Thangalaan actor Daniel Caltagirone praises Indian filmmaking, says "Western cinema is dying…"

Daniel Caltagirone also expressed a desire to reunite with his "Thangalaan" co-star Vikram for future projects.

According to British actor Daniel Caltagirone, Western cinema is on the decline, while Indian films are poised to take centre stage. He believes that Hollywood has lost its direction amidst the proliferation of streaming services.

British actor Daniel Caltagirone plays the villainous Lord Clement in Pa Ranjith's Tamil period drama "Thangalaan," starring Vikram in the lead role. Caltagirone, known for his Hollywood films like "The Pianist," "Legionnaire," "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life," and "The Fall," expressed his privilege in making his Indian cinema debut at a time when Indian stars like Deepika Padukone are gaining global recognition.

In an interview with PTI, Daniel said, "There is a shift. Western cinema is dying… Something is happening, I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if it is because of streaming, but I urge people to not abandon cinema… Indian cinema is having an effect globally… ”Indian cinema is exciting, colourful, fun, and passionate. There is amazing old-school storytelling. It just throws you in whereas we have lost something in the West. It’s become dull, it’s become sort of too self-reflective. Indian filmmaking… you are one step away, you are so close to superseding Hollywood. Big Indian stars like Deepika… They are now presenting at the Oscars… This is unreal."

This is not Daniel Caltagirone's first experience working with Indian filmmakers. In 2002, he collaborated with Shekhar Kapur on "The Four Feathers," and in 2006, he worked with India-born American director Tarsem Singh on "The Fall."

Caltagirone praised Pa Ranjith as a social commentator, known for his thought-provoking films like "Madras," "Kaala," and "Sarpatta Parambarai." He admitted that his understanding of Indian cinema is still evolving, eager to learn more about the industry.

Also Read: Thangalaan set to gross 100 crore at the worldwide box office

When asked about potential Indian directors he would like to collaborate with, Daniel Caltagirone expressed interest in working with SS Rajamouli, the acclaimed filmmaker behind the blockbuster RRR. "If S S Rajamouli decides he is going to do something different in terms of the British representation…” he said, referring to the cliched bad guy roles for the British characters in RRR.

Daniel Caltagirone also expressed a desire to reunite with his "Thangalaan" co-star Vikram for future projects. "We had this crazy understanding (on set). He could be 200 meters away and he would look at me like that (and I would know what to do)… He is one of the few actors in my life who I can trust… I know how exactly he is going to go when he is going to swing a punch at me. We had this trust with each other," he added.

Thangalaan is scheduled to have its Hindi premiere in North India on September 6. The film, which stars Malavika Mohanan and Parvathy Thiruvothu, was initially released worldwide on August 15.