Background
I was born in Jharkhand. My mother is Telugu and my father, Bengali, which we all speak at home. After six months, my mom and I relocated to the US where my father had already been living for a few months. We spent three frigid years in New York before we made the shift to New Jersey, where I attended high school and my parents still reside there.
After graduation I pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Business at the prestigious Stevens Institute of Technology. In Business Planning class, I worked diligently on my presentations as the host of the largest shows on campus, as the Director of the dance organization and in marketing scripts for short films. It was no coincidence that what I was applying in my “extracurricular” activities was mirroring what I had learnt in business classes. I then chanced upon a “how-to” guide on acting, had a co-worker take snapshots of me in a local park and after work one day, commuted three hours to a casting call in New York City with a monologue I wrote… probably in Marketing class. Shortly after my audition, I was cast as one of the leads in Tina Chaudhary’s 'The South Asian Monologues'. I made my New York City stage debut
later that summer at Center Stage NY and Cami Hall. After this experience, feeling under prepared and overwhelmed, I decided that it was crucial that I studied the craft of acting with Terry Knickerbocker at William Esper Studio.
The Turning Point
The concept of (the) turning point is interesting. I’d like to feel like I’m ever-turning, ever-revolving, always growing and always learning. Every new project, every new venture, even new relationships and new friendships are always works-in-progress.
Anything For You
In preparation for 'Anything For You', the director Anand Alagappan and I discussed ways I could add on 10-15 years. In the following two months, I gained twenty-five pounds and grew my hair out. These physical changes merged with the emotional preparation I was doing in an effort to study the character. I started to get a grasp on Raj Krishnan: a happily married doctor who knows only how to do his work (and not visit the gym once in a while), and loves his wife unconditionally. Our shoot schedule was only twenty days. However, due to the nature of production budgets in an independent film, days ran between twelve and fifteen hours not including preparation time. The night before we’d find out what locations were available and what scenes we’d be shooting the next day. At the end of each shoot day (around 11 PM), I would be dropped off at the hotel and proceeded to learn the dialogues for the next day’s scenes while I ironed my wardrobe.
On the cards
Currently, I have two television pilots that are creating some buzz in different arenas. The first — 'DeSiCiTi' — is the first of a comedy series about dating, career and cross in New York City. The other, 'Who the Hell is Dan Bruder', is a rock comedy series about a slightly delusional, middle-aged wannabe rocker who can’t let go of the dream of stardom. My character, Adam, works at Dan’s temp agency and seems to have recently immigrated to the States from India. He’s super eager, sweet as a laddoo , and immensely hardworking. But Adam has secrets. I’m also planning to come to Mumbai next year.
Bollywood Gigs
In an effort to understand the medium of film, particularly the Hindi film, while I was interning for 'The Montel Williams Show' in NYC, I served as the Casting Assistant for 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna', Production Assistant for Jo Bole So Nihaal and Sukhbir’s music video 'Turn', and a background dancer in 'Ta Ra Rum Pum'.
Stars of Hindi cinema
I shared amazing conversations with Arjun Rampal and Sunny Deol. Never once did they make me feel like an outsider.
Speaking of an outsider — on the sets of 'Jaan-E-Mann' at the waterfront in New Jersey, I went to watch Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan, and Anupam Kher’s scenes. I snuck on to set and starting chatting with a production assistant, when soon thereafter, Akshay Kumar walked up to us and asked us to join him in a game of dodge-ball until shooting resumed. For the following scene, behind Akshay and Salman, there were background dancers on the water. So, I ran home, changed and crept back on to set, and starting breakdancing with the other dancers. After an hour, the production assistant that I originally spoke to walked up to me and asked, “Hey man, what was your name again?” I confidently told him, “Sam Ghosh.” He walked away and a few
minutes later returned and said, “I’m sorry man, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave. You’re not one of the background dancers, are you?” I answered, “No. Just like to dance.” A year later, I watched the film. I didn’t make the cut.
Indian Diaspora
It’s an incredibly exciting time to be an Indian in the industry. Just six years ago when I started, there were barely any roles in films for Indian actors abroad, and the roles that did exist were those of a terrorist, cab driver, and convenient store clerk. But change is taking place slowly. With the rise of filmmakers like Mira Nair, Shekhar Kapur, Sooni Taraporevala, Deepa Mehta, Gurinder Chadha, and Shyam Benegal, unique voices are rising with their untold stories. Real stories are being told of India and real Indians outside of India.
Respect
In Hindi cinema, a few of my role models are Nana Patekar for his honesty, Irrfan Khan for his openness, Amitabh Bachchan for his dignity, Rajpal Yadav for his fearless comedy, Aamir Khan for being truthful to his characters, and Shah Rukh Khan for being truthful to himself.
DID YOU KNOW?
■ Sam specialises in Bollywood and Hip-Hop dancing. He is a featured dancer and dance director.
■ He is as much a music lover and is into Beatboxing, Conducting, Piano, World Percussion, Beg. guitar and Low Brass
■ He is a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do
■ Sam has played the lead in movies like 'Tomorrow', 'Last Son of Saddam', 'Anything For You', 'Saving Hinduism', 'The Big Catch' and 'Faith in a Wrapper'
■ His original name is Swamrit Ghosh and is fondly known as Babla
