India has long held a very special allure for Liverpool and its’ people; from the Liverpudlians who brought back untold riches from the vast subcontinent beginning the early 1800’s to The Beatles’ quest for enlightenment in the land of Buddha’s salvation.  But while Scouser ardency for India never dulled, like all passionate relationships it was often tempestuous.

It’s doubtful however whether that manner of turbulence would ever mar the relationship between the latest Liverpudlian to take a shine to India; particularly due to the ardency with which India has embraced her. 

At first glance, Amy Jackson has something of Megan Fox about her.  From the striking blue eyes and billowing brunette locks to the pouting, sultry lips and the oh-so-delicately pointed chin; but without the rather synthetic superciliousness.  The result is a young lady with a peculiarly endearing charm that has already won over Prateik Babbar, one of the hottest young stars of Bollywood and Jackson’s co-star in the upcoming ‘Ekk Deewana Tha’. 

Model to Movie Star overnight
Whilst a vast majority of girls of her age are fretting over University fees, optical illusion dresses and the JLS boys, Amy has crammed several decades of work into her tender 22 years. 

The daughter of Liverpudlian BBC presenter Alan Jackson, Amy first came to the world’s attention when she won the Miss Teen World competition in 2008.  Two years later she was crowned Miss Liverpool 2010 and came third in that year’s Miss England competition before turning her attentions to modeling; winning a scholarship to the United States and signing with Boss Model Management. 

Along the way she managed to win over the attentions of countless young men across the UK with appearances in the likes of FHM and Maxim among others, whilst also gaining 10 GCSE’s and studying English Literature, Philosophy and Ethics in Sixth Form.

The lads-magazine appearances which won her a legion of fans – according to a male colleague, Amy’s FHM Lingerie Special was particularly alluring – also caught the eye of the ambitious young South Indian director A. L. Vijay in 2010.  Vijay was looking for a suitable young actress to cast in Madrassipatnam; a sweeping colonial-era epic about an English Rose who falls in love with a strapping young Dhobi in pre-1947 Chennai – then called Madrassipatnam or Madras Town.

Despite her distinct lack of acting chops A L Vijay says he was enchanted and roped her in to play the role of Amy Wilkinson in the movie.  The superlatively shot Madrassipatnam was a critical and commercial success.  Jackson became an overnight sensation in the teeming and vibrant South Indian film fraternity and won acclaim for her debut role.

“A L Vijay saw me on the Miss England website and was convinced that I had an Indian look even though I was white!  He tracked me down to London, met with me and the next thing I know I’m in Chennai shooting a movie!  It was an amazing experience.  The cast and crew were fabulous and made me feel so welcome.  I was worried about the language barrier but everyone made such an effort with me that I settled in fine,’ Amy says, in a comment made even more remarkable by her mellifluous Liverpudlian accent.

Upwards and Northwards
Amy’s star turn in the award-winning film immediately won the attentions of filmmakers up north in Bollywood and  she was cast in Gautham Menon’s appropriately titled ‘Ekk Deewana Tha’ (There was a crazy guy), a romantic drama written by Menon and with an impressive behind-the-scenes team including lyricist Javed Akhtar and composer A R Rahman.  The Scouser girl who had vowed the lads back home and won the hearts of South Indian moviegoers had now arrived to make her mark in the most prolific, most glittering and increasingly global Bollywood movie industry. 

“After Madrassipatnam was released I was inundated with offers for more Tamil movies and different bits and pieces in India,” Amy lilts.  “Gautham contacted me and said he would like to cast me in his next movie which was a Hindi speaking role.  The look of a Christian Malayalee girl fit quite nicely with me in the character so I agreed.  It’s been awesome and I hope that audiences will embrace it.”

Much like India’s independence struggle provided the sweeping backdrop to ‘Madrassipatnam’, love, in all its’ passionate, ambiguous glory provides the epic narrative of ‘Ekk Deewana Tha’ as Jackon’s character Jessie Thekkekutu and Prateik Babbar’s Sanjay find, lose and re-discover love. 

Of Shalwar’s and LBD’s
Whilst fortune has favoured the young lass from Liverpool, her rising stardom has involved plenty of hard work.  “I had to learn all the mannerisms, the accents and even the way you walked around in a sari!  A month before filming began I started walking around everywhere I went – whether it was in Liverpool or in India – in a Shalwar Kameez or a sari.  I can tell you this; it ain’t no LBD!”

And of course learning to communicate in Hindi was a most daunting thing.  “My word, it’s an awfully beautiful language but an absolute chore to learn.  I would sit for hours with the assistant director and go through the lip synching because I was going to be dubbed afterwards.  It was horrendously difficult but something that I enjoyed thoroughly.”

What’s more, while her role as an English Rose in Colonial India in ‘Madrassipatnam’ had been closer to home, ‘Ekk Deewana Tha’ was quite a stretch for the inexperienced actress who had previously enthralled millions only with the ease with which she carried off a frilly bikini.  “I play a very conservative girl in the movie which was extremely strange because my parents gave me a lot of freedom and I feel I am very independent.  It was a real eye-opener, particularly because the way in which the life of this character mirrors the lives of most girls in India.  I also found the divide between Christians and Hindus quite revealing as well and some of that personal surprise manifested in the role.  But I think that it’s a story that everyone can relate to – everyone’s got problems with love, whether they are in Liverpool or Mumbai!”

A pleasantly convenient love, free of exasperating moments maybe as rare as a stunning, blue-eyed Liverpudlian catching the imagination of Bollywood but Amy Jackson’s Karma seems to be on an eternally positive circle at the moment.  Aside from winning over vast portions of India’s often fanatical movie-lovers, Jackson has also won the attentions of her – no doubt infatuated – co-star Prateik Babbar; son of former Bollywood actor turned politician Raj Babbar, and the star of a string of recent hits including the blockbuster Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, the critically acclaimed Dhobi Ghat and the multi-starrer ‘Aarakshan’.  

Recent promotional appearances have confirmed the undeniable chemistry between the two young stars – a fact which will no doubt help the movie become a success whilst also raising both their profiles amongst audiences who have a history of being enamoured by young love between budding thespians.

But whilst it is fast becoming a sort of open secret, Amy Jackson remains coy about it all.  “Prateik is absolutely fantastic.  I saw Dhobi Ghat before we met and he was incredible in it.  I remember the first day we met and he put me completely at east,” she coos.  “That was important of course in getting the chemistry right.  And he’s super dedicated.  We are very close and he’s very special.”

As the gleaming lights of Bollywood and a life of riches and global fame beckons for Jackson, it is apparent that her roots in unpretentious, hardworking, and preternaturally creative Liverpool have helped keep Amy firmly grounded; allowing her to take in the wonder of India and Bollywood without losing any of the excitement in a pretentious, booze-addled haze.  “I’m having the time of my life.  I absolutely love India because this country and everyone here are so welcoming and warm and empathetic.  It’s staggering and a bit surreal.  It’s definitely not sunk in yet.  Growing up, Bollywood was nowhere in my radar.  I was into sports!  Even modelling came about by chance and that in turn opened doors for me in India.  I have to pinch myself continously.  It’s hard work but worth it.  And I have a good support network; my mom, dad and my big sister are my go to people.  And of course Blackberry Messenger!  I’m just an average girl from Liverpool.  And I’m in Bollywood.  It’s unbelievable but I’m loving it!”

‘Ekk Deewana Tha’ is released 17th February 2012.

- Poonam Joshi

Aaah...PR Agents.  Seemingly indispensable for celebrities in this, the age of incessant Twitter and Facebook updates, sensationalist 24-hour News Channels and strange men with long-range lenses camped outside your multi-crore apartment complex.  It can also quite easily be a blessing in disguise, particularly with over-zealous PR Agencies promoting budding new talent.  Just ask Tena Desae.  Unable to conjure up a fresh new angle, Desae’s PR began touting her as “the next Frieda Pinto”, a comparison, whilst apt, mortified the star of the upcoming cross-over film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.  To be fair, the PR agency can’t really be blamed given the parallels.  Both girls dabbled in modelling and minor film roles before starring alongside British Indian actor Dev Patel in crossover films by top British directors.

Much as Pinto went on to enjoy global success with Slumdog Millionaire, Desae’s PR Agencies will be hoping their client will see similar success with The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.  Directed by John Madden – the man behind such classics as Shakespeare in Love and Proof – the film features some of the biggest names in British cinema; from Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith to the irresistible Bill Nighy and Tom Wilkinson.  The title refers to a former hotel in colourful Rajasthan touted as a luxurious and exotic retreat where a group of British OAP’s retire in search of a life of leisure only to find the place in a state of utter dilapidation.  Patel plays the enterprising manager of the hotel who dreams of “creating a home for the elderly so wonderful that they will simply refuse to die!”  Helping him along in his quest is the delectable Tena Desae.  

Born to a Gujarati family, Desae was raised in Bangalore.  A Business Graduate, Desae first came to Mumbai in 2007, appearing in Channel V’s model talent show Get Gorgeous.  Despite failing to win the show she was noticed by advertisers, landing a slew of TV commercial spots.  She also appears in this year’s coveted Kingfisher Calendar.  Her first foray into Bollywood was in the psychological thriller ‘Yeh Faasley’ opposite Anupam Kher in 2011.

Desae spoke exclusively to The UKAsian from Mumbai about her new film and dreams of working for – of all places – Deutsche Bank.  

Tena, what do you make of these comparisons with Frieda Pinto?
I don’t think I like being compared to Frieda or anyone else for that matter.  We have our own career paths and our own destinies.  I think what she’s done is really great and her work profile is brilliant but it would be best if no one compared us.

I heard the audition process for the film was really tough; tell me how that was for you?
I got the chance to audition easily enough because the casting director of the film knew me and got in touch to see if I was interested.  The audition process itself was quite lengthy and really strict.  After first meeting with the casting director I met John Madden himself where he just gave me a scene to perform.  Then a few days later he called me back for an audition of all of the scenes in the film which was a bit crazy.  Getting all the lines right and summoning up the energy for all the scenes was draining but I was really excited and got through.  Yeh Faasley was not available for the director to see so they only saw the TV spots I had appeared in and they wanted to go through everything that I had done!  I really, really wanted the role and I went the distance.

What was it like working with all these legendary actors...?
It was simply a blessing.  You grow up in India and every girl dreams of appearing in a Bollywood film but you never imagine getting the opportunity to share the screen with James Bond’s boss or Professor Minerva McGonagall from Hogwarts or Davy Jones from the Pirates movies.  And I’m a huge fan of all of those movies!  It was surreal at times but an absolute honour.  All of them were so accommodating and the fact that they warmed to India so much was amazing.  

At this early stage in your career you have worked in a Bollywood as well as a Hollywood film.  How do they compare?
Well the one film that I have done in Bollywood was a small, low budget affair and then The Marigold Hotel had all the trappings of a big Hollywood production so I can’t really compare the two yet other than to say that there is something spookily efficient about the Hollywood machine. The production values and the planning is just incredible but then if you’ve got the budget, that’s not an issue I suppose.  

You and Dev Patel have barely made it to the red carpet to promote the movie but there are already rumours linking you with him.  What was the chemistry like with Dev?
Well it’s certainly news to me that we are an item, although it is an interesting development!!  I am kind of preparing myself for the link-up stories.  And anyway, who wants a squeaky clean image anyway?  I’d love it!  I’m going to play it the other way round and fuel the rumours.  It’ll be fun and anyway, who wants to be diplomatic?  It’s so boring.  
Seriously though Dev is incredibly easy to get along with and has bundles of energy and is also extremely funny.  It’s terrifically easy to work with him.  Whilst rehearsing we would gauge how the other person wanted to do a particular scene and act it out and improvise so we became very receptive to each other’s ideas.  There’s a kissing scene in the film which I was nervous about because I had obviously not done a scene like that before but he was very reassuring and just completely put me at ease.  A thorough professional.

Tell me a little about your character in the film.
I play a strong, independent girl who works in a call centre.  Sunaina is a girl who represents the new India; a girl with her own mind, her own ambitions and aspirations but who also holds on to the very best traditions of India.  She stands by Sunny and supports him with his ambitions but does her own thing as well.  It’s a great part and I think it’s John Madden’s great complement to Indian women; the ones who go out and work and aren’t afraid to form their own destinies but also take care of their families and are able to balance everything in life.  

Is it true that you auditioned for Slumdog Millionaire?
I certainly did audition for it but it wasn’t to be in that instance.  I have a soft corner for it and I suppose I am one of the relatively few people who don’t get why it was seen so negatively in India; I mean they were narrating the story of a boy from the slums of Mumbai so they had to show the slums as authentically as possible.  But I loved the message of hope and the spirit of the film.  

Would you have been a financier had you not got into modelling and acting?  
I always knew I wanted to be an actor because films always stirred my emotions but I knew I had to weigh in the fact that it’s a notoriously unpredictable business.  So I made sure I got myself an education.  

So you’re finances will always be in order!
I love accounting, economics, taxation and investments!  I will work in a bank for sure.  Even if I’m in show business for 40 years I’ll go work at a bank in the 41st.  I’ve always wanted to work for Deutsche Bank.  When I was in the 7th standard in school I would walk by the Deutsche Bank building in Bangalore and dream about working there one day.  I once even walked in and asked someone how I could get a job there and he told me that I should get a degree in finance and come back.  

Tell me about your upbringing.  Born and raised in Bangalore to a Gujarati family.  Have you had difficulty with Hindi in Bollywood?  
I can read and write Hindi but never had conversations.  I’m okay with scripts but I’m not great at sentence construction.  Everyone speaks in English in Bangalore unless you’re talking to the vegetable vendor or the tuk tuk driver.  My grandfather was from Gujarat but settled in Bangalore.  My dad was actually in the film industry before I was born, production and distribution of films.  When I was born he gave up films and went into import and export instead, working alongside my mother.  My sister and I would tag along with mom and dad on business and travel around a lot.  My sister’s a fashion designer from NIFT and lives with me in Mumbai; she’s my icon and we’re really close.  

Finally, does the spelling of your name have anything to with Numerology?
Well, my mom believed in numerology.  They consulted a number of people and changed my name.  I’ve been incredibly blessed professionally and I suppose my mother’s belief in numerology has something to do with it.  I think the spelling is pretty cool although I’m sure a lot of people will initially do a double take!

-    Interviewed by Poonam Joshi

Adil Omar was a 16-year-old rapping in his bedroom in Pakistan when a member of the American group Cypress Hill discovered his music on the Internet and invited him out to Los Angeles to record together.

That was four years ago, and Omar has now recorded songs with several other American rappers, including Everlast from House of Pain, Xzibit and one of the members of Limp Bizkit. He plans to release his first album next year and has established himself as Pakistan’s biggest — and perhaps only — rap star.

His rise illustrates a side of Pakistan that is often obscured by the steady stream of news about the Taliban and al-Qaida that comes out of the country. Many Pakistani cities have thriving subcultures that get little attention in the West.

Pakistan has a rich musical tradition, including the performance of Urdu-language love poems called ghazals and mystical Sufi music called Qawwali. Pakistani rock bands have long been popular, as have songs from Bollywood movies.

But hard-core rap like Omar’s laced with profanity and sexual innuendo is almost unheard of, and could even be dangerous in a society plagued by Islamist militants.

“Violence seems to be totally acceptable in this culture, but sex and bad language in music and art seems to be totally unacceptable,” said Omar, a clean-cut looking 20-year-old with short black hair who favors black sunglasses and T-shirts with half-naked women.

Omar, who sings in English, insists he is not a political rapper, but his latest song, Paki Rambo, is about a vigilante who hunts the Taliban.

“Ambush your camp, my inglorious crew. Straight bastards, brawny and stronger than you,” sang Omar. “Take classes, learn how we got em on wax. Hit the base with a bag full of Taliban scalps.”

The song’s title is a reference to a scene in the movie Four Lions, a satirical look at a group of British Muslims of South Asian origin who travel to Pakistan to become suicide bombers. One of the wannabe terrorists records himself on his cell phone firing an AK-47 into the air and calling himself Paki Rambo.

Omar flipped the analogy on its head, making Paki Rambo a character who fights the militants rather than joins them.

“It’s the P to the A to the K to the I. Armed to the teeth till the day that I die,” sang Omar. “R to the A to the M B O. Paki Rambo in the place.”

The song is part of the soundtrack for an upcoming Pakistani movie, Gol Chakkar, and the directors helped Omar produce a slick music video that has been released on YouTube. The video was shot in Islamabad and pokes fun at the decadence and luxury normally seen in American rap videos. The characters drink Pakistani ice cream soda instead of alcohol and snort candy instead of cocaine. A young boy walks around with a mink stole around his neck.

The market for Omar’s music in Pakistan is small, limited mainly to elite Pakistani kids like himself who speak English and live lifestyles closer to their Western counterparts than the country’s conservative majority. Extremists who believe music is a violation of Islamic law have bombed CD shops in some parts of Pakistan.

- Associated Press