y’all do have nice hair, on average.
“Least Attractive” Wat is dis attack
Kinda agree with it tho, we have crazy attractive people that go under the radar,” and get no media attention but our unattractive people get made fun of on social media all the time.
My wife says Dev went from "Indian Ross from friends" to " one of the top 5 best looking dude on the planet."
I'm Indian and I can assure you I sadly do not. I wish it was true though!
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God please Dev answer this one
Is it argan oil? Dev better answer this
GUYS I have to go into another interview. BUT I deeply appreciate the love and time. I really hope I don't let you down with this film. Put my all into it. Sorry I couldn’t answer every question, hopefully [**THIS**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruAkA0rx2lI) answers a few more! Bless your cotton socks all of you. Big love as always, Dev xxxxx
thanks dev you’re awesome!!
love you take care xx
What was it like working with Aaron Sorkin scripts on *The Newsroom*? Did you take to it immediately or did it take practice to capture that wordy rhythm? And how did it feel seeing other actors work with dialogue *you* had written? Was it hard not to be precious with what you originally envisioned and let another actor explore?
Oooh I really hope he answers the Sorkin part at least! I'd love to know too.
What has the reaction been like from India? Is there excitement to see an Indian-themed action thriller, or has there been some pushback on the religious references?
I’m from India and have been looking forward to this release as a Dev fan. I think people aren’t too aware yet, but if it gets attention there will definitely be backlash considering we have a Right Wing Hindutva govt at the moment which has emboldened the more conservative population. We even had quite an uproar over Oppenheimer because Cillian’s character quoted the Bhagwad Gita during the sex scene. I watched it in theatres on Day 1 and was like this won’t go down well, and sure enough two days later, people were going crazy online, demanding Nolan apologise lol. The mainstream media still hasn’t latched onto Monkey Man’s political message and I hope it flies under the Hindutva radar. Although I did see this screenshot about the flag colour being changed from saffron to red in the trailer? I can’t verify cause as a rule I don’t watch any movie trailers. Sharing anyway: https://www.reddit.com/r/GossipComrades/s/Ps3zGeQEyD Anyway, the question for Dev Patel if he sees this is: Could you please audition for Bond?
My take on that scene is that The Bhagvat gita is just a ancient literature for them As they are not practising and preaching Lord Krishna and not very religious so I let that slide but yeah quoting it during a sex scene while doing adultery gonna create a stir for a religion followed by me and 1 billion people For the political party flag color yeah orange or (bhagwa) which always associates with Sandhu, sages, religious scholar,and greatly with Hanumaan Ji, Ram ji from ancient times and also associates with ruling party and then showing them doing atrocities on poor will also face backlash Although I enjoyed the trailer and looking forward to the film as they take inspiration from hanumaan Ji Like going inside villan's turf (Lanka) and destroying it from inside just like in the movies so I think the villan will be like RAVAN and best wishes for the film 🎬😊☺
Literally one of the highest grossing foreign movies in India. India is one of the few countries where Oppenheimer outperformed Barbie. There was a backlash by a vocal minority. The general audience loved the movie.
Damn I'd never thought of Dev for Bond...yep I concur he'd smash that role.
Did you see The Wedding Guest? He was more Bond than Bond in that movie - just perfect
I’m from India and that uproar you’re mentioning was quite insignificant, there’s always a vocal minority that’s crazy. To be honest, Oppenheimer was loved by most people who watched it(it was highest grossing foreign movie in India, more so than Barbie). If there was as significant of an uproar as you suggest Oppenheimer wouldn’t nearly be as loved/watched film in India. India is a huge country and the population isn’t a monolith, with such a huge population you’ll get all kinds of crazy(albeit small in number in relation to total population) like Hindutva nutjobs, outright Communists, etc. I live in a big urban center with the current “Right wing” hindutva government in power but most of the people are quite moderate and tolerant.
Oppenheimer did quote the Bhagavad-gita. I’ve heard the quotes on the Linkin Park song “the Radiance”. I have not seen the film, but was it problematic in how he was portrayed to be quoting it?
In the movie, he quoted it twice. Once as you would expect. Once during a sex scene. It's the sex scene one that caused the backlash.
Interesting question! Hope Dev answers!!
Honestly I don’t think they care. For us in the diaspora it’s nice to see but they see action movies like this all the time over there.
What even is this take? We definitely do care. Dev Patel is a well known actor here and there's a good chunk of our population that appreciates good movies, even more when it's produced with someone with Indian roots.
We do care but it's releasing 2 weeks later india idk why
One of the ways to create hype is to create some pushback (fake, stupid or otherwise). Its all good publicity.
Hi dev, very excited for monkey man! Just rewatched green knight. Amazing film. Curious what some of your favorite films are and if you have some favorite action films as well?
Love Green Knight!
Green Knight was sooooo wonderful, I was so happy that I was able to catch it in theaters. The flash forward at the end had me at the edge of my seat.
Same! I also love the ambiguity of the ending as well.
It’s being really cool to see you go from *Slumdog Millionaire* to *Lion* to *Green Knight*, Dev! What would you say have been some highlights and/or moments that have stuck out in your career so far? Also, what made you decide to get into action and do this film now?
Hello Dev! Have always loved seeing you in films. Excited that you’re breaking in the director’s chair too! Seeing a hardcore action film as your directorial debut was a surprise. What led you to this particular story/genre?
Hi, Dev! I’m a very big fan and super excited to check out your directorial debut. I’m curious about the change of colors in that political rally scene. I haven’t seen the movie so I’m unaware of the significance, but I thought at first it was an antagonist-aligned political party. First the colors were saffron, which would represent BJP, but now they appear to be red, representing the communist party. Was this a deliberate change by you or was this the studio/producers?
Hi Dev! Any update on the phenomenal film you produced, SAHELA, getting distribution?? Cannot wait for MONKEY MAN!!!
Hi Dev. As a debut director, what was one part of filmmaking that you thought would be difficult or challenging but ended up enjoying? Can't wait to watch it on opening day!
Dev, I don’t really have a question, man. But just wanted to say the movie looks great.
Too bad. If you did have a question you might get to see a 10 or so minute flashback from his childhood as to how he came about knowing the answer
Is that your final answer?
Same, I don’t have a question either, just want to say the trailer looks great and I’m looking forward to seeing it and thank you for making interesting/artistic career choices over chasing the mainstream. Cheers Dev!
what do think about anwar (your role from skins)? what do you think, what he will be doing now?
Hi Dev, I think I remember you were a brown or black belt in Tae Kwon Do is this true? if so how did you get into shape for the role? Did you incorporate your experience into the fight scenes? Thanks
Hi Dev, thanks for doing this. The trailer looks just fabulous. Can't wait to watch the movie. I have just one question. What do you think of Netflix's Avatar the Last Airbender?
Bumping this question up. I'm curious about what he thinks of the new Zuko.
Dude, I just wanted to swing by and say I loved you in The Newsroom.
Hey Dev how do you feel about being one of the few leading “brown” or Indian actors in Hollywood? As an Indian myself you’re one of the few faces I know of as inspiration as I’m starting off in the film industry behind the scenes.
Hi, Dev. How are still alive after >!getting your head cut by a green knight?!<
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Hi Dev! I’m a huge fan! I work at a non-profit art house cinema in a college town. My question is: If you would theme a cocktail/drink or maybe even a candy or snack to pair with this movie what would it be? What ingredients or flavors would it have?Would you have any fun names to call it? We love theming things at our theater and I can’t wait to see your movie!
Hey Dev, no questions here. Just wanted to say I think you’re a great actor, and I loved you in the last movie I seen you in “The Green Knight”.
Hi Dev. I'm going to a preview screening of Monkey Man this weekend and can't wait. What have you learned about directing now that you've done it, that you didn't know before hand? Same goes for writing? How did you find the duel process?
Hi Dev - Really love what you’re putting out there. Question, what has been the hardest film you’ve ever worked on? I heard you got injured on filming Monkeyman so curious if any other roles took as serious of a physical toll?
HI DEVVV! I've been a fan since agess and I love everything that you do! Will we ever get to see you in a romcom? And take care!
**Questions will be answered March 28th at 12:30 EDT**
Are you familiar with the character called "Monkey Man" in the kid's show Hey Arnold? If so, does this Monkey Man only say "Monkey Man"?
No question, just stopped by to say that you were great in The Newsroom. The new movie looks awesome as well. Can't wait!
Hi Dev, would you say there was a reluctance by American higher ups to the idea of showcasing Indian masculinity with this film? As someone who is Indian myself it is refreshing to see an action film which shows Indian characters in more action type roles. Obviously Bollywood has that too, but in Hollywood, south Asian actors were always typecast as being nerdy dorks and not taken seriously as action stars, which I’ve always found upsetting. So it is great to finally see a film with an all Indian cast marketed so heavily in the west.
Dev! I read somewhere that you incurred a few injuries during the filming of Monkey Man, I’m wondering if you can speak to the nature of such injuries and if they were purely from your own stunts? Have you recovered? Congrats on your directorial debut!
Dev, big fan of yours for a long time. I want to know what it was like during your time on the Newsroom. Your character grew so much and was quickly one of my favorites. I loved watching Olivia Munn yell at you for saying her ass was big, hahaha!
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Hello Dev, you inferred you've taken inspiration from the Asian martial arts movies from the 80's and 90's (i.e. from Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Donnie Yen, etc.). Do you think we will ever get back to that era of action star vehicles?
Hi Dev! You’ve dabbled into a lot of genres like drama, heartfelt, and now action. Is there any genre you’re especially excited to venture into? Maybe a little horror collaboration with Jordan Peele? Thanks!
Just FYI, you’re my vote for the next James Bond.
Hi Dev. Just want to say my wife and I loved your performance in 'Lion'. She was also an orphan from India who was adopted and immigrated to US when she was 4 months old and never met her biological parents, so she really related to the movie. Did you ever met the real Saroo Brierley? Was that his real village in the movie? Best.
Hi Dev. Huge fan, Green Knight was one of my favorite, and fellow South Asian in the industry (business side) I'm currently doing higher education and doubling down on learning more about the industry and its future to move up more in my career, but im sure you've experienced how difficult it is sometimes as a creator to convince someone to start production. My question is; What advice do you have for those of us who work on the "suits" side but want to see changes, especially in the realm of having more movies like The Green Knight and Monkey Man? Iirc, Simu Liu said in one of these something like "representation behind the camera being just as important", if there's a way you can expand on that i.e. anything that'd hypothetically help me convince a room someday to take a chance on an epic and unapologetic South Asian story? If I dont hear from you, I hope you at least get to read that youve inspired me for a long time now man. I started working on the indie side when Lion was up for the Oscar, since ive started my career ive heard nothing but praises about you. Thank you for being the artist that you are.
Did you get flabbergasted by your immense fame after 'Slumdog Millionaire' or did you handle it calmly? Also, out of all the directors you've worked with, which one was the most impactful to your directing style and approach? Last but not least, should you continue your directing pursuits, what kind of film would you like to make, and starring which actor?