For actor, film truly is a journey
Manish Dayal has some food for thought about the popularity of restaurant-oriented movies, including his own film “The Hundred-Foot Journey.”
Directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Helen Mirren, the feel-good movie begins with a culture clash between the uppity British owner of a French restaurant and the family members from India who open an eatery right across the road from her property.
According to 31-year-old Dayal, “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” which enjoyed a global gross of $88.8 million, is like a great meal with something to appeal to everyone.
“The movie is a combination of everything you want to see at a movie,” Dayal said during a telephone interview to discuss “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” available on DVD and Blu-ray Disc. “You see cultural battles, inspirational moments and things that everyone can relate to.
“The ‘Hundred-Foot’ words in the title represent the things we face in our lives (and must overcome). The film shows the immigrant experience that we hear about.”
In the charming and timely film, Dayal’s character is a brilliant young chef with a gift for cooking.
“He’s a genius prodigy and sort of an introvert,” said the actor, who devotes time to improving education in rural India via his work with the Nanubhai Education Foundation. “He’s always observing everything around him.
“What makes my character unique is that he relies on his instincts to change things. I see him as a kid always absorbing the food around him. We’re giving respect to cuisine.”
Dayal has TV credits for roles on shows such as “Law & Order: SVU” and “The Good Wife” and grew up to be an actor thanks to a special-effects-driven favorite that rocked his world.
“I saw Steven Spielberg’s ‘Jurassic Park’ and wanted to be in films,” he said. “It completely inspired me in so many ways. I became obsessed by dinosaurs.”
In a welcome twist of fate, Spielberg, along with Oprah Winfrey, ended up producing “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” a situation that allowed Dayal to spend time with the talent who inspired him.
“I got to meet Steven Spielberg, and I thought I was going to be scared, but he was so cool,” Dayal said of his meeting with the superstar director. “He’s really devoted to his movies.”
He also was impressed by his time working opposite Mirren.
“She’s very funny,” he said of the Oscar-winning actress (“The Queen”). “Just watching her work gave me something to take away (in terms of knowledge). She treated me as an equal.”
Dayal stressed that movies like “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” based on the book by Richard C. Morais, can make the world a better place.
“In a lot of ways, the world is getting smaller,” he said. “Food offers a window to different cultures in specific and important ways.”