The British-born Indian model and Bollywood actor, Upen Patel is making an entry into K-Town with Shankar’s I. The film is touted to be a romantic musical thriller and Upen is part of the cast in a major role along with Vikram and the other British co-actor, Amy Jackson. Apparently, as per the plot, a suitable actor was required to have a tiff with Vikram, over a common love interest, and Shankar felt that the international model with his chiselled physique and suave personality, fitted the bill.
Upen, who started a career in showbiz in India after winning Zee TV’s supermodel hunt in 2002, has been a leading model for several international brands and part of several music videos. He later entered Bollywood as an actor and is best known for his roles in 36 China Town, Namestey London, Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai and Run Bhola Run, amongst others. He won the Best Debutant actor for 36 China Town at the IIFA ceremony in 2007.
In 2010, Upen took time off to do a diploma in film making in the UK and a summer acting course at the Lee Strasberg Actor’s Studio in Los Angeles. Last year, the actor reportedly made several trips from London to Chennai to meet Shankar when the casting of I was going on.
Apparently, he finally bagged the role and has been shooting with the unit in Chennai and China. The details have been kept under wraps but CE has learnt that Upen will be in Chennai in July, to shoot another part of his portions. With I, yet another actor from Bollywood joins the Kolly-bandwagon after Billa 2’s Vidyut Jamwal and Sudhanshu Pandey and Viswaroopam’s Rahul Bose and Jaideep Ahlawat in recent times.