Foreign Students at AU Playing Roles in Tollywood

Visakhapatnam: International students at Andhra University are making their mark in the vibrant Tollywood film industry by donning significant roles in upcoming films.

The university hosts around 800 international students from Afghanistan, various African nations, Vietnam and the Middle East.

During their free time, several of these students participated in Tollywood productions, playing the role of side characters. Some of them are seen in key roles.

Sources said film directors look around for suitable faces based on character cast. Their agents got in touch with students. There would be screen tests followed by selection for suitable roles.

Most of the foreign students selected were for side roles or as background artists where there is less dialogue. If need be, their voices are dubbed by artists.

For instance, a group of ex-African students here portrayed the roles of drug peddlers and associates of the villain in a film starring actor Suriya. They were approached by film scouts at a petrol station seeking African faces for the movie, sources said.

In a conversation with Deccan Chronicle, these students shared their experiences in Tollywood. Local agents generally approach them when films are scheduled for shooting in Visakhapatnam, they said.

Most often, they are cast in cameo roles, such as tourists or background characters standing next to the lead actors.

“We generally have little interaction with directors, producers or the main actors. The local agents handle the payments and provide us briefings about their characters and scenes.

Aabed, an Afghan PhD student at Andhra University, has acted in four to five films so far.

His debut was in Shivam, alongside Ram and Rashi Khanna, followed by a role in a short film and in the recently released Ismart Shankar. Language was never a barrier on the sets, as most people communicate in English or Hindi, he said.

Another PhD student, in Visakhapatnam for six years, is involved in two upcoming Pan-India movies similar to Pushpa. He worked for 16 days on one project and two days on another, earning Rs 2,500 per day. He thanked the Indian government's support to him during challenging times.

Kataleya, an African student, has signed on for two unreleased films; one a Pan-India production and the other a small-budget project. She wouldn't disclose details at this early stage. Kataleya said these roles she took up were primarily for pocket money, and might not be going into acting as a full-time career.

University registrar and dean of international student affairs, Dhananjay, praised these students’ interest in such pursuits.