Because of my devotion to Rick Ravanello and his various works, I often find other industry professionals of whom I was not previously aware. The joy of discovery is something that is always electrifying, and so today I bring you an interview with the very first Indian actor I’ve ever had the privilege of interviewing–Hemwant Tiwari. He will soon be featured alongside Eric Roberts, Natasha Henstridge, and, of course, my friend, Rick, in the inaugural international sci-fi series, Medinah.
There is more to this journey, but we can discuss that in the next interview.
What can you tell us about your first professional (paid) job as an actor? How did you get the role and what was your experience like playing that role?
While doing all these auditions, I finally decided to audition for a play. After that, I started doing plays in the theatre and that was my first paid job as an actor. It was definitely a joyous feeling when you get your first cheque. The character that I played was a guy who used to dress up like ladies of the night to earn money and I remember waxing my body for that role. It was memorable.
The film is about how Mumbai’s colourful life transforms the protagonist (Hemwant Tiwari) from a cold and negative person to a positive and self-sacrificing human being. It makes him realise that life is all about the choices that one makes.
Please tell us about Salaam and your work in writing, directing and acting in that. What did you enjoy about working on that and what did you find challenging? Any news on film festival appearances with this film?
Medinah is your first international series. How did you get involved with this production?Any guesses???
It was SALAAM!
Preparing for this character was not that hard as the directors and the creator of the show knew what they wanted, and in real life, it matches my story very well. It was an awesome experience to work with Wayne Rose and Jason Bourque as they both are so good. They both listen to you carefully and incorporate your ideas as well, which makes our work easier.
Any special moments you would like to share on the filming of Medinah? What were your interactions like with the cast and crew?Yes, it was too hot during filming, but the amazing crew did everything possible to make it a cooler experience. It was a mess sometimes, but production was always on their toes to take care of it. Snakes and big lizards were common in the desert. There was this guy who used to look out for them; unlike me, he had no phobia of reptiles. I have phobia of these creatures, but being adventurous, I I love to see these kind of things, and I was with him when he used to go out looking for them. It was fun.
Eric {Roberts} is such a cool guy; we had some amazing conversations. Once he told me the story of how he was cast for the first time, which was definitely inspiring and I was listening to him very quietly. He has also told me that he would come and promote my feature film when it releases. I thought he was joking, but when he brought it up a couple of times, I knew he was serious. It was so kind of him to say these motivating words of encouragement. He is awesome.
Natasha {Henstridge} is magical. Whenever she enters a gathering, she spreads her “Natashaness” everywhere. She is witty and comes up with some amazing one-liners. One day, when I was writing in my room, the phone rang and it was Natasha. She asked, “What are you doing?” I replied, “Just writing.” She asked me to come to the beach, and when I went, she said, “Tell me your story.” That’s Natasha for you. She takes an interest in everyone, and that’s what makes her unique.
Similarly, I had some amazing interactions with everyone. Rick Ravanello, Jerome Ro Brooks, and all the guys are such amazing souls. All the girls–Becca Buckalew, Kit Reeve, Najarra Townsend, Rahma Riyad–are sweethearts. And all the Qatari people have such big hearts that I could write a book on their special traits. They all were so fine
While I have never been to India, I have been to the Middle East (but that’s another story), and so the very idea that Medinah was shot in the Middle East and will hopefully soon be available to international audiences is exhilarating. And now knowing that the skilled, enthusiastic, steadfast Hemwant is an integral part of this production enlivens me even more. While this interview has only been a brief introduction to him and his career, I have no doubt his experiences as an actor will continue to be more substantial and influential in the weeks, months, and years to come. It is undeniable that Humant is not easily deterred from the career he has chosen for himself, and in spite of any obstacles that attempt to obstruct his way, he has persevered with all of his heart, soul, and mind. I feel as though I have been anticipating this new show of his forever now, but I know that the wait will be well worth it once we viewers have the opportunity to savor it in its entirety. I am quite impressed with Humwant’s positive spirit and undaunted outlook as he has cultivated this career in acting, and I can only hope and pray that the fruits of his labor will presently be available for all of us to enjoy around the world. In the meantime, I invite everyone to check out all of Hemwant’s links below and consider following him on social media where applicable. While he may be reckoned a virtual unknown at this point in his life, no doubt his hard work and skillset will one day yield amazing rewards for him both professionally as well as personally.
FOLLOW HEMWANT
