Academy Award winning actress Michelle Yeoh has expressed her desire to work in the Indian film industry. In an interview with Hindustan Times, when asked if she would want to work on an Indian film, the Crazy Rich Asian actress said she “would love that”.
“I love India. I’ve been to India quite a few times. I love the culture and the whole extravaganza of Indian movies because I think Indians truly love movies. They love the whole culture of movies. So yes, I would immediately respond with a resounding, “Please call me!”
Michelle added that there are a few people in the industry she would like to work with. “I know some of them quite well, and I would love to be able to work with them, especially someone behind the camera. But I’m not going to tell any names. I’m going to get myself in trouble.”
Michelle is set to star in Wicked, a film based on a 1995 novel of the same name by Gregory Maguire, which was later adapted into a hit Broadway play in 2003. The 62-year-old actress said that it was her first musical and said that she was a bit apprehensive at first. "I’ve never done a musical before. I never sang for a movie before. So, I was very grateful for the opportunity. That was the key that drew me to this role and Jon (director Jon M. Chu) knows that I’m always up for a challenge. So, he threw that challenge right at me and said, ‘We are going to make a little singer out of you'.”
Drawing comparisons between Wicked and Indian films, Michelle said, “It’s very similar; the whole concept of song and dance, big sets. It’s very Indian, if you look at it and compare it that way. I feel that our Indian friends and fans out there would really take your heart with Wicked.”
Michelle bagged her first Oscar nomination and win at the 2023 Academy Awards, in the Best Actress category, for her film Everything Everywhere All at Once. She created history by being the first Asian to win in the category.
The actress will play Madame Morrible in Wicked, which will hit the big screens on November 22.