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EXCLUSIVE: We Shot With a Lot of Puppets than Real Animals during the Jungle Book Shoot: Neel Sethi aka Mowgli
The Jungle Book is all set to release this weekend and this one is sure to strike the chords of your heart. The film has many childhood memories attached to it, as it is based on Rudyard Kipling’s beloved stories. And the favourite character from the film, Mowgli aka Neel Sethi is certainly excited for his Hollywood debut. Neel was on a short trip to India for the film’s promotion and in a tete-a-tete with Pinkvilla, the actor spoke lovingly about his Indian roots, his favourite Jungle Book characters and much more. Excerpts from the chat:
How do you like India?
India is so much fun. I have been here previously. I have been here six or seven times before, as my family stays here and I find it really cool. It is just amazing to be with family here and everyone is just so nice. I love being here. And I find Mumbai really cool!
What is it about India that intrigues you the most?
It is probably the food, which is so different from what I eat there (abroad). It is spicy and a lot of other variety that we get here, from panipuri to chaat and other things. I really like eating at Kailash Parvat, Monsoon Chaat. Every food here I try is really good. There are a few things which I have never really tried before and would never even consider them good turn out to be this amazing. So, I love the food scene here in India.
What do your friends tell you now that you are debuting in the world of cinema?
I auditioned in the last year of elementary school and all my friends went to the same school co-incidentally. And, it was really good as all my friends find it really cool and now, my new friends too love what I am doing. It is all good. But, moreover they treat me like a normal person and we have fun the same way as we used to earlier. So that way, nothing much has changed.
We Shot With a Lot of Puppets than Real Animals during the Jungle Book Shoot
Neel Sethi
Do you watch Bollywood films? The last movie that you saw..
I love Bollywood and I do watch it sometimes and like it very much. But, it’s been a long time I have seen an Indian movie. The whole year had been busy as it was my studies and then the shooting and other things that kept me busy.
Most of Jungle Book is based on VFX. So, how did you shoot? Did you have to imagine a lot before enacting a scene? How did you do it?
It was really difficult and challenging but my director Jon (Favreau) really helped me. We had a lot of puppets on the sets during shoots instead of real animals. I would just try to interact with puppets and a distant island I looked at. And he also acted with me sometimes.
In real life, how comfortable are you with animals?
I do love pets and I like animals. At home, we have rocky, my dog, and I am hugely fond of him. I would like to give home to more and more animals.
So, for the film, did you read the Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book?
I haven’t read Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book yet. But, I am really keen and I would love to. It would be really cool. I haven’t tried animal safari in India and have heard I lot about it. I am going to tell my parents to take me to one. (smiles)
Which Jungle Book character is your favorite? To whom do you relate the most?
I like Baloo’s character. He is so free-spirited and laid-back and he cares but he doesn’t worry so much like Bagheera does sometimes. Baloo is like me very calm and subtle.
Isn't this young 12-year-boy really cute?
Enjoy the adventurous journey of Mowgli & his friends this Friday. The Jungle Book releases on April 8.
All the best Neel!!
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