TARA SUMNER TALKS PARAHUNA 2

Behind the Coastline

You are reading an independently published interview-series published and carefully curated by Swedish pop-culture journalist Daniel John. Ever since its start in 2015, the core curiosity remains the same, surfing the creative currents of music, film, fashion and everything else on the pop-radar, catching the waves of culture as creative

Culture Coast TalksDaniel John

Making for quite a bit of romance but also a lot of lighthearted and fun comedy what was your experience on set of this movie?

This movie was one of my first bigger roles, I had completed movies before this, but with smaller roles. I really enjoyed working with the production and the talented actors. I was always laughing on set. Everyone had such great energy. 

In this sequel to the first ‘Parahuna’ Binder’s fiancée, Harjot, abruptly cuts ties with him after relocating from India to the United Kingdom, soon prompting him to follow, but his journey leads him to flirty encounters with Preet, Catherine, and Zoey. While it seems it remains to be seen who the woman of Binders dreams is, how would you describe Zoey?

Zoey was a very sweet character to play and I saw her as someone relatable to audiences all over the world, not just in the United Kingdom or in India.

This is a punjabi-language film, where you're starring opposite stars as Ranjit Bawa and Aditi Sharma. And this is not the first time you starred in an indian-production. How does a Gloucester–girl end up starring in Bollywood–films?

I first moved to India to pursue a modelling career at the age of twenty-one, Indian movies followed after this. I did my first small non-speaking role in a very big indian movie called 'Judwaa 2' with actor Varun Dhawan as the leading man, after this more Bollywood opportunities came over time.

If anyone sees this film and thinks, “Where do I recognize her from!”, it might also be from being a face for brands such as Wella, L’Oréal and Lee Cooper, to name a few. What did the road to acting look like from there. Had you ever expected that acting was something that you would love as much as you do?

I always knew, deep down, that I wanted to be a model. I came from a small town in Wales, but with big ambitions. After India, I moved to London. I had to push very hard to be a professional model, I was turned down by the big agents for the first few years of my career, so in order to make a professional career from modelling, I knew I would have to have a business mind and build my own brand. Acting came after this, but after being on my first ever movie–set I realised how much I really loved acting. And the more opportunities I get, and the more acting I do, the more I feel I progress and fall in love with the whole process.

Bollywood-films often feature more musicality than british ones and we get to see you show off your dance background in this, but how are you with singing?

I love movement! And I also love music! Hearing beautiful voices is like therapy to my ears. But unfortunately my voice is not quite there.

I would assume there is a translator on a big set such as this but might you still have picked up on any punjabi on set?

I know a few punjabi sentences and greetings, but I really can understand very little. Indeed we worked with a translator. Some productions can also speak english. I would hope that in the near future, I can understand more hindi and punjabi.

Would you love to continue to explore acting around the world, what roles and projects would you be enthusiastic to put a ring on?

Yes, I'm feeling very blessed with the opportunities that I'm receiving currently. I would love to work on more movies in India and I am also open to working on movies around the globe. I love exploring new places, culture and meeting new people.