The West always had a fascination towards the East, whether it’s in the form of mysticism or spirituality. That same logic can be applied to the Hollywood celebrities who embrace this culture wholeheartedly. India’s multifaceted fabric of culture, traditions, and gourmet expertise appeals to Hollywood celebrities. Every celebrity’s confession emphasises the charm of cultural exchange and the bewitching notes of spirituality that quell the heaviness of their seemingly glamorous lives. Filmaesthete presents an index of all celebrities that have an intricate affinity in this Land of Chaos and Cosmos.
Brad Pitt
When Brad Pitt was seen meandering on the sacred streets of Varanasi in 2007, he seemingly became part of the city. Whether the picture depicted him playing chess with a hermit on the ghats or getting a retro haircut from a ‘desi’ barber, he did it all. He shot an excerpt for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in Varanasi. Mesmerised with the aesthetics of the city, he stated to DNA,
“On my last visit, I got to see a lot of India. There is no place like it. And it’s so diverse — both the South and the North — that one cannot get to see all of it in a couple of weeks. But I found Varanasi absolutely staggering. I have never seen anything like it before. The city just spills into the river Ganges. It’s a holy place where people go to die. It’s really, really extraordinary!”
Wes Anderson
Wes Anderson’s comedy-drama film, ‘The Darjeeling Limited’, was shot in India; it was no less than a success. The director totally plunged into the visual imagery of India. His connection was not just cinematic; it proved to be profound as well. It was widely known that through one scene in the train, he also paid homage to Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray. He devoted the entire movie to him. In a 2007 interview with The Statesman, Anderson said of Ray, “He is the reason I came here (to India) in the first place, but his films have also inspired all my other films in different ways.”
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Orlando Bloom
Unfortunately, Orlando Bloom’s journey to India began on a negative note. However, it turned into an enigmatic experience. It might not be known to the masses that Bloom has an inkling of interconnection with India. He also boasted of his special bond with the 17th-century monument the Taj Mahal. He added in an interview with ‘Hindustan Times’,
“My mother was born in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata). My grandfather was a doctor in India. He had taken photos of the Taj Mahal from every possible angle. Over the years, I have looked at all of them. But nothing beats seeing the monument in real life. It makes you think what it must have taken to create such a marvel back then.”
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman delighted the audience at the 2015 Hindustan Times Leadership Summit by elaborating on her beautiful experience in India. She proclaimed that she was so charmed by the country’s rich tapestry of food, clothes, diversity, textiles and people. She also claimed that she felt incredibly comfortable in India. She highlighted her deeply exhilarating experience from the filmmaking of “Marlin Rogue”. This opened her gateway to many B-movies. However, she moaned about the fact that she never received any offer from Bollywood. She, however, acknowledged that Bollywood demands intricate artistry and depth in character.
Demi Moore
Moore’s spiritual side deeply resonated when she made a pilgrimage to McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, along with her spiritual teacher, Hargopal Kaur Khalsa. Her transcendental journey focused on attending the ‘Mind and Life’ conference on ‘Craving, Desire’, and Addiction’, where the Dalai Lama was scheduled to address his devotees and troubled souls alike. She was in the category of ‘troubled soul’, as she had then split from Ashton Kutcher back in 2011. The conference’s concentration on addiction raises the possibility that Moore was still dealing with the consequences of her painful breakup with Kutcher. The meeting also includes spiritual leaders and academics of religion and psychiatry from throughout the world.
