Critical Investigation

Why is it that despite the success of ''Slumdog Millionaire,'' there is still a lack of south Asian actors in Hollywood..?

KEYWORDS
Successful - At the top - Best Selling - Victorious

Slumdog - Tramp - Poor - Homeless

South Asian - Foreigner - Fresh off the boat - Newcomer

Stereotyping - Judging - Grouping

Hollywood - TV Industry - Broadway - Cinema - Motion Picture

Top 10 most successful actors
http://www.starcentralmagazine.com/the-ultimate-top-10-list/2010/04/12/top-ten-most-successful-hollywood-actors/

According to highest grossing films and sales there is a list of the top 10 most successful actors, which includes 1 British born actor, and 4 African American actors.

Top 10 actors according to audience preference http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/104776/top_10_male_hollywood_actors_of_today.html
Another list of top 10 actors which is related more to their popularity and movies that are popular. Suggesting audience’s roles in the industry.

Successful actors in Bollywood
http://bollywood-tips.blogspot.com/2006/12/top-ten-bollywood-actors.html
Here is a list of bollywood actors which are believed to be the most successful, with post that argue it and suggest other actors who should be mentioned. These actors are very successful but have yet to make it into Hollywood, are this by choice or are there other reasons to this.

Prince of Persia – sands of time criticism over casting
http://muslimreverie.wordpress.com/2009/07/25/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/
Why are ethnic character being played by White actors?

Criticism over Hollywood’s interpretation of Iranians
http://race.change.org/blog/view/hollywood_says_iranians_are_cool_so_long_as_theyre_persian_and_white

Questioning whether the casting behind ‘The last Airbender’ was racist.
http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/006240.html

Article from the guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2006/may/31/theatre.india

Article on some successful south Asian actors in the American TV industry
http://orvillelloyddouglas.wordpress.com/2007/11/28/south-asian-american-actors-can-they-just-be-doctors-on-television/
''What do Kal Penn Modi, Parminder Nagra, and Sendhil Ramamurthy all have in common? Let me give you a hint Kal Penn, Sendhil, and Parminder are all doctors on television. I was speaking to a friend on the telephone the other day and he pointed this out to me. My friend actually was a bit upset about this. My pal says that he would like to see South Asian American actors move beyond the TV doctor stereotype. It got me thinking is it a stereotype for South Asians to be doctors on TV? It is true it would be nice if South Asian American actors could play other roles on television and not just be the noble good doctor. I do think its positive to see young Asian American actors on television.''

Interview with Aasif Mandvi from ‘The Daily Show’
http://www.altmuslim.com/a/a/n/2848

Stereotypes constructed on Asian actors and Asians through Hollywood.
http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/asian/arts_culture_media/archives/pns_indian_media_stereotypes.asp

Interview with member of the ‘Glee’ Cast – South Asian actor Iqbal theba
http://gleehab.com/2010/03/12/curry-bear-interview-with-iqbal-theba/
''When I look at his bio page and read about how he came to LA with nothing but a few bucks in his pocket and a boatload of determination, it really made me believe that anything is possible. He majored in Civil Engineering and had his whole life mapped out for him, yet chose the path less traveled, chasing a dream that could have just as easily never have been a reality. After years of rejection because Desi people were rarely cast in recurring roles, he finally landed a hilarious role as the principal on “Glee”. I think this show is going to be a hit and with that, so is Principal Figgins. That alone should fill South Asians with “Glee”.''
Guardian article on Controversial story line about Gay Muslims in Eastenders.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/may/28/eastenders-gay-love-affair
''Diederick Santer, the EastEnders executive producer, said: "We've always tried to make EastEnders reflect modern life in multicultural Britain and we've always told social issue stories relevant to our diverse audience.
"This isn't a moral tale of right or wrong; it's very much a human interest story where a young man struggles with the conflict between his faith and his feelings.''

Article which indicates that South Asian actors could be introduced through comedy and comic roles
http://youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com/the-indian-american-comedy-invasion/

Russell Peters – Successful Indian comedian and actor. Canadian Born Indian.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Peters

Aziz Ansari – Indian American actor- Hosted MTV Movie Awards in 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aziz_Ansari