Prince's Diaries

He's a royal from Barrey in UP, who gorges on rastey ka khana and can't get enough of Bollywood masala films. Tinsel town's latest poster boy tells Upala KBR about his latest Bong-English film, his stint as a celebrity journalist, his forefathers and more

Is Anant Narayan your real or filmi name?
I was named Anant after my ancestral village Sarai Anant Ram. Narayan is my middle name. My full name is Anant Narayan Mehrotra but my father decided to drop Mehrotra from his name.

Why did you keep your identity as a prince a secret?
I did not want people to change their attitude towards me because I'm a Yuvraj. I gorge on street food and ghar ka khana, enjoy typical Bollywood masala films in local single screen theatres, have always travelled by public transport, studied at Delhi University and even as a journalist, I sat outside the editor's offices for appointments. I wanted to experience the hardships of a lower-middle class Indian.u00a0

ROYAL TOUCH: Anant Narayan, the Yuvraj of Barrey in UP, wants to experience the hardships of a lower middle class Indian

How did your family take to your decision of becoming an actor?
I come from an extremely conservative, traditional andu00a0 academically inclined family where joining films is considered blasphemous. Initially, everyone thought I'd gone completely mad but then slowly and steadily, they realised that films are my true calling.

Your family revolted against the British and your grandfather was a true Gandhian. Tell us more...
I wouldn't want to reveal my grandfather's name since my father and he are both highly illustrious celebrated men in their own fields.

Unlike me, they decided to maintain a very low profile. But yes both my paternal and maternal great grandfathers partcipated in the freedom struggle. In fact, my maternal great grandfather went to jail with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru during the freedom struggle.u00a0
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Why did you sign a Bengali/English film as your first one instead of one in Hindi?
It wasn't a planned or calculated move. I'm completely ruled by my heart and not
my head.

During my stint as a journalist, I'd interact with most Bollywood A-listers, who suggested that I give acting or modelling a serious thought. But I turned them down because I just wasn't ready to take the plunge.

Then, I was introduced to Rajeshwari (Dasgupta) through a common friend and she offered me her film. I loved the script and said yes immediately.