Celebrated South African actress, psychologist and film producer, Tarina Patel, is also a model, humanitarian, and lover of life.
Having risen to prominence in the entertainment industry, she captivates her audiences worldwide with magical paces.
Originally from Cape Town and raised in Durban, she has carved a remarkable path in Bollywood and beyond, showcasing her versatility and talent across various projects.
In a recent exclusive interview with Quadri Akanbi, Patel opens up about the challenges faced by Bollywood actors, providing insight into the demanding nature of the industry.
Her journey from a former medical student to a multifaceted entertainer and philanthropist is nothing short of inspiring.
Indeed, her dedication to her craft is evident in extensive filmography.
In a recent highlights and global presence, Tarina continues to shine brightly in the entertainment realm. Notably, she was a prominent attendee at the lavish wedding of Indian billionaire heir, Anant Ambani, and pharmaceutical heiress, Radhika Merchant, further solidifying her connections within the industry.
Her presence was also felt at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, where she graced the glamorous red carpets, showcasing her exquisite style and charisma.
As a dynamic figure in film, Tarina is set to attend the 100-metre sprint in Paris for the upcoming Olympics, highlighting her passion for global events and cultural exchange.
With exciting projects on the horizon, and in addition to her impressive appearances, Tarina is preparing for the release of a nine-part reality docuseries that she filmed, which is set to air in the coming months.
This project not only reflects her multifaceted talent, but also her commitment to sharing authentic stories with her audience.
Beyond her artistic endeavours, Tarina Patel is deeply committed to philanthropic work, using her platform to advocate for various causes and inspire others.
Her humanitarian efforts have also garnered respect and admiration within the industry and among fans alike.
How do you describe your acting style?
Regarding my acting style, I would say that, you know, I’m more of a thinking actress. So, I like to really understand my character; what the background is, where she comes from, why she is the way she is. And once I have a better understanding of my character, I can then lend that knowledge to the scenes that play out, and the things that she does throughout the film or throughout the series.
I also tend to rely a lot on my director for his guidance, because he’s got a greater overview of all the characters. So, instead of my character being, you know, in, its solo sort of understanding, it’s always good to gauge the understanding and the dynamics between my character and the other characters through the vision of the director.
Tell me about a time when you had difficulty with a character, what was the role, and why was it challenging?
How your challenging roles can be addressed is like I said, you engage with people who understand the character and characters better. You can always consult with an acting coach. You can watch actors that you love. I watch a lot of Meryl Streep. I will watch anything and everything she makes. Yeah, and you go about it in that way.
Since you’ve been in the industry, how many movies have you produced or acted in so far?
I have been in the industry for a real long time. The first film that I produced was ‘Mandela’s Gun’, which we took to the Cannes Film Festival and festivals around the world. And it was a beautiful film, and I was very excited about it because of the nature of the subject. The team that I put together, and for somebody whose first film to be that big, is quite a feat. I’ve also produced TV commercials, music, videos, ads, TV series, things like that; starred in countless films (in 1618 films). I also featured in countless TV shows. The biggest TV shows in South Africa from the Wild to ‘Generations’, to international franchises like ‘The Real Housewives’. I actually currently have a show on air called ‘African Dreams’. I have a slate of films that I am producing. One film is in post-production for Netflix. And I will be working with Netflix and Amazon, going forward.
You are a reputed actress; how did you find yourself in the acting world? I was in India as a medical student. I was in Bombay studying to become a doctor. And I would get spotted. I was spotted repeatedly where, you know, people would approach me with their details and suggest that I get into modelling or getting in films. And as I was out and about on weekends, you know, with my family at dinners. Filmmakers would approach me and say, look, you’ve got, like, really beautiful bone structure. And you’re really beautiful, you really should, you know, are you interested in doing films? Or, are you interested in this?
And I would get… and this would happen to me often. It’s so bizarre because I come from such an academic family. And nobody in the family’s in the arts. It was quite foreign to them. And it was certainly foreign to me because I’d also never seen myself that way. I’d never thought of myself as somebody who could, you know, be in front of the camera. I was just a girl with the head in the books. That was it. That was my life. And then I decided one day because my friends goaded me on and they were like, come on, Terina. Like, just give it a shot. Like, why not? Like it could just be the most amazing thing, and you never know, and why not? You have nothing to lose. And I went ahead to do this photoshoot. I couldn’t believe the result. I couldn’t believe that that was me. I had this out-of-body experience where I was looking at these pictures and saying, Oh, my God, that’s phenomenal! I had never seen myself or thought of myself as being this really beautiful girl. So, yeah, one thing led to the other, and before you know it, I was shooting commercials around the world. I’ve done more than 100 TV commercials, and then I learned Hindi. I was, you know, in the film world, and then you know, as they say, the rest is history.
Of the lot which are your favourite films, and why?
I have a particularly favourite genre, which I think is very much mood-based. And so, now with the change of format in the world, we live in a TV series that have really gained a lot of momentum in my passion and in my own personal entertainment in watching the TV series. But again, sometimes, I’m just in the mood for a movie. And then, of course, I’m in the mood for a TV series. The thing with the TV series is that I get so invested in the characters, that it almost becomes a part of your life. And I watch, I watch films almost most nights. I watch TV series almost most nights. And I feel like, they really become a part of you, they really start to shape how you think. And I remember watching the Olivia Pope, scandal the fixer, and I absolutely loved it. And the way she was just so strong and kick ass. I became very much like her, though I’m already very much like that I became even more so being inspired by her character.
I think I gravitate towards shows or films depending on my mood. Also, you know, there are times where I just want to feel a good kind of film. So, a rom-com would be my go-to. And sometimes, I’m feeling a little bit more intense where I would gravitate towards some sort of drama. And I love real-life dramas. because you know that it’s not fluff and just the imagination of a writer. But it’s something that really happened. So, I definitely gravitate towards real-life dramas, real-life anything, actually. But I definitely prefer the format of an entertaining film over a documentary. So yeah, I think it’s very much mood-based.
