Ray of Light

By Fuad Omar.

Ray Panthaki is about to be huge. He’s already being scouted by some of the top talents of the television and film industry and he’s only 23. In an industry where Asians have yet to make there mark, Ray is an actor who gripped the nation in one of ITV’s highest rating dramas Blood Strangers and hit the big screen earlier this year in the Ali G movie. The British Asian actor has come a long way since his mum enrolled him into drama school where he’d cling onto her arm intimidated by the others. He’s learnt to let go of his mum’s arm, but destiny has held on tight to make Ray one of the successful actors whose forthcoming films read like a list of the year’s hottest films. Tracking the man down has been a mission, but in between his busy schedule he makes time to talk to me about acting, where he’s come from and where he’s heading.

“When I was younger, for a long time I wanted to be someone who was in a position of authority or control,” he tells me in his rough North London accent as he sparks up a cigarette. 

“I was extremely shy as a kid up until the age of 10 or 11and my earliest acting memory is of a friend at school who was a child actor doing all sorts of McDonald’s ads and stuff. Acting was something I wanted to do too but didn’t think it was attainable. I knew I could do it, but was just really shy.”

Ray disappears in a cloud of smoke as he exhales and nods his head with a smile as he reminisces. 

“I told my mum to get me into drama school and although she had reservations she knew I was determined and really wanted to do this so she happily got me in. I was the kid who was really introvert and had just stepped into an arena of extroverts, so it was really tough.” 

“The first three weeks there were probably the most difficult of my life. Here I was this really shy kid and I was surrounded by all these confident kids who were really full of themselves. It would have been really easy to walk away and say ‘this isn’t for me’, but I’m glad I stuck to it because it’s all paying off now. I was there until the age of 20 when I started teaching there too part time and haven’t looked back since.”

But is acting something he learnt from being the shy kid or did it come naturally? I pull him up on the saying that ‘No one can teach you how to act, all a training school does is hone your in-bred talent’ to which he nods in agreement.

“Acting is a natural ability you’re either born with or not and no one can teach you how to act, but what acting schools and training can bring out in you is confidence. Through the school we did many performances and one was of A Chorus Line and I played a major part in the production and it was a really difficult part of a kid who has this three page monologue where he breaks down and he’s been abused as a child and so on. When I did it on stage I actually started crying myself getting totally under the skin of the character and got totally swept away in the acting part. It was as though I was this character. After the performance I saw people crying and coming up to me saying how much they loved my performance and that’s when I first realised my calling in life. A director came up to me and asked me to do a performance with him.”

He looks at me with a sense of disbelief at his own story. But this was just the first step he was taking with his destiny. Whereas many get caught up in theatre and never really break out of the stage light, he landed up in a role that to this day gains him recognition.

“My first big gig was a short film called Jump Boy. It was a film dealing with young Asian kids in West London and their clashes with black kids. It toured the festival circuit and did really well, won awards and made an impact. I’m still recognised as ‘You’re that guy from Jump Boy!’ even though it was such a long time ago and the equation’s changed. I grabbed the mileage that short film had and worked with it and things just went on from there. I got offered Sky’s first feature production called Tube Tales working with Bob Hoskins, Ewan MacGregor, Jude Law and a host of other extremely talented people and the experience I got working with them was amazing.”

He rattles off the biggest names in British cinema as if it’s natural to him, with a look that says he wants to be where they are someday. The film which premiered on Sky did well in terms of viewership, being the prelude to another of his big projects which he nearly turned down.

“Blood Strangers almost didn’t happen. I was offered the role of Zafar at the same time as being offered a part in Bend it like Beckham and I went from being an actor who wasn’t given the opportunity to fully exploit my potential to being approached with these two great productions at once. It was a great position to be in but also a very difficult decision to make because they were both fantastic scripts. I finally decided on Blood Strangers because it gave me more scope to perform and showcase my talent more through talking with a Northern accent, playing a guy who throughout the first half comes across as a nasty piece of work until you realise he’s not that bad, and it’s quite an emotionally driven role,” he tells me with a tinge of pride. 

“I still regret having to turn down Bend it like Beckham because I really admire Gurinder Chadha and would love to work with her, so fingers crossed it’ll happen in the future.”

Did he ever imagine he could gain such mileage and recognition from one ITV drama, I wonder but before I can ask he starts telling me at how destiny’s been taking him on a natural journey where he’s simply going with the flow, and is happy at where he’s heading.

“I started off in film and my career’s always been directed in that way, and my heart’s in film. So I’m pretty lucky that things have been going towards that medium. I mean, even Blood Strangers achieving viewers of over 10 million is brilliant.  When people will see me on the big screen now, they’ll see the transition and it’s just the way things are going, so it’s great.”

As the smoke parts, his eyes focus in on me and for the first time I notice the spark that crackles within them. Hinting at the flame it will ignite any day now that could engulf into an inferno that sets the screen on fire. Before his look begins to crackle, I ask him about what films he’s got lined up and he shifts in his seat and moves closer as though he’s about to reveal a closely guarded secret. Looking me square in the eye he proudly announces:

“Ali G In Da House released in March and did well, I played Hassan B who is Ali G’s nemesis and leader of the East Staines Massive. Coming up there’s Jeremy Wooding’s film called Bollywood Queen which was at Cannes too, and then there’s a big movie with Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) written by Alex Garland (The Beach) called 28 Days Later. Then I come back to start another movie called Rehab by a great director called Antonio Bird.”

An achievement of sorts, and Ray isn’t only proud of bagging these roles, but the way he’s been offered them too. His role in Danny Boyle’s film is not one which was conceived as an Asian. Whereas most ethnic roles on offer require someone playing the part of a stereotypical character, Ray landed himself a role that was not defined by colour.

“I was asked to audition for Danny Boyle’s new movie and I went down really eager for it. So I met Danny and auditioned for the part, loved the script and the next day I was offered the part. It was great because the part I play is actually that of a British soldier and it’s not one that’s specifically been written for an Asian guy, but he’s chosen to go against the conformity of having a white person play it which is probably what it was written for and actually choose me on the strength of the audition. He’s seen me perform and said ‘ok well why not have an Asian, because he could be a British soldier as well,’ and I really admire Danny for that and he’s given me a fantastic opportunity. He’s looked at my talent and not my skin colour and turned a role around for me.”

When he’s not working he’s still working. Finding a rewarding way to give back to the industry that’s feeding him, Ray has launched his own night out that aims at putting the unsung talents who have yet to be as fortunate as he is in touch with the likes of Danny Boyle and Robert Carlyle. Apart from that a screenplay is in the works and more movies. For a person who grew up wanting to be in a position of authority, he’s gone beyond his ambition as Ray is now calling the shots.

“I’ve been really busy working on the movies, but I’m also writing my first feature film script as well as putting up a night in town called Z List, which is aimed at showcasing friends and colleagues who have talent but don’t get access to the right avenues. So it’ll be a night for them to perform in front of people looking for actors, musicians and whatever and network and get scouted on a platform presented to influential people. I want to continue working in the film side of things and I guess as with everyone recognition is important so I’m hoping an award comes by somewhere along the way, and maybe even for my own feature film.”

Following the current trend of Hollywood stars by appearing on the London theatre circuit, Ray appeared in last month’s Where Do We Live alongside Adam Garcia, performing at the Royal Court. The play, directed by Richard Wilson, received rave reviews and gained the young actor publicity from London to Hollywood.

“It’s a very challenging role and the subject too is quite sensitive. It deals with the events of September 11th and is set in New York. Everyone was surprised to see something like this and it definitely has been an amazing experience.”

Ray Panthaki takes his last drag of the cigarette and shakes my hand, inviting me to make an appearance at Z List. He’s off for a photo-shoot and then some publicity work, and then his next appointment is with stardom. As he walks to his car it’s hard to imagine the same guy who strides confidently has been a chameleon of various guises in the past few months, and will take everyone by surprise in the forthcoming months too. As he drives off, he gives me a wave and for a minute I think I see a figure next to him. On a second look I realise it’s not a person, just a shadow. Destiny hasn’t left his side and success is where he’s heading…and he’s heading there fast.