Modelling is a frontdoor, not a backdoor entry into Bollywood: Upen

Mumbai, Apr 30 (UNI) Supermodel Upen Patel, who is making his debut in Subhash Ghai's ''36 China Town'' next week, believes modelling and beauty pageants are not a backdoor entry to Bollywood.

In an interview to UNI, he says, ''In fact, they are a frontdoor entry. Look at me, I made it without any godfather and help. Arjun Rampal is not from Gladrags, but he made it too.'' Upen rubbishes talks such as ''models make wooden actors''. He says, '' You see me in '36 China Town' and know what I am saying.'' His idols are Amitabh Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt.

An NRI who has been born and brought up in London, Upen has been a model for the past three years in India. He stars in director duo Abbas-Mastan's next ''36 China Town'' with co stars Akshay Khanna, Shahid Kapur and Kareena Kapoor.

On his role, he says, ''I play Rocky, a predictable fun-loving guy who is at the wrong place at the wrong time and hence the cops are continuously suspicious of him.'' A Bachelor in Computer Science, Upen became a model when ace photographer Atul Kasbekar spotted him in 2002 and gave him a break in modelling. Upen took up the offer in order to earn pocket money. Since then he has been a star on the ramp, earning various fashion awards and endorsing several leading brands.

Last year, Lady Luck smiled on him in the form of films. Upen was approached by showman Subhash Ghai who kept an entire stack of Upen's portfolio. Ghai told him that he had been following his career for the last eight months. He made Upen an offer saying that if Upen did not like the character offered, Ghai would give him another offer in a parallel lead in another film by him.

Upen took up the offer saying, ''You can't say no to Subhash Ghai and Abbas-Mastan.'' A supermodel on the ramp, he does not seem like a green horn when it comes to films either. He has an impressive line-up in his kitty like the next film by Sunil Darshan which also stars Bobby Deol and will go on floors in June, Vipul Shah's next ''Namaste London'' which also stars Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, and Abbas-Mastan's next untitled film which stars Sanjay Dutt.

In order to prepare for his roles, he has been taking Hindi classes to improve his diction, as he says, ''I am quite flexible as far as action and dancing is concerned.'' Upen was in news at the Fashion Week in Delhi where he shared the ramp with Shweta Bachchan Nanda for Abu-Sandeep. ''Oh, that was great. Shweta was nice. I feel honoured to have worked with Amitabh Bachchan's daughter.'' Replying to questions on the ''wardrobe malfunction'' in the Fashion week in Mumbai, the model-turned-actor felt the media was making a big issue out of it. ''A garment just fell off. Nothing about it. The models are not angry at all.'' Upen has set his eyes on the top slot in films. When asked as to where does he see himself in the current scenerio of superstars and supermodels, Upen replied, ''If I become superstar that will be great. Right now, it is a journey from being supermodel to superstar.'' UNI LS MAZ RL HT0952