FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES
Presents
In Association with PARTICIPANT MEDIA and IMAGE NATION ABU DHABI
A BLUEPRINT PICTURES Production
A Film by JOHN MADDEN
JUDI DENCH
MAGGIE SMITH
BILL NIGHY
DEV PATEL
CELIA IMRIE
PENELOPE WILTON
RONALD PICKUP
TINA DESAI
DIANA HARDCASTLE
LILLETE DUBEY
TAMSIN GREIG
SHAZAD LATIF
with DAVID STRATHAIRN
and RICHARD GERE
DIRECTED BY.......................................................... JOHN MADDEN
SCREENPLAY BY.................................................... OL PARKER
SCREEN STORY BY ................................................ OL PARKER
.................................................................................... JOHN MADDEN
PRODUCED BY ........................................................ GRAHAM BROADBENT, p.g.a.
.................................................................................... PETE CZERNIN, p.g.a.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ..................................... JEFF SKOLL
.................................................................................... JONATHAN KING
.................................................................................... JOHN MADDEN
.................................................................................... MICHAEL DREYER
CO-PRODUCER ........................................................ PRAVESH SAHNI
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY ........................... BEN SMITHARD BSC
PRODUCTION DESIGNER ..................................... MARTIN CHILDS
FILM EDITOR ........................................................... VICTORIA BOYDELL
COSTUME DESIGNER ............................................ LOUISE STJERNSWARD
MUSIC BY ................................................................. THOMAS NEWMAN
CASTING BY ............................................................ MICHELLE GUISH
.................................................................................... SEHER LATIF CSA
www.foxsearchlight.com/press
Rated PG Running time 122 minutes
Publicity Contacts:
Los Angeles
Sonia Freeman
Tel: 310.369.8476
[email protected]
New York
Jen Crocker
Tel: 212.556.8246
[email protected]
1 Regional
Isabelle Sugimoto
Tel: 310.369.2078
[email protected]
Now that The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is full up with its long-term residents, co-managers Muriel
Donnelly (Maggie Smith) and Sonny Kapoor (Dev Patel) have a dream of expansion, and they’ve found just
the place: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. With plans underway, Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench
and Bill Nighy) venture into the Jaipur workforce, wondering where their regular breakfast dates will
lead. Meanwhile, Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) navigate the swirling waters of
an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two very eligible suitors, and recent arrival Guy
Chambers (Richard Gere) finds a muse in Sonny’s mother, Mrs. Kapoor (Lillete Dubey) for his next novel.
As his marriage to Sunaina (Tina Desai), the love of his life, quickly approaches, Sonny finds his plans for
the new hotel making more claims on his time than he has available. Perhaps the only one who may know
the answers is Muriel, the keeper of everyone’s secrets. As the big day nears, family and guests alike find
themselves swept up in the irresistible intoxication of an Indian wedding.
Fox Searchlight Pictures Presents, in association with Participant Media and Image Nation Abu
Dhabi, a Blueprint Pictures Production, a film by John Madden, THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC
MARIGOLD HOTEL, with a cast including Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Dev Patel, Celia
Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Ronald Pickup, Tina Desai, Diana Hardcastle, Lillete Dubey, Tamsin Greig,
Shazad Latif with David Strathairn and Richard Gere. The film is directed by John Madden
(SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE) from a script by Ol Parker and screen story by Parker and Madden. The
producers are Graham Broadbent and Pete Czernin of Blueprint Pictures. The executive producers are Jeff
Skoll, Jonathan King, John Madden and Michael Dreyer.
2 "Not only can you be anything you want to be, you have no idea now what you will become.
Don't try to control it. Let go. That's when the fun starts."
-- Muriel (Maggie Smith)
Checking In Again
In 2012, the sleeper comedy hit THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL beckoned audiences on a
journey with a group of seven British pensioners who “outsourced” their retirement, taking a risk on a newly
opened Indian hotel claiming to cater to the “Elderly & Beautiful.” Though the hotel turned out to have seen
better days, the fearless and optimistic residents came to realize that no matter what their age, the best might
be yet to come. THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL brings together the original cast,
headed by Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy and Dev Patel, with newcomers Richard Gere, Tamsin
Greig and David Strathairn.
The original film took audiences by surprise – breaking the mold by presenting a disparate group of
ordinary, complicated, funny people embarking on a bold adventure: they also happened to be senior
citizens, and were played by some of the finest actors of their generation. The film went on to do recordbreaking business in the UK and US, earning more than $136 million worldwide, garnering acclaim and
accolades including Best Picture nominations from The Hollywood Foreign Press, BAFTA and Screen
Actors Guild (Ensemble Award).
“We were all surprised,” recalls Academy Award® winner Judi Dench, reprising the role of Evelyn,
who arrived in India a recent widow but now confronted with an unforeseen array of possibilities. “The first
film just seemed to gather momentum and it became this huge success. It’s been amazing how many people
come up to me to talk about it. So being back in India doing a second one was fantastic.”
Bill Nighy, who returns as Douglas, now smitten with the elusive Evelyn, adds: “I always felt the
original story would make a good film, but I couldn’t have imagined it would be as successful as it was. It
obviously hit the spot with people, and it’s very satisfying to get to do this a second time.”
It was also satisfying to all involved to be able to bring an often ignored cinematic constituency.
“The appeal I think was that THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL dealt in an irreverent and
affectionate way with the lives and relationships of people who are well into their sunset years,” comments
3 actress Lillete Dubey who plays Mrs. Kapoor. “This was one of the very few films that went into that zone
in a joyous way, a film that said, ‘hello, you may be 60 or 70, but life never stops surprising, unless you let
it.’”
Producers Graham Broadbent and Peter Czernin admit they were initially cautious about a sequel
for an indie film that never anticipated anything of the sort. There was a certain boldness to doing something
unprecedented: revisiting characters who are not action heroes, or part of a franchise.
“What was so widely enjoyed about the first movie is that it was an emotionally engaging story told
with humor,” says Broadbent. “The only reservation we had about making a second was that it needed to be
a film of equal merit.”
There was only one way to do that: reunite the original team of writer Ol Parker, who had adapted
Deborah Moggach’s novel about a retirement home in India, and Oscar®-nominated director John Madden,
both of whom now knew these characters intimately. Once the duo got together to discuss where a second
chapter might take the hotel’s residents, the ideas took shape quickly. Sonny’s marriage to Sunaina was
already implicit at the end of the first film, and the protracted preparation and celebrations of a full-blown
Indian wedding became the unifying thread of the new one, throwing into relief the emotional journeys of
everyone involved.
Says Madden: “Ol and I decided that the wedding preparations should weave through the entire film
– reflecting the all-encompassing nature of the classic Indian wedding. So it became a three-part structure,
each act leading to a party, with its own pressures and its own distinct repercussions. As they have a habit of
doing, weddings provoke everyone to measure their own sense of where they are in their lives. In some
ways, we’re telling a more intense story than the first film, because now we have the opportunity to follow
these characters deeper into their lives.”
The director goes on: “I think this film is really about family – an unconventional family who
formed around their own attempts to assimilate into this different culture. Of course it’s funny, but it touches
other moods as well. The characters are facing the very real decisions and choices that confront people at this
point in their lives. It makes for a rich canvas.”
Broadbent: “It became clear that the first film only told half the story. The second script left us with
another whole journey to take with each character: “Muriel, who travels from lonely xenophobe to becoming
the centre of a family which until then she’d never had; Evelyn and Douglas, wrestling with conflicting
emotional commitments; Madge, still looking for happiness, but not necessarily in the right places; and
Norman, the footloose adventurer, tempted and tortured by fidelity. ..”
Parker delivered a screenplay that saw each character evolving in funny and unexpected ways,
growing not only closer to one another but also to India itself. “While the first story was more about the
culture clash they enter into, here we get to see them experience India as their home,” Broadbent says.
“They’ve become a part of the local life. Douglas has a bike shop and works as a tour guide. Evelyn is
4 developing a textile business. Norman and Madge are running the Viceroy Club. Everyone has a different
view of things now.”
Broadbent started making calls to gather the cast as soon as the idea of re-visiting the hotel presented itself.
He got commitments straight away, long before there anything to read. “It was like an exercise in trust,” he says,
“and actually I think it is a great credit to John Madden and his relationship with these actors that everyone was up
for it from the beginning. Then, when we went back to them with Ol’s script, there was an immediate full house.”
Maggie Smith, the two-time Oscar® winner who makes her return as the salty-tongued Muriel, a
character coming into her own at this late date, says: “The hardest thing you could ever do was try to get this
group of actors together again after three years because everybody was dispersed doing different things …so
I think it’s a very extraordinary thing that it succeeded.”
When thinking about who else they might be happy to add to the hotel’s roll call, Broadbent recalls
one name jumping to the fore: Golden Globe winner Richard Gere. “Richard was able to bring that kind of
instant romantic frisson that has a ripple effect on everyone at the hotel,” observes John Madden. “And his
character’s circumstance provoked some interesting possibilities.”
Adds Broadbent: “I remember asking Ol and John ‘who would you most want to walk into the
Marigold courtyard’ and the instant answer was Richard Gere – so we were delighted that he joined us. The
combination of John, the script and the caliber of our actors drew everyone in.”
Gere, who plays Guy Chambers, found the invitation to be in the film irresistible. “I thought the first
film was terrific,” he says. “You see fewer and fewer films about the real dilemmas of our lives, so it was a
rare thing. And then to see such a really good script the second time around; that doesn’t happen all that
often. John and Ollie developed something wonderful … and it’s the most extraordinary cast to bang heads
with.”
There was also the pleasure of casting several new players, including the seemingly too young
Lavinia Beech, played by Tamsin Greig, and the investor and business chief, Ty Burley played by David
Strathairn. “Tamsin is fantastic. I’ve always loved her work and I pounced on the opportunity to smuggle
her into this when we knew we had a character for her. And David is a brilliant actor with whom I’d already
worked on stage - a wonderful addition to the cast,” says Madden. Dench said of the newcomers: “Having new blood invigorated us enormously.”
Madden also collaborated with two new arrivals to the crew: distinguished British cinematographer
Ben Smithard (THE DAMNED UNITED, MY WEEKEND WITH MARILYN, BELLE) and production
designer Martin Childs, an Oscar® winner for Madden’s SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE who also worked with
Madden on MRS. BROWN -- to create a fresh, dynamic look.
Smithard notes that the second film has a kinetic energy that flows from its hero, Sonny, and made it
a different animal from the first. “With all the parties and the wedding, we have a lot of set pieces that were
a big but enjoyable challenge,” he says. “One of the real differences in this film is scenes of tremendous
5 scale – at times we had 900 people on set – and we did a Bollywood dance number on top of it. So there
were a lot of logistics and technology. We really tried to bring that epic feel that India is so good at
providing.”
On the set, the magical connections of the first film reasserted themselves, but in new ways. Madden
was especially interested in the way this second chapter reveals the vital links between generations. “A big
part of THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is the juxtaposition of youth and age, an idea
emblematized in the closing frames of the first film,” he says. “This story’s climax extrapolates that idea into
something more profound - about handing things on, about transmitting what is most valuable about our
experience and knowledge, not just from one culture to another, but from one age group to the next.”
The Hotel’s Hard-Core Regulars
"I thought, how many new lives can one have?
Then I thought...as many as we like. While we can."
Evelyn (Judi Dench)
To her great surprise, the once curmudgeonly Muriel (Maggie Smith) has found her mind opening to
India – and has found her niche as the Marigold Hotel’s unlikely new co-manager, with her own ideas of
what hospitality means. They might be the oddest of odd couples but she and Sonny have become partners
in the truest sense of the word, each bringing something the other can’t to the table.
For Smith, it was a pleasure to see Muriel fully coming out of her shell after her initial sarcasm
about the Marigold – although she hasn’t lost her inimitably opinionated ways. “In the first movie, Muriel
spent a lot of time observing everybody and I think she came to like Sonny a lot,” says Smith. “But in this
film, I’ve become more like a grandmother to him. I saw his potential and now it is lovely to see him grow
and grow. Muriel and Sonny are very different people, but he has such a huge heart and enthusiasm.”
Judi Dench comments on their unlikely relationship: “Sonny has all these flamboyant ideas, whereas
Muriel is terribly grounded. With his enthusiasm and her practicality they get through and in the end you
realize they have grown very much to depend on each other.”
One of the biggest challenges of playing Muriel this time around, says Smith, was simply keeping
up with her. “Muriel’s got a lot of energy in this film,” laughs the 80 year-old actress. “I don’t have nearly
as much as she has.”
Smith especially enjoyed having another chance to work with John Madden, impressed with how
he balances the comic with the bittersweet. “John held all of us together,” she sums up. “He does go on and
on and on until he’s satisfied, and that can drive you crazy, but it’s also a terrific way to be.”
Evelyn (Judi Dench) – also a familiar fixture -- might have arrived at the Marigold Hotel newly
widowed, in deep debt and disconcertingly uncertain about her future, but she now has enough opportunities
that she faces big choices about what – and who – she wants. She adores India with all its ravishing colors
and sensual textures and has a chance to be more a part of it in the textile business. But at the same time, she
6 can’t decide if she should spend all her time negotiating fabrics or leave some room for Douglas (Bill
Nighy).
Dench was drawn back in completely when she read the second script. “Ol and John were
incredibly clever in intertwining everyone’s stories in various ways,” she says. “It was done so beautifully
and I felt it was a great compliment to the first one. It’s an incredibly joyous story and quite surprising, I
think, all around.”
As for Evelyn’s journey, Dench says: “It turns out to not be as straightforward for her as it might
have seemed at the end of the first story – but that’s good and very real.”
She also enjoyed exploring the developing nuances in Evelyn and Douglas’ rapport, which
reveals that even in the later stages of life, romance never gets any less complicated. “Bill and I worked a
great deal together and this has taken Evelyn and Douglas’ story onwards,” she says. “We had a wonderful
time. We even rode a motorbike together. I didn’t have a nerve left in my body but he was very proficient at
it.”
Dench, not unlike Evelyn, was exhilarated to be in India once again. “How lucky could we be to
get to return,” she muses. “I fell in love with it the first time, and now it’s happened all over again.”
Sonny, played by Dev Patel, is also back in full force and to the amazement of his mother, he has
managed to make a success of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. His enthusiastic personality has won over
the residents at the hotel and now he has decided that outsourcing old age could work equally well beyond
India and he launches the action of THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL on a Route 66 on a U.S. road trip with his co-manager, Muriel, to pitch his idea as a potential franchise.
Patel was thrilled the second he heard rumors of a new life for a character who took off into the
cultural zeitgeist – and one for whom he has an extreme affection. “I feel so lucky because Ol Parker wrote
Sonny to my strengths, and I can completely relate to him. He’s a showman, but behind that is an
insecurity,” he observes. “And at this juncture, he feels his life may be spiraling out of control. He’s getting
married, with all that that involves in India, the hotel needs to be expanded and beyond, then there is this
handsome guy Kush, who he feels is threatening both his relationship with Sunaina and his business
ventures.”
Patel is familiar with the kinds of pressure Indian weddings can put on a groom-to-be, no matter
how exuberant. “There are tons of ceremonies and preparations that go into an Indian wedding. So it’s an
incredibly stressful time for Sonny,” he observes, “and he’s trying to balance it all with his business.”
Sonny is also trying to impress Guy Chambers (played by Richard Gere), convinced that the
unruffled writer could be the hotel inspector sent from America to evaluate his operation– which leads to one
mishap after another. “Sonny gets quite distracted by Guy, and nearly ignores his fiancée,” laughs Patel.
“Richard was great to work with in this role. He’s this silver fox who can turn it on but he also can play very
deadpan and I think that gives him a lovely dynamic with Sonny. And of course, he’s so charismatic.”
7 For Patel, seeing all the hotel’s residents together again was inspiring. “It was beautiful to have
everyone back,” he says. “They’re all such heavyweights, yet I fell right back into rhythm with them and it
just felt like home, basically. That kind of feeling allows you the utter confidence to try anything.”
He especially loved making a second go-around with what he calls “the two Dames”: Dench and
Smith. “Working with them was and is a life-changing experience,” he concludes. “They just deliver and
deliver and deliver. They both have this aura around them and everything they do is top-notch.”
For Douglas (Bill Nighy), the move to India changed everything about his former life – and
toppled his unfulfilling marriage to his pinched and unhappy wife Jean (Penelope Wilton). Yet now, madly
in love with Evelyn, he’s tied himself in knots, trying to make the next move with a woman who makes him
terribly shy.
Bill Nighy was intrigued to see where Douglas had wound up in the new screenplay. “At the end
of the first movie, Douglas’ relationship with Evelyn was left somewhat open-ended,” Nighy points out.
“They’d made a connection, but now Evelyn is feeling tentative and Douglas is utterly confused. I think he’s
probably assumed something much more than she did from that first connection.”
“Douglas and Evelyn are fumbling towards honesty and commitment in a way that is almost like a
teen romance,” comments producer Graham Broadbent. “Surely at this point in her years, Evelyn should be
able to cut through and speak the truth, but it never gets any easier!”
Douglas has also found two new careers, even if he’s not particularly competent at either one – as a
memory-addled tour guide and a bike repairman who can’t always find the right fix.
“He has become
obsessed with repairing bikes and he is absolutely useless with bikes,” quips Nighy. “It amuses me and I
hope it will amuse the rest of the world.”
The first film marked Nighy’s first-ever trip to India, but he was anxious to return. “The first
time I think you’re in sensory overload,” he notes. “So it was quite nice to come a second time when you’re
at least somewhat more prepared and you can start to really savor it.”
As Sonny’s mother, Mrs. Kapoor (Lillete Dubey) may not be a resident of the Marigold Hotel,
but she is in her 60s, and a widow who has never so much as considered the possibility of new romance in
her life – until she meets the American novelist Guy Chambers, who finds himself drawn to her, even as a
mortified Sonny tries to keep them apart.
Dubey says it was a chance to enlarge the character who was a source of comic relief in the first
film, but here she can show a more passionate side. “When I heard there was to be a sequel I remember
saying jokingly to Ol Parker ‘oh gosh, I hope there is a romance for Mrs. Kapoor,’” Dubey recalls. “I’m so
happy that’s what happened, because it gives a whole different dimension to the character.”
Dubey certainly enjoyed being seduced by Richard Gere. “When I told friends that Richard Gere
was joining the cast they were rather excited,” she muses. “But what I love is that it’s not me chasing him,
so that’s very nice. And Richard is the type of actor who makes it all very real. Right from the start I knew
8 it was going to be very, very easy to work with him. We felt so comfortable together, we had to add back in
some of that tension and distance between Mrs. Kapoor and Guy at the beginning.”
For Dubey, the fact that Mrs. Kapoor becomes an unlikely romantic is all part of the theme of the
possibilities that never stop in life.
“Its an important space that this film goes into,” she concludes.
“Whether you are young or old you need that sense of possibility, that sense that anything can happen.”
Celia Imrie also returns to the cast in her role as Madge – who originally came to India hoping to
find romance – and is still tirelessly pursuing it. In a sense things couldn’t be going better, given that two
wealthy Maharajahs, Nimish and Abhilash, are jealously vying over each other for her attentions . . .but for
some reason, she can’t quite make up her mind. Coming and going from her romantic exploits, Madge
confesses all to her observant driver Babul.
Celia Imrie was taken with her character’s journey in this film. “We find Madge in a bit of a
dilemma. She is overrun with suitors, but that isn’t making her happy,” she notes. “What’s especially fun is
that John Madden gave me the leeway to explore this blue-ness, a slightly unseen side to Madge, which is
actually quite interesting. The great thing about the entire script is that it’s not what you’d expect.”
Imrie also loved that Madge, like the other guests, has discovered an unanticipated new career.
“Madge and Norman are now running the Viceroy Club; they’re not just lazing about and giving up,” she
observes. “We’re all rolling up our sleeves and getting on with things and entering deeper into India.”
Imrie felt like she was returning to a family. “We already know each other so well,” she muses,
“that it gives this second part of the story a new richness.”
The perennial bachelor, Norman (Ronald Pickup) had spent his life in pursuit of sexual adventures.
But now, even though he has found the perfect occupation for his preoccupation with the opposite sex -running the Viceroy Club alongside Madge – he has hit a snafu that has him bewildered: falling in love.
Pickup was thrilled to rejoin his compatriots as they each ask big questions about what to do next
in their lives. “This movie goes into areas that are a bit more, nuanced, shall we say,” he comments. “How
do people move on from the euphoria of finding a place like the Marigold Hotel and the relationships that
were formed there? What happens next? Life never stands still even at this age” says Pickup.
Pickup acknowledges that along with the joy of reuniting also came a sense of making it worth it “I
think we all wanted it to be just as good, if not even better, than the first one.”
Carol (Diana Hardcastle) also returning from the original, is now the unlikely partner of former
playboy Norman, but she’s hedging her bets by keeping a free-spirited attitude. Diana Hardcastle, who had a
supporting role in the first film, now joins the ensemble as one of the hotel residents. Hardcastle says the
draw of the second installment is its major theme: “It’s about relationships. At the center is the marriage of
Sonny and Sunaina, but all the characters are in evolving relationships. It’s about what’s attractive and
what’s frightening about them: independence vs. loss of independence. Love, of course, isn’t only the
prerogative of the young. We all experience these insecurities and fears, as well as the thrills.” She goes on:
9 “With Norman and Carol, I think it's all about: am I really safe to put all my eggs in this one basket?
In the first movie they discovered each other because they were both lonely. But now that they are together,
they don’t quite trust the commitment.”
Hardcastle says she especially enjoyed communing with the younger cast. “Dev is a powerhouse
and Tina has so much energy and enthusiasm. They’re such positive forces in this story,” she comments.
Bollywood star Tina Desai returns as Sunaina, Sonny’s fiancée at last. This film finds her trying
to organize their wedding, while Sonny seems to have bigger fish to fry – chasing his dreamed-of second
hotel
Desai says the script for THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL was unexpected.
It’s so exciting that it’s a true continuation of these lives.” Part of that is the way the residents continue to
blend into the intensity of Indian culture all around them. “They’re not foreigners anymore,” she observes.
“They’ve accepted India as their home. And it’s really great to see how they’ve adapted.”
Desai especially looked forward to all the wedding preparations, which in India are notoriously
involved. “It’s all one big, fat Indian wedding,” she laughs. “An Indian wedding really is an insanely long,
one-week event which has 500 different variations. No two Indian weddings are the same.”
She goes on: “Of course there are last-minute hurdles, but mostly Sunaina sees Sonny cooking
up problems. Sonny’s world is always stressful…because he attracts stress! Sunaina is really the voice of
reason in his life. She’s always grounded while he’s going crazy.”
Coming from India, Desai says she was taken aback by how accurately both films have portrayed
her home country. “It captures a truly Indian sort of spirit, which surprised me because I think you have to
live in India for a significant period of time to know how we think and feel. As it says in the last line from
the first film: Everything will be all right in the end; and if it’s not all right, it’s not yet the end. That gives
you a feeling of hope – and that’s exactly what Indian films are about.”
The Hotel’s New Arrivals
“To say that there’s huge room for improvement in the way the hotel is run is to
understate the surreally haphazard nature of your operation.”
- Guy Chambers (Richard Gere) The latest arrival at the Marigold Hotel is an alluring mystery– the American Guy Chambers who
might or might not be the key to Sonny’s dreams, but is definitely about to shake things up one way or the
other. The role brings the Golden Globe® winning actor Richard Gere into the ensemble.
Gere couldn’t resist joining the crew. “I’m always happy to do anything in India,” he says. “I’ve
always wanted to work with John Madden and then of course, there was this cast. It’s widely accepted that
Judi and Maggie are royalty in the film industry. They’re such appealing individuals to see up on the screen,
but in terms of who they are as people . . . they have wicked senses of humor!”
10 The energy of the entire cast, no matter their chronological stats, was exhilarating to him. “You
can’t be an actor and not have a youthful spirit,” he says. “It doesn’t happen any other way. I was in dance
rehearsals right off the plane basically, so there was an immediate sense of joy and fun. A lot of that feeling
comes from John, as well. He’s someone who is delighted by people, by performances, by the culture in
India and I think he brings all of that out in this production.”
Gere was also drawn to the sophisticated wit of the comedy. “At times it’s almost like a
Shakespearean comedy of manners, with all these human foibles on display,” he muses. “And it seems that
all the characters are mostly focused on modifying the damage Sonny wreaks on everything!”
As for Chambers, Gere demurs: “I can’t say much except that he has a lot of secrets . . . “
Tamsin Greig plays Lavinia Beech, who arrives with Guy Chambers but is quickly shuffled to the
side by Sonny. Younger than the rest of the crew, she reveals that she’s on a scouting journey, looking for
the ideal respite for her mother.
Greig came in already a big fan. “When my agent first mentioned this film to me, she didn’t even
get to finish her sentence,” she laughs. “I’d so loved the first one, and this group of actors would draw
anyone into their midst.”
The biggest challenge was trying to dive into the already established rapport between the
members of the original cast. “Naturally I brought my own degree of terror going into that company,” she
laughs. “And yet they were all so welcoming and celebratory it was like joining a supportive community
who are only delighted by new faces. It was a great family to join.”
Sonny’s big pitch for expanding the Marigold Hotel is made to American executive Ty Burley,
whose company, Evergreen, sees the elder market as an opportunity for growth. Playing Burley is another
leading American actor: Academy Award® nominee David Strathairn, whose diverse career has spanned
THE FIRM ,THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, and Steven Spielberg’s
LINCOLN.
“Ty Burley’s an investor who really likes the idea of creating elder communities, not just what
you might think of as a rest home, and then into his office come these two rather eccentric people,”
Strathairn explains. “You have Sonny with his over-the-top enthusiasm and inappropriate behavior and then
this rather taciturn, formidable, engaging but kind of dangerous woman, Muriel. I loved having a front row
seat to watch Maggie Smith. That’s something special.”
Strathairn says he found the first film “disarming” but this second incarnation transported him in
a different way. “There’s romance all over the place in this story – and among all age groups,” he points out.
Another newcomer to THE SECOND BEST MARIGOLD HOTEL is most unwelcome from
Sonny’s perspective: Kush, a friend of Sunaina’s brother, freshly returned from America, who also happens
to be dashing, a great dancer and all too interested in the hotel business – all of which arouses Sonny’s
anxiety. Playing Kush is up-and-coming British actor Shazad Latif, who has up until now been known for
11 British television. Latif sums up: “Kush is basically Sonny’s great rival. He thinks he wants to take his
woman from him and also his new hotel. He has a lot of issues with me!”
Latif loved having the chance to riff with Dev Patel. “Dev’s got great, great energy,” he says.
“He reminds me of Tigger, from Winnie the Pooh, just hopping about all the time. I’m the opposite, so I
think we have a nice counter-balance together.”
Most of all, Latif was thrilled to join the multi-generational cast. “Working with Maggie, Judi,
Richard, Bill, Tamsin – well, all of these guys are my heroes,” he summarizes.
The Marigold Gets a Remodel
“The sound of Destiny, Madam. Calling us with her siren song.
And go to her we must. For this is our moment.
If not now, when? And if not us, who?”
- Sonny (Dev Patel) “The Marigold Hotel has always been a character in itself,” points out director John Madden. And
like all the other characters in the story, the hotel reveals it has gone through changes big and small since its
tumultuous grand opening. Sonny has added three rooms on the roof and a freshly renovated courtyard gives
his guests more opportunities for the life of serene leisure he promised in his brochure.
Once again, the stand-in for the Marigold was Ravla Khempur, a royal palace turned equestrian hotel
that is attached to the tiny village of Khempur just outside the scenic lake district of Udaipur. “That building
has a magic about it, and an unmistakable charm,” explains Madden. “It has that something special that you
could immediately believe would draw these characters to stay.”
Production designer Martin Childs wanted to invite audiences into an upgraded version of the
amenities of first film. “The first film established a kind of ‘shabby chic’ style that was a part of its charm –
but things have developed,” he explains. “Things look a bit smarter, yet they haven’t lost that fun
eclecticism. Sonny used found objects in order to put this hotel together in the first place, but now he has
more of a sense of purpose and business acumen. I was keen to bring all that together.”
In many ways, Childs started from a blank slate, especially in approaching the characters’ individual
rooms, knowing that their sense of design has drastically changed from who they were back in England or
even when they first arrived in Jaipur. “When I first talked with John,” the production designer recalls, “he
told me to forget about any details of continuity from the first film because things have moved on and, as
they’ve gotten settled, all the people will have changed their rooms. Now that the characters have become
more established in India, India is now visibly more a part of them.”
More importantly, the hotel’s guests are now moving more about Jaipur, saturated in the vivacious
colors and rhythms of the famed “pink city,” once home to Raj rulers and currently a pulsating metropolis
jammed with tuk-tuk taxis, bikes, trucks and elephants streaming down its narrow streets.
12 The film gave Madden and his crew the chance to showcase more of the surrounding hotspots,
including Jaigarh Fort, a rugged hilltop installation built in the early 1700s by Jai Singh II. Childs created
several sets there, highlighting the formal gardens and their staggering view of a wall that flows across the
landscape reminiscent of the Great Wall of China. Filming also took place at another travelers’ favorite: the
Cenotaphs of the Kings -- a royal cremation site featuring dome-shaped pavilions and ornate carvings in the
Rajasthan style – which is Douglas’ new place of employment.
The creative challenge lay in balancing all the outdoor action with the one-on-one interactions that
are the heart of the story, says director of photography Ben Smithard: “There are a lot of big scenes, but
there are also a lot of moments between two characters, so we wanted to capture that intimacy along with the
huge epic scale. I was always looking for that harmony.”
It was Smithard’s first trip to India so he was on sensory high alert. “I found it so fascinating,” he
comments. “It really inspired me to try to encapsulate the essence of the country. There are some trials to
shooting there, but it’s also spectacular and we had such a great story and characters.”
One of Childs’ favorite sets was found by kismet: the fabric factory where Evelyn and her business
partner Hari make a sly deal with the owner.
Garment factories are commonplace in India, but the
filmmakers were in search of something special that might ignite Evelyn’s passion for artistry.
“One evening, we were scouting when suddenly we saw these bits of glorious, multicolored fabric
waving in the distance,” the designer recalls. “When we investigated we found the factory of our dreams -where the block-printed fabrics the area is famous for are made.”
Shaadi: The Wedding
“The two things we can give our children are roots and wings.
Sonny and Sunaina’s wonderful family have given them roots,
and now they can take flight together and as they embark on their journey,
on which we send them with love and admiration.”
- Douglas (Bill Nighy) Between October and December, in the months gapping the monsoon rains and the heat of
summer, all of India explodes into dazzling colors and merriment with the coming of the famous “wedding
season.” During these few months, thousands of betrothed couples celebrate with multi-day ceremonies
steeped in tradition, customs and symbolism, each culminating in a grand day of food, music and dancing.
Rarely seen in Hollywood films, John Madden was delighted to invite audiences to be part of Sonny and
Sunaina’s typically extravagant and emotional Indian union.
“It was irresistible to have their wedding become a big part of the film,” comments Graham
Broadbent. “It was always on the cards and it provided the perfect climactic sequence.”
Tina Desai explains why Indian weddings are so lavish, often involving a year of ultra-high-stress
prep. “An Indian wedding is a really, really big event -- because it’s not just about the girl marrying the guy;
13 it’s about families coming together as well. It’s never a small private affair. It’s where everybody comes, all
of the people in your life, to celebrate. I think the film was able to capture it so well.”
For authenticity’s sake, Martin Childs even hired a local wedding planner to help source all the
accoutrements for the ceremony.
Following on the heels of the Sagai – or engagement party – and the
Sangeet – or family party –the wedding begins with the Baraat, a customary procession featuring the groom
riding in on a white horse, accompanied by friends, family and marching band. Then comes the mainstay of
any Hindu wedding ceremony, known as Saat Phere (“the seven circumambulations”), during which seven
round of vows are made by the bride and groom in front of a sacred fire.
Childs kept the design in keeping with tradition, while adding creative touches and a distinctive
floral theme throughout. “The wedding reception features all the yellow and orange Marigold colors,” he
points out. “What’s amazing about the colors of India is that they all clash yet somehow they also all come
together beautifully. I wanted to play with that in the wedding design.”
The multichromatic spectacle moved both cast and crew deeply. “It’s something I will never forget,
ever,” sums up Judi Dench. “I felt very privileged to be able to see it at very close quarters, and be part of the
tradition of walking around the fire seven times. And Dev and Tina looked so beautiful.”
An essential element of THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL for John Madden was
the film’s score, which reunited the director with 12-time Academy Award® nominated composer Thomas
Newman. Madden had been so taken with his score for the first film, he was intrigued to see where they
could take the second film musically.
“The score Tom wrote for the first film exceeded my dreams of what even his extraordinary catalogue
of work might have promised,” Madden recalls, “with its grasp of the humor, melancholy, spirituality and
emotion, and the way it navigates the different stories. The musical challenges of the second film were, I
think, enticing as well as tricky … and Tom approached everything afresh, writing music that acknowledged
the melodies and themes of the first, but evolving them and breaking completely new ground, much as the
film’s characters had become embedded in this world that was formerly unfamiliar. Tom’s ability to penetrate
the soul of a film is unmatched … and as a director, you have the wonderful feeling someone has shown you
something you did not know and had not suspected about the film you made.”
Newman was eager to return to the subtly Indian-accented yet richly emotional musical world of the
Marigold Hotel in new ways. “When John was putting the movie together, he used a lot of music from the
first movie for the temp score and it really worked well, so the challenge was how to keep that creative spirit
but freshen it up,” the composer explains. “So everything from the first film got dusted off and new
instruments and lines were applied to it. It was fun trying to give the characters even more life with the
music’s pace and acceleration – and I could identify with these characters so much. As always, John knew
how to bring out the best of me and it delighted him to do so.”
14 Marigold Meets Bollywood
John Madden had always envisaged dance as a central thread of the story, tracking Sonny’s
insecurity in the zone where most Indian males are more than happy to take center stage. Sonny’s disastrous
failure to measure up at the engagement party leaves him with amends to make, and the climax of the
wedding breaks out – as so many Indian weddings now do - into a full-on Bollywood dance act – involving
Sonny, Sunaina and, ultimately, all the hotel’s residents. It was a thrill for cast and crew to suddenly turn
their focus to a show number amidst all the human drama and romantic intrigue.
Choreographer Longinus Fernandes, who worked on Danny Boyle’s Oscar®-winning SLUMDOG
MILLIONAIRE, designed the sequence – setting it to John’s favorite track – the driving techno song “JBJ”
from the hit Bollywood movie JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM. The whole idea was to weave the unbridled
spirit of Bollywood into this moment of bittersweet beauty for the characters.
“A Bollywood dance features one major thing and that is fun,” says Fernandes.
“The cast
approached it with a lot of joy and passion, which made my job easy. They gave it all they had.”
That was especially true of Dev Patel, who takes Sonny where he has never been before with his
virtuoso dance moves. “Dancing is organic in the process of an Indian wedding and the bride and groom
usually do a big dance for the families,” says Patel. “But that scene I believe was also the result of my
talking to Ol Parker about how much I hate dancing! Fortunately, in the end Sonny manages to pull out all
the stops, all the hip shaking in the world, and he goes full Travolta. It’s one big, spectacular dance sequence
that ends up with me dragging up all the guests behind me.”
Ironically, the film marks the first time Bollywood star Tina Desai has danced on screen. “That my
first dance comes in an English film is hilarious,” she laughs. “The whole scene was insanely fun.”
It was John Madden’s decision to add the rest of the cast to the dance, unexpectedly. “It all came
about at the last minute, when John said it would be wonderful if we all joined in,” recalls Dench. “It was
terrific. We learned moves that we called ‘shampooing the dog,’ ‘air guitar’ and ‘airplane.’”
Most of all, the scene unites all the story’s comically contrasting characters in a way that might have
seemed impossible mere months ago.
Sums up Bill Nighy: “The wedding sequence makes for a beautiful finale. It gave us a chance to do
some quite ironic things with the characters and give a nod to Bollywood. But it is joyous and celebratory
and, hopefully, it will send the audience out with a spring in their steps.”
15 About the Cast
Since playing ‘Ophelia’ in Hamlet at The Old Vic Theatre fifty-seven years ago, JUDI DENCH (Evelyn
Greenslade) has garnered wide popular and critical admiration for a career marked by outstanding performances
in both classical and contemporary roles. She has won numerous major awards – including an Academy Award®,
ten BAFTA Awards and a record six Laurence Olivier Awards – for work on both stage and screen. In recognition
of her many achievements, she received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in 1970, became a DBE (Dame of
the British Empire) in 1988, and in 2005 was awarded a Companion of Honour. In 2011 she also received the
Japan Arts Association’s prestigious Praemium Imperiale Laureate Award for Film and Theatre.
Aside from THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, Dame Judi filmed three other projects
in 2014: TULIP FEVER, written by Deborah Moggach and Tom Stoppard, and directed by Justin Chadwick; the
role of Cecily, Duchess of York, in the new television trilogy of “The Hollow Crown;” and the television film of
“Roald Dahl’s ‘Esio Trot’,” opposite Dustin Hoffman, which broadcasted this New Year’s Day in the UK to
critical acclaim. All of this this capped an another extraordinary year in which Dame Judi also received Academy
Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG nominations for Best Actress for her title performance in PHILOMENA,
directed by Stephen Frears and co-starring Steve Coogan, and was nominated for an Olivier Award for her 2013
West End stage performance in Peter and Alice, directed by Michael Grandage.
Dame Judi is recognized globally for her legendary role as ‘M’ in the JAMES BOND films, which she
reprised for the seventh and final time in SKYFALL, directed by Sam Mendes. Her other iconic film roles include
‘Queen Victoria’ in MRS BROWN, for which Dame Judi won a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe and was
nominated for an Academy Award, and ‘Queen Elizabeth I’ in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, for which she received
an Academy Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She has received Academy Award nominations for performances in four other films: Lasse Hallstrom’s
CHOCOLATE, for which she was also nominated for a Golden Globe; IRIS, directed by Richard Eyre, for which
she also won a BAFTA Award; MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS, directed by Stephen Frears, for which she was
further nominated at the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes; and NOTES ON A SCANDAL, again directed by
Richard Eyre, which also brought her BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. Her other film credits include TEA
WITH MUSSOLINI, directed by Franco Zeffirelli; A ROOM WITH A VIEW and A HANDFUL OF DUST, both
of which brought her BAFTA Awards for Best Supporting Actress; 84 CHARING CROSS ROAD, directed by
David Jones; HENRY V and HAMLET, both directed by Kenneth Branagh; NINE, directed by Rob Marshall;
JANE EYRE, directed by Cary Fukunaga; MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, directed by Simon Curtis; and J.
EDGAR, directed by Clint Eastwood.
Dame Judi is also revered for her television roles, her work including “The Last of the Blonde
Bombshells,” for which she received a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award nomination,
and the long-running hit BBC sitcom, “As Time Goes By.” She also starred as ‘Miss Matty’ in the critically
16 acclaimed BBC series “Cranford,” for which she received Best Actress nominations at the BAFTA Awards, the
Golden Globes and the Emmy Awards, and “Cranford: Return to Cranford,” for which she was nominated for an
Emmy and a Golden Globe.
Dame Judi’s achievements on screen are mirrored by her celebrated career on stage. She has won Olivier
Awards for Macbeth and Juno and the Paycock for the RSC, Pack of Lies at the London Lyric, and Anthony and
Cleopatra, Absolute Hell, and A Little Night Music, all at The National Theatre. Her performance in David Hare’s
Amy’s View, directed by Richard Eyre, brought her a Critics Circle Award and an Olivier Award nomination when
it played in London at The National and Aldwych, followed by a Tony Award for Best Actress when the play
transferred to Broadway. Her other theatre credits include: The Royal Family, directed by Peter Hall; The Breath
of Life, directed by Howard Davies and co-starring Dame Maggie Smith; All’s Well That Ends Well, for the RSC;
Hay Fever, directed by Peter Hall; The Merry Wives of Windsor, for the RSC; Madame de Sade, directed by
Michael Grandage for The Donmar West End and Peter Hall’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the
Rose Theatre, Kingston.
MAGGIE SMITH (Muriel Donnelly) is a highly regarded actress who has had an extensive and varied
career in stage, film and television spanning over sixty years appearing in over fifty films and is one of Britain’s
most recognizable actresses. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the
1990 New Year’s Honors for services to the performing arts and Member of the Order of the Companions of
Honour (CH) in the 2014 Birthday Honors for services to drama.
Smith captured the imagination of a new generation when she portrayed the strict witchcraft teacher
‘Minerva McGonagall’ in the HARRY POTTER films. Since 2010, Smith has been acclaimed for her performance
as the irrepressible ‘Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham,’ in the period drama “Downton Abbey.” She
has received two Emmy Awards for playing the haughty Dowager Countess.
Smith has received two Academy Awards. She received the first for Best Actress in 1969 for her portrayal
of an idealistic unorthodox schoolteacher in THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE. She won her second for Best
Supporting Actress in 1978, in honor of her performance in Neil Simon’s CALIFORNIA SUITE. She also received
BAFTA awards for her work, including her roles in THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE, 1984’S A PRIVATE
FUNCTION, 1985’s A ROOM WITH A VIEW and 1987’s THE LONLEY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE.
Additionally, she has received many accolades for her stage performances, including a Variety Club Award for her
performance in Noél Coward’s Private Lives in 1972, and a Tony Award for Lettice and Lovage in 1990.
Smith made her stage debut on stage at the Oxford Playhouse in 1952 and her Broadway debut in New
Faces of 56. In the 1960s, Smith was active in the National Theatre of Great Britain. She played ‘Desdemona’ to
Laurence Olivier’s Othello in 1964; the two of them reprised their roles in a film version of OTHELLO the
following year. While at the National Theatre, she acted in classic dramas by major authors such as Henrik Ibsen
and Anton Chekhov.
17 Her feature credits also include LOVE AND PAIN AND THE WHOLE DAMN THING, DEATH ON
THE NILE, CLASH OF THE TITANS, EVIL UNDER THE SUN, HOOK, SISTER ACT, THE FIRST WIVES
CLUB, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, NANNY MCPHEE AND THE BIG BANG, FROM TIME
TO TIME, BECOMING JANE, KEEPING MUM, LADIES IN LAVENDER, DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YAYA SISTERHOOD, GOSFORD PARK, QUARTET and LADY IN THE VAN. For GOSFORD PARK, Smith’s
performance earned nominations as Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards, BAFTA Film Awards and
Golden Globes.
BILL NIGHY (Douglas Ainslie) BILL NIGHY is an award-winning actor of the stage and screen. His
long list of film credits amongst others includes LOVE ACTUALLY, WILD TARGET, THE BOAT THAT
ROCKED, VALKYRIE, NOTES ON A SCANDAL, UNDERWORLD and UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION,
THE CONSTANT GARDENER, LAWLESS HEART and STILL CRAZY. He is also unrecognizable as the
tentacled pirate captain Davy Jones in PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN’S CHEST and PIRATES
OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END, and has lent his voice to several animated features, including
FLUSHED AWAY. Further roles include the role of Minister Rufus Scrimgeour in HARRY POTTER AND THE
DEATHLY HALLOWS- PART ONE and the role of Slartibartfast in THE HITCH HIKER’S GUIDE TO THE
GALAXY. Nighy went on to star in THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, JACK THE GIAN SLAYER, I,
FRANKENSTEIN and Richard Curtis’ ABOUT TIME.
Nighy began his career on the British stage and has since earned acclaim for his work in numerous plays,
including David Hare’s Pravda, Skylight, A Map of the World and Joe Penhall’s Blue/Orange. On Broadway, he
starred in the 2006 premiere of David Hare’s The Vertical Hour, directed by Sam Mendes.
Also well known for his work on the small screen, Nighy starred in the BBC television movie PAGE
EIGHT, directed by David Hare and produced by HARRY POTTER producer David Heyman. Nighy has worked
several times with director David Yates, including the acclaimed BBC project STATE OF PLAY, the BBC
telefilm THE YOUNG VISITORS, and HBO’s THE GIRL IN THE CAFÉ.
In the summer of 2014, Nighy was reunited with David Hare for the second and third installments of THE
WORRIKER TRILOGY, featuring Nighy as MI5 agent Johnny Worricker. TURKS & CAICOS and SALTING
THE BATTLEFIELD followed on from PAGE EIGHT.
This summer, Nighy received much praise for his role in a major West End revival of David Hare’s
Olivier award-winning Skylight, directed by Stephen Daldry and opposite Matthew Beard and Carey Mulligan.
The play opened to critical acclaim at the Wyndham Theatre and depicted the story of Tom Sergeant (Nighy), a
successful restaurateur and recent widower, and his former lover, Kyra Hollis (Mulligan). In light of outstanding
reviews, the cast of Skylight will relocate to Broadway next year, with previews commencing from 16 March
2015.
18 September 2014 saw Nighy in BAFTA- and BIFA-winning motion picture PRIDE, a heart-warming
account of how a group of gay and lesbian activists rallies to aid a struggling Welsh mining community during the
strikes of the 1980s. After opening at Cannes 2014 to a standing ovation, the ensemble cast received a glowing
reception at Toronto International Film Festival 2014 and a Golden Globes nomination for Best Motion Picture.
As well as Skylight on Broadway, Nighy has recently completed filming in the motion picture production
of beloved comedy, DAD’S ARMY, in which he plays Sergeant Wilson opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael
Gambon and Toby Jones. The film is set for release in 2016.
DEV PATEL (Sonny Kapoor) was last seen in theaters starring opposite Dame Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom
Wilkinson, and Maggie Smith in John Madden's Golden Globe and SAG nominated film THE BEST EXOTIC
MARIGOLD HOTEL for Fox Searchlight Pictures, which also became a worldwide commercial success.
Patel catapulted to success in 2009 when he starred in the Academy Award winning film SLUMDOG
MILLIONAIRE and received rave reviews for his performance and garnered a number of award wins including the
National Board of Review Award for Best Breakthrough Performance, The British Independent Film Award for
Most Promising Newcomer, The Broadcast Film Critics’ Choice Award for Best Young Actor, and The Chicago &
Washington Film Critics' Awards for Most Promising Performer.
Patel is about to start shooting Garth Davies' upcoming film LION, and recently wrapped shooting the
independent film THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY in which he plays the lead role opposite Jeremy Irons. He
was most recently seen on TV starring opposite Jeff Daniels and Emily Mortimer in the 3rd and final season of
HBO'S Golden Globe nominated series THE NEWSROOM, created by Alan Sorkin, for which he was was
nominated for a 2013 NAACP award for Best Supporting actor for his portrayal of "Neal" in the show. Dev has
also starred in the cult hit SKINS for the BBC and in M. Night Shyamalan's THE LAST AIRBENDER. Dev will
next be seen in theaters starring opposite Hugh Jackman, Sharlto Copley and Sigourney Weaver in Neill
Blomkamp's CHAPPIE.
CELIA IMRIE (Madge Hardcastle) is an Olivier award-winning actress. Her latest films include The
LOVE PUNCH, with Pierce Brosnan, Emma Thompson and Timothy Spall as well as WHAT WE DID ON OUR
HOLIDAY and NATIVITY 3. For TV, Imrie was recently seen BBC drama “Our Zoo,” as well as guest starring in
BBC’s “Blandings.” Alongside her screen roles, Bloomsbury will be publishing her first novel Not Quite Nice on
February 26th 2015, following the success of her autobiography, The Happy Hoofer.
Imrie’s past film credits include the Oscar nominated BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY, CALENDAR GIRLS,
the Bridget Jones Sequel BRIDGET JONES: THE EDGE OF REASON, WIMBLEDON, NANNY MCPHEE, ST
TRINIANS and ST TRINIAN’S 2: THE LEGEND OF FRITTON’S GOLD. Imrie’s further film credits include,
THE BORROWERS, STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE, A CHRISTMAS CAROL and
the Oscar nominated FRANKENSTEIN with Robert De Niro, Helena Bonham Carter and John Cleese.
19 Her career started in the early 1970s with her first notable role of ‘Marianne Bellshade’ in the BBC series
“Bergerac.” Following this, Imrie played ‘Miss Babs’ in Victoria Wood’s “Acorn Antiques.” Imrie’s other
television credits include “A Dark Adapted Eye,” “Doctor Who,” “Love and Marriage” and ITV mini-series
“Titanic.” Imrie also featured in the first season of “The Darling Buds of May,” BAFTA nominated TV series “The
Riff Raff Element,” “Dinnerladies” and played the lead role of ‘Lady Gertrude’ in the mini-series “Gormenghast.”
In 2011, Imrie was nominated for the Olivier Award for Best Actress in the acclaimed Tony and Olivier
Award winning comedy, Noises Off, at The Old Vic Theatre. She also starred in Hayfever at The Rose Theatre and
in Habeas Corpus at The Donmar Warehouse, directed by Sam Mendes. For Acorn Antiques: The Musical Celia
won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 2005. She was also awarded The Clarence Derwent Award
for Best Supporting Actress in The Sea at The National in 1991, with her role opposite Dame Judi Dench. Her
other theatre credits include Henry V, Macbeth, As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice, The School for
Scandal, Unsuspecting Susan. Most recently, Imrie was seen on stage at Crazy Coqs in her sold out cabaret
performance, Laughing Matters.
Born in England to a former actress and businessman father, PENELOPE WILTON (Jean Ainslie)
moved to London when she was young and attended the Drama Centre. Acting since the early 1970s, her first love
was the stage. Among the many honors for her stage work, Wilton has twice won the London Critics' Circle Award
for Best Actress: in 1981 for Much Ado About Nothing and in 1993 for The Deep Blue Sea.
Wilton has appeared in several Masterpiece productions including “Country Matters,” “The Tale of
Beatrix Potter,” “Wives and Daughters” and “Lucky Jim.” Other notable film and television projects include
“Downton Abbey,” “The Borrowers,” IRIS, CALENDAR GIRLS, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, MATCH POINT,
“Doctor Who” and BELLE.
RONALD PICKUP (Norman Cousins) was born in Chester, England in 1940. He attended the King’s
School, followed by Leeds University and then spent two years in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
His first professional job after graduating from RADA was a small part in “Doctor Who.” His stage debut
was at Leicester Rep in 1964.
Ronald’s first London appearance was on the stage of the Royal Court Theatre in a production of Julius
Caesar, directed by Lindsay Anderson.
There soon followed a series of productions at the Royal Court (1964-66) under the artistic directorship of
William Gaskill: Shelley, Saved, Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance.
There followed seven years at the National Theatre (1966-73) under Sir Laurence Olivier, appearing in:
Juno and the Paycock, Love for Love, Much Ado About Nothing, The Three Sisters, Peter Brook’s production of
Oedipus, the all-male production of As You Like It, John Lennon’s In His Own Write, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Tom
20 Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Mrs Warren’s Profession, Measure for Measure, Danton’s
Death, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Richard ll, The School for Scandal, Macbeth, Trevor Griffith’s The Party.
He returned in 1977 to appear in The Madras House.
Other theatre credits: The Norman Conquests (Globe Theatre), Hobson’s Choice (Lyric Hammersmith),
Uncle Vanya (Haymarket Theatre), The Cherry Orchard (Aldwych Theatre), Amy’s View (National Theatre,
Aldwych Theatre and Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York, Olivier nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting
Role), Proof (Donmar Warehouse), Waiting for Godot (Theatre Royal, Haymarket).
Film credits include: THE DAY OF THE JACKAL, MAHLER, THE THREE SISTERS, THE THIRTY
NINE STEPS, NJINSKY, EINSTIEN, WAGNER, ELENI, GREYFRIARS BOBBY, MY FRIEND WALTER,
DANNY AND THE CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, THE MISSION, A DRY WHITE SEASON, PRINCE OF
PERSIA and THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL.
Television appearances include: “Orwell on Jura” (BAFTA nomination for Best Actor), “Jennie,” “The
Fight Against Slavery,” “The Life of Verdi,” “Fortunes of War,” “The Nightmare Years,” “Long Day’s Journey
Into Night,” “The Letter,” “Henry IV,” “Waters of the Moon,” “Absolute Hell,” “Not With a Bang,” “The RiffRaff Element,” “Featherboy,” “The Worst Week of My Life” and the BBC production of “The Lion, the Witch and
the Wardrobe,” for which he was the voice of ‘Aslan the Lion’.
Among his numerous radio credits are: Wordsworth’s “Prelude,” Byron’s “Don Juan,” “Reynard the Fox,”
“A Winter’s Tale,” “Hamlet,” “The Awful Insulation of Rage” (Sony, Best Actor).
TINA DESAI (Sunaina) began her career as a highly successful actress in commercials with over one
hundred commercials to her name. She made her debut into feature films in 2011 with the lead role of ‘Arunima
Dua’ in the Hindi thriller-drama YEH FAASLEY, which was released in 2011. The film is about Arunima’s
pursuit of truth and justice as she is led to believe that her father had murdered her mother when she was a baby.
She goes on to fight a bitter court trial against her father, who is finally convicted, until a twist in the tale proves it
was a set-up by her mother’s jealous friend.
She soon followed that with the lead in SAHI DHANDHE GALATE BANDHE, a political satire which
was also released in 2011. Her character, ‘Neha’, abducts Delhi’s Chief Minister’s son to get the government’s
attention and to deal with the forceful acquisition of farmers’ land.
Desai got her break into international film with the first THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, in
which she played Sonny’s girlfriend ‘Sunaina.’ ‘Sunaina’ is a modern, independent girl, but is also Indian at heart
and has to deal with resistance from Sonny’s mother for marriage, as she belongs to a different caste.
She went on to star in TABLE no.21 THRILLER, produced by Eros Films and directed by Aditya Dutt
alongside veteran actor Paresh Rawel and Rajeev Khandelwal. THRILLER is about a game of truth and dare being
played to avenge Paresh Rawel’s son’s death due to excessive college ragging.
21 Her next project, DUSHERA, a political drama thriller, is currently in post-production. She plays the
superintendent of police, ‘Aditi Singh.’ Aditi, along with her husband, an encounter specialist played by Neil Nitin
Mukesh, find out about the illegal operations of the State Chief Minister and his brother-in-law and together work
to fight the system and clean it up.
Desai comes from an academic background with qualifications ICSE, ISC (Commerce), and is a Bachelor
of Business Management (specializing in finance). She studied acting under veteran actor Anupam Kher, who has
over three hundred films to his credit who runs a highly respecting acting institute. She speaks English, Hindi and
Kannada.
DIANA HARDCASTLE (Carol) was born in West Africa and was educated at Bristol University and
Central School of Speech and Drama. She is married to Tom Wilkinson and they have two daughters. Diana left
drama school early to play ‘Juliet’ at Lyceum Crewe, directed by Alan Devlin, for which she won the Best
Newcomer Award.
Her theatre credits include seasons at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford where plays included;
A Doll’s House directed by Adrian Noble, Les Liaisons Dangereuses directed by Michael Attenborough. She also
played ‘Creusa’ opposite Jude Law in Ion, directed by Nicholas Wright and ‘Countess Delyanov’ in Peter Gill’s
production of A Patriot for Me. For the Royal National Theatre her plays include Secret Rapture, directed by
Howard Davies; ‘The Duchess de Guermante’ in Harold Pinter’s In Remembrance of Things Past, directed by Di
Trevis and Mutabilitie, directed by Trevor Nunn. Hardcastle has worked at the Royal Court, playing ‘Rosie’ in
Simpatico, directed by James Macdonald; she has also worked at The Almeida in Camera Obscura, directed by
Jonathan Miller and most recently in Edward Albee’s, A Delicate Balance which was also directed by James
Macdonald. Thea Sharrock has directed her in three plays, A Kind of Alaska, Slight Ache and Tejas Verdes at
London’s Gate Theatre. Diana has starred in two world premieres Me and Mamie O’Rourke, written and directed
by Mary Agnes Donoghue and Ronald Harwood’s An English Tragedy, directed by Di Trevis at Watford Palace. In
Manchester she has worked at The Royal Exchange playing ‘Mrs Allonby’ in A Woman of No Importance, directed
by Marianne Elliot, she also played ‘Cariola’ in Adrian Noble’s production of The Duchess of Malfi, which
transferred from the Royal Exchange to the Roundhouse, and as ‘Florence Lancaster’ in The Vortex, for which she
was nominated for Best Actress in Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards.
Her numerous television credits include: “Fortunes of War,” “Love Song,” “Reilly: Ace of Spies,” four
series of “That’s Love,” “Utopia” and recently playing ‘Rose Kennedy’ in “The Kennedys” for the History
Channel, in which she won Best Supporting Actress in the Canadian Gemini Awards.
Her film credits include: JENNY’S WEDDING directed by Mary Agnes Donoghue; GOOD PEOPLE for
Henrik Ruben Genz; THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL directed by John Madden and A GOOD
WOMAN, directed by Mike Barker.
22 LILLETE DUBEY (Mrs. Kapoor) is a renowned Indian film and theatre actor and director. She has been
Artistic Director of her own theatre company, The Primetime Theatre Company, for nearly 25 years and her
theatrical work, which has travelled the globe, has been much acclaimed nationally and internationally, both in the
sphere of actor and director. Many of her plays, which largely platform outstanding Indian playwrights, have won
Best Play of the Year, and many have received Best Director and Actor awards at National Festivals.
Dubey herself has won several Best Actress awards for her plays and films, including for Adhe Adhure
(META 2013), PANKH (Jagran Film Festival 2010), “Driving Miss Palmen” (Dutch TV 2007), BOW
BARRACKS FOREVER (Madrid international Film Festival) and others.
Several of the company's productions, directed by Dubey, have traveled widely across India and abroad,
with a few having played for long runs at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, at the Tribeca in New York, at the
Portland International Performance Festival in the U.S, as well as in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas,
Washington DC, Stamford, Raleigh, Los Angeles, Boston and New York in the U.S. Her productions have also
played at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, as well as several times in Dubai, London, Muscat, Colombo,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Auckland, Sydney, Wellington (New Zealand),
Melbourne, Brussels, Antwerp, Johannesburg, Durban and Lahore. The theatre company has participated in several
festivals all over India and performed in nearly every city in the country.
Dubey has over forty feature films to her credit and has also hosted twenty-six episodes of her own TV
show “By Invitation Only,” where she interviewed eminent personalities from all walks of life for the well-known
channel Times Now. Her feature film credits include some award winning English language films like THE BEST
EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, MONSOON WEDDING, DR. CABBIE, BOLLYWOOD BEATS, DELHI IN A
DAY, BOW BARRACKS FOREVER, MORNING RAGA, and the television series “Mumbai Calling”( BBC ),
the telefilm “Driving Miss Palmen” (Dutch television). Some of her Hindi film hits include the very popular KAL
HO NAA HO, which starred Shah RukhKhan, Preity Zinta, and Saif Ali Khan, BAGHBAN alongside Amitabh
Bacchan and Salman Khan, ZUBEIDA with Karishma Kapoor and Rekha, GADDAR with Sunny
Deol, HOUSEFULL with Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone, CHASHME BADHOOR with Rishi Kapoor,
MY BROTHER NIKHIL with Juhi Chawla and many others.
Her upcoming projects include “Indian Summers,” a ten part miniseries for Channel 4, UK and
PBS/Masterpiece Theatre in the U.S, in which she stars alongside Julie Walters and Roshan Seth. Her international
film DR. CABBIE opened September 14th in Toronto to great response, and she will be shooting for a Hindi film
and an Indo Italian joint venture over the next few months.
TAMSIN GREIG (Lavinia) has a varied career in theatre, film, and television. Greig’s theatre
credits include the UK premiere of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at the Playhouse Theatre,
Longing at the Hampstead Theatre, Jumpy at the Royal Court, Gethsemane at the National Theatre, God of
Carnage at the Gielgud Theatre and The Little Dog Laughed at the Garrick Theatre, for which Greig was
23 nominated for Best Actress in 2011’s Laurence Olivier Awards. Greig won the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for
Best Actress for her performance in the RSC and Novello Theatre’s Much Ado About Nothing. Her other theatre
credits include King John at the RSC Theatre, French Without Tears at the Palace Theatre in Watford, Abigail’s
Party at the Northcott Theatre, The Return of the Native at the Swan Theatre in Worcester and Don Carlos at the
Lyric Studio.
In 2010, Greig was nominated for her film performance in TAMARA DREWE at The Möet British
Independent Film Awards. Her other film credits include SHAUN OF THE DEAD, CUCKOO, STOP THE
WORLD, READY WHEN YOU ARE MR MCGILL, CHEESE MAKES YOU DREAM, CAPTAIN EAGER
AND THE MARK OF VOTH, PURE, and BREAKING THE BANK, which co-stars Kelsey Grammar.
Greig’s performance in the television series “Green Wing” won her the Best Comedy Performance
award at the 2005 Royal Television Society Awards, while also landing her a BAFTA and British Comedy Award
nomination. Greig was nominated at the British Comedy Awards for her performance in “Black Books” and she
received a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Role for “Friday Night Dinner.” Her other television
credits include “Emma,” “The Diary of Anne Frank,” Love Soup,” Doctor Who,” “The Lenny Henry Show,”
“When I’m 64,” “Jonathan Creek,” “Falling Apart,” “People Like Us” and “Happiness.”
SHAZAD LATIF (Kushal Kadania) is a British stage and screen actor best known for his cult favorite
character ‘Clem Fandango’ in Matt Berry's multiple award-winning series “Toast of London” (Channel 4). Shazad
trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and landed his first role TV role as ‘Tariq Masood’ in “Spooks” (BBC 1)
upon graduating. Other TV credits include “Black Mirror” (Channel 4), “Fresh Meat” and “My Mad Fat Diary”
(E4). In 2015, Shazad will star in two feature films – THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MERIGOLD HOTEL and
THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY, alongside Dev Patel and Toby Jones.
DAVID STRATHAIRN (Ty Burley) won the Volpi Cup at the Venice Film Festival and earned
nominations from the Academy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA and Independent Spirit Awards for
his compelling portrait of legendary CBS news broadcaster ‘Edward R. Murrow’ in George Clooney’s Oscarnominated drama GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK. He won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in the HBO
project “Temple Grandin” in 2011 and was nominated in 2012 for his portrayal of ‘John Dos Passos’ in HBO's
“Hemingway and Gellhorn.”
His 2005 Independent Spirit nomination was the fourth in a stellar career that dates back to his 1980 motion
picture debut in John Sayles’s first film, THE RETURN OF THE SECAUCUS SEVEN. Strathairn subsequently
collaborated with Sayles on seven titles, winning the IFP honor for his supporting performance in CITY OF
HOPE, while collecting two additional nominations for PASSION FISH and LIMBO.
Strathairn continued a busy screen career with co-starring roles in several critically acclaimed films,
including Tim Robbins’s directorial debut, BO ROBERTS; Penny Marshall’s A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN;
24 LOSING ISAIAH; Sydney Pollack’s THE FIRM; SNEAKERS; Taylor Hackford’s adaptation of the Stephen King
novel DOLORES CLAIBORNE; and Jodie Foster’s HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS; as well as two projects with
Curtis Hansen: THE RIVER WILD and the Oscar-winning, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL in which Strathairn shared a
Screen Actors Guild Award nomination with the all-star ensemble cast. His additional movie credits include
MEMPHIS BELLE, A MAP OF THE WORLD, SIMON BIRCH, LOST IN YONKERS, MISSING IN
AMERICA, Michael Hoffman’s adaptation of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, Philip Kaufman’s
TWISTED, THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM directed by Paul Greengrass, THE TEMPEST starring opposite Helen
Mirren and Steven Spielberg's LINCOLN.
RICHARD GERE (Guy Chambers) is a humanitarian, actor, and Golden Globe winner. Gere is known
for his roles in such films as CHICAGO, UNFAITHFUL, AN OFFICER A GENTLEMAN, DAYS OF HEAVEN,
AMERICAN GIGOLO, PRETTY WOMAN, and PRIMAL FEAR.
Gere appeared alongside Susan Sarandon in ARBITRAGE, directed by Nicolas Jarecki. The film
premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was released September 2012. His performance in
ARBITRAGE brought him Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® nominations.
Gere appeared in BROOKLYN’S FINEST alongside Don Cheadle and Ethan Hawke in 2009.
In the same year he was seen in Lasse Hallström's HACHI: A DOG’S TAIL, a drama based on the true
story of a college professor's bond with the abandoned dog he takes into his home.
In the fall of 2009, Gere starred in Fox Searchlight’s AMELIA, opposite Hilary Swank and Ewan
McGregor.
In 2008, Gere reunited with Diane Lane for NIGHTS IN RODANTHE, a film based on the best-selling
novel by Nicholas Sparks.
In the fall of 2007, Gere was seen in the critically acclaimed film I’M NOT THERE; a film that provides a
view into the life and songs of the legendary Bob Dylan as told through seven-characters. The all-star cast includes
Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, and the late Heath Ledger.
Additionally in 2007, Gere graced the screen in several other releases: First, he starred in Lasse Hallström's
critically acclaimed film THE HOAX. The film costars Alfred Molina and Marcia Gay Harden. Later he appeared
in THE HUNTING PARTY. The film costars Terrence Howard and Jesse Eisenberg.
In 2004 Gere teamed up with, Susan Sarandon and Jennifer Lopez to in the romantic comedy SHALL WE
DANCE and in 2005 Gere was seen in the well-respected film BEE SEASON, based on the book by the same
name.
Christmas of 2002 Gere sang and danced his way onto the big screen in the Academy Award winning film
adaptation of CHICAGO, playing the infamous lawyer ‘Billy Flynn.’ In January of 2003, Gere won his first
Golden Globe Award as Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for his performance in CHICAGO. The Miramax
musical all-star cast includes Catherine Zeta Jones as ‘Velma’ and Renee Zellweger as ‘Roxie Hart.’
25 In 2001 Gere was seen in the critically acclaimed Fox Searchlight dramatic thrilled UNFAITHFUL,
directed by Adrian Lyne. The film also stars Diane Lane and Olivier Martinez. Earlier that year Gere was seen
playing a reporter drawn to a small West Virginia town to investigate a series of strange events in Sony Picture’s
psychological thriller MOTHMAN PROPHECIES opposite Debra Messing.
Born in Philadelphia, Richard Gere showed his artist ability at a young age, by playing a number of
instruments and writing music for high school productions. Gere won gymnastics scholarship to the University of
Massachusetts in Amherst, where he was philosophy major. While at school, Gere caught the acting bug and left
college after two years to pursue acting, landing a lead role of ‘Danny Zuko’ in the London production of the rock
musical Grease in 1973. After spending full sessions with the Provincetown Playhouse and Seattle Repertory
Theatre, he performed in a number of New York plays, notably the title role in Richard Farina’s Long Time
Coming and Long Time Gone, in addition to two plays by Sam Shepard, Back Bog Beast Bait and Killers Head.
His career was established with performances in the Broadway rock opera Soon and the New York
production of the British farce Habeas Corpus. Gere’s other theatre credits include the Lincoln Center presentation
of A Midsummer Nights Dream and London Young Vic Theatre Production of The Taming of the Shrew. Gere
returned to the Broadway stage in 1980 with Bent, winning the Theatre World Award for his portrayal as a
homosexual concentration camp prisoner.
Gere’s motion picture debut came in 1978 with Oscar-honored DAYS OF HEAVEN, for which he
received the Italian equivalent of the Academy Award. His subsequent films include LOOKING FOR MR.
GOODBAR with Diane Keaton, BLOOD BROTHERS, John Schlesinger’s YANKS, and AMERICAN GIGOLO.
His next film was the 1982 blockbuster AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, followed by BREATHLESS,
BEYOND THE LIMIT, THE COTTON CLUB, POWER, NO MERCY and MILES FROM HOME.
In 1990, Gere received box-office acclaim for his portrayal of a corrupt cop in INTERNAL AFFAIRS and
starred opposite of Julia Roberts in the year’s top-grossing picture, PRETTY WOMAN. This movie captured the
nation’s heart and won the People’s Choice Award for Best Movie. The following year, he made a guest
appearance in Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s RHAPSODY IN AUGUST. Additional film credits include the
MGM political thriller RED CORNER, directed by Jon Avnet and in Michael Caton-Jones remake of THE
JACKAL for Universal Pictures.
Gere was also the first actor to agree to appear in “And The Band Played On,” the HBO adaptation of
Randy Shilts book about the first five years of AIDS in America. Gere played the role of a fictional
choreographer.
In 2000 Gere starred in the box-office hit RUNAWAY BRIDE, for Paramount Pictures. In this romantic
comedy, Gere was reunited with his PRETTY WOMEN director Garry Marshall and co-star Julia Roberts. Also in
2000, Gere stared as a Dallas gynecologist who is surrounded by adoring women in DR. T AND THE WOMEN
directed by Robert Altman. The film also stars Helen Hunt, Liv Tyler, Farrah Fawcett, and Kate Hudson.
26 Off screen, Gere is an accomplished pianist and music writer. He is also actively involved in developing
projects and has executive produced FINAL ANALYSIS, MR. JONES, and SOMMERSBY.
A student and friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Gere has made numerous journeys throughout India,
Nepal, Zanskar and Tibet, Mongolia and China for over twenty years. He is an accomplished photographer who
has worked extensively within these regions.
His first book, Pilgrim, published in 1997 by Little, Brown and Company, is a collection of images that
represent his twenty-five year journey into Buddhism. With a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the book
is Gere’s personal vision of this ancient and spiritual world.
An outspoken human rights advocate, Gere has done much to draw attention to the tragedy that has been
unfolding in Tibet under Chinese occupation.
He is the founder of the Gere Foundation, which contributes to numerous health education and human
rights projects and is especially dedicated to promoting awareness of Tibet and her endangered culture. The
Foundation contributes directly to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan community-in-exile and to aid in the
cultural survival of the Tibetan people. In 1987 Gere was the founding chairman of the Tibet House in New York.
After leaving Tibet House in New York in 1991, he became an active member of the Board of Directors of the
International Campaign for Tibet based in Washington D.C., and in 1996 became Chairman. Gere has testified on
Tibet’s behalf before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Congressional Human Rights Caucus, the European
Parliament, and House International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee.
27 About the Filmmakers
JOHN MADDEN (Directed by/ Screen Story by/ Executive Producer) was born in Portsmouth and
educated at Clifton College and Cambridge. He began his career as Artistic Director of the Oxford and Cambridge
Shakespeare Company, moving later to the BBC to work in television and radio drama.
He moved to America in 1975 to develop radio drama with Earplay, the National Public Radio drama
project. Winning the Prix Italia with Arthur Kopit's Wings, he subsequently directed the play for the stage at Yale,
Broadway and the National Theatre in London. Further stage work included the premieres of Jules Feiffer's Grown
Ups, Christopher Durang's Beyond Therapy and Arnold Wesker's Caritas. During this time, he taught in the acting
and playwriting programs at the Yale School of Drama.
In 1984 he began to work extensively in film, directing for the BBC and for commercial television. His
films included “Poppyland,” “After the War” - a series of films by Frederic Raphael, “The Widowmaker” and
several films in the “Inspector Morse” series.
He returned to America in 1990 to make his first feature film: ETHAN FROME starring Liam Neeson and
Patricia Arquette, followed by GOLDEN GATE, a story of cultural collision in Chinatown, San Francisco in the
1950's and 60's that stars Matt Dillon and Joan Chen.
“Prime Suspect: The Lost Child” received a BAFTA nomination for Best Series and his BBC film “Truth
or Dare,” starring John Hannah and Helen Baxendale, won the Scottish BAFTA for Best Single Drama.
His film MRS BROWN, from a screenplay by Jeremy Brock, starred Dame Judi Dench and Billy
Connolly, and received two Oscar and eight BAFTA nominations, including Best Film.
Madden then directed SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, screenplay by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman. It
starred Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Ben Affleck, Dame Judi Dench and Tom
Wilkinson, and received three Golden Globe Awards, four BAFTA's and seven Academy Awards including Best
Picture.
Madden’s film CAPTAIN CORELLI’S MANDOLIN is based on the best-selling novel by Louis de
Bernieres. It starred Nicolas Cage, Penelope Cruz, Christian Bale, David Morrissey and John Hurt.
Madden directed the Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof by David Auburn at the Donmar Warehouse,
starring Gwyneth Paltrow. He then directed Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal and Hope Davis
in the screen version.
Madden followed PROOF with KILLSHOT, based on Elmore Leonard’s novel, starring Mickey Rourke,
Diane Lane, Thomas Jane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Rosario Dawson, and went on to direct THE DEBT, starring
Helen Mirren, Tom Wilkinson, Ciaran Hinds, Jessica Chastain, Sam Worthington and Marton Csokas.
28 Madden’s THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, which was released worldwide by Fox Searchlight
Pictures, became the most successful independent film of 2012, grossing over $47 million domestically in the US,
with a worldwide box office total of $140 million. The film received two Golden Globe nominations for Best
Motion Picture and Best Actress in the Comedy/Musical category, as well as a BAFTA nomination for Best British
Film.
Between the first and second MARIGOLD films, Madden directed the pilot for “Masters of Sex,” with
Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan, for the Showtime network, which is now in production for its third season.
John Madden is married with two children, and lives in London.
OL PARKER (Screenplay by/ Screen Story by) also wrote the original screenplay for THE BEST
EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, based on the novel These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach.
Parker recently directed and wrote NOW IS GOOD, which he adapted from Jenny Downham’s
novel Before I Die for Blueprint Pictures/Warner Bros/BBC Films starring Dakota Fanning, Jeremy Irvine, Paddy
Considine and Olivia Williams. Parker's directorial debut, which he also wrote, IMAGINE ME AND
YOU, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival (2005) and starred Lena Headey, Piper Perabo and Matthew Goode,
the film was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures.
GRAHAM BROADBENT (Produced by) formed Blueprint Pictures in 2005 with Peter Czernin. He
produced THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL together with director John Madden, and writer Ol Parker. It
was released worldwide by Fox Searchlight Pictures and became the most successful independent film of 2012,
grossing over $47 million domestically in the US, with a worldwide box office total of $140 million. Shot entirely
on location in India, the film starred Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson and Dev Patel.
Blueprint Pictures’ most recent production was POSH, which starred Sam Claflin, Max Irons and Douglas
Booth and was directed by Lone Sherfig, whose film AN EDUCATION garnered three Academy Award
nominations. Universal Pictures distributed POSH in the UK in September, 2014.
Blueprint has collaborated twice with writer-director Martin McDonagh on two films including the
critically acclaimed Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, and BAFTA® award-nominated IN BRUGES starring
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, and SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS also starring Colin Farrell as well as the
dynamic cast of Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish and Olga
Kurylenko. CBS Films distributed SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS in the U.S.
Broadbent’s other features include NOW IS GOOD, written and directed by Ol Parker, based on a novel
by Jenny Downham. This coming of age love story starred Dakota Fanning and Jeremy Irvine and was distributed
in the U.S. by Sony Pictures, an independent feature BECOMING JANE starring Anne Hathaway and James
McAvoy distributed by Miramax, and WIND CHILL starring Emily Blunt, Executive Produced by Steven
Soderbergh and George Clooney.
29 Broadbent’s producing debut, Michael Winterbottom’s WELCOME TO SARAJEVO, was screened In
Competition at the 1997 Cannes International Film Festival, garnering rave reviews. Broadbent continued working
with some of the most respected and cutting-edge filmmakers on such projects as Danny Boyle's MILLIONS, Pete
Hewitt's THUNDERPANTS. Gregg Araki’s SPLENDOR and SOME VOICES starring Daniel Craig that played at
Director’s Fortnight in Cannes.
PETE CZERNIN (Produced by) formed Blueprint Pictures in 2005 with Graham Broadbent. He
produced THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL together with director John Madden, and writer Ol Parker. It
was released worldwide by Fox Searchlight Pictures and became the most successful independent film of 2012,
grossing over $47 million domestically in the US, with a worldwide box office total of $140 million. Shot entirely
on location in India, the film starred Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Dev Patel.
Blueprint Pictures’ most recent production was POSH, which starred Sam Claflin, Max Irons and Douglas
Booth and was directed by Lone Sherfig, whose film AN EDUCATION, garnered three Academy Award
nominations. Universal Pictures distributed POSH in the UK in September, 2014.
Blueprint has collaborated twice with writer-director Martin McDonagh on two films including the
critically acclaimed Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, and BAFTA® award-nominated IN BRUGES starring
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, and SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS also starring Colin Farrell as well as the
dynamic cast of Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson, Tom Waits, Abbie Cornish, and Olga
Kurylenko. CBS Films distributed SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS in the U.S.
Czernin’s other features include NOW IS GOOD, written and directed by Ol Parker, based on a novel by
Jenny Downham. This coming of age love story starred Dakota Fanning and Jeremy Irvine and was distributed in
the U.S. by Sony Pictures, an independent feature BECOMING JANE starring Anne Hathaway and James
McAvoy distributed by Miramax, and WIND CHILL starring Emily Blunt, Executive Produced by Steven
Soderbergh, and George Clooney.
JEFF SKOLL (Executive Producer) is a philanthropist and social entrepreneur, and as founder and
chairman of the Skoll Foundation, Capricorn Investment Group, Participant Media and the Skoll Global Threats
Fund. Skoll works to bring life to his vision of a sustainable world of peace and prosperity.
The first full-time employee and President of eBay, Skoll developed the company’s inaugural
business plan and helped lead its successful initial public offering and the creation of the eBay Foundation.
Skoll founded Participant Media in 2004 with the belief that a story well told has the power to inspire
and accelerate social change. Participant’s more than sixty films have collectively received a total of seven
Academy Awards® and thirty-seven nominations, and include THE SOLOIST, THE HELP, CONTAGION,
LINCOLN, WAITING FOR ‘SUPERMAN’, SYRIANA, THE COVE, FOOD, INC., AN INCONVENIENT
TRUTH, and GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK.
30 Skoll was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2012. Skoll’s other recent honors include a
career tribute at the Gotham Independent Film Awards (2012) and the John W. Gardner Leadership Award (2012).
JONATHAN KING (Executive Producer) oversees development and production of Participant’s slate of
narrative feature films. Participant Media’s output is driven by the idea that a good story well told can make a real
difference in today’s world. For Participant, King has overseen the production of such films as THE HELP,
CONTAGION, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, LINCOLN, NO, SNITCH, CESAR CHAVEZ and
the upcoming SPOTLIGHT.
Prior to joining Participant, King worked as both a producer and an executive for companies including
Focus Features, Laurence Mark Productions, and Miramax Films. Some of the movies he has worked on include
DREAMGIRLS, THE LOOKOUT, FINDING FORRESTER, STUIDO 54, GUINEVERE and JUDAS KISS. He
started his film career in MGM/UA’s New York office, scouting books, theater and independent films.
King currently serves on the board of advisors for the Outfest Legacy Project, a partnership with the
UCLA Film and Television Archive that restores and preserves important works of queer cinema. He also serves
on the Dean’s Advisory Council of the Florida State University Film School and on the board of directors of the
John Alexander Project, a new non-profit dedicated to nurturing and supporting innovative investigative
journalism.
MICHAEL DREYER (Executive Producer) is a producer based out of London. Dreyer most recently
produced Rob Marshall’s NINE, Richard Eyre’s THE OTHER MAN, and Matthew Vaughn’s STARDUST. His
other film credits include VANTAGE POINT, STAGE BEAUTY, FINDING NEVERLAND, THE CORE, THE
HOURS, SNATCH, IRIS, WARRIORS, THE SECRET LAUGHTER OF WOMEN, BRING ME THE HEAD OF
MAVIS DAVID, NIL BY MOUTH, THE LONGEST MEMORY, THE INNOCENT SLEEP and PRIX DE
ROME.
Dreyer’s experience is not limited to film, however. From 1985 to 1994, he worked on many television
dramas and documentaries as a Producer, Production Manager and Assistant Floor Manager for BBC, CH4, ITV,
MTV, Blackrod and Original Image.
PRAVESH SAHNI (Co-Producer) is considered to be one of the most respected Line Producers for
foreign film shoots in India. He has worked with some of the most recognized and acclaimed directors of the
global film industry including Ang Lee, Danny Boyle, Oliver Stone, Brad Bird, Kathryn Bigelow, John Madden,
Ryan Murphy, Gurinder Chadha, Joe Pytka and Fredrik Bond.
Sahni took his first step in the film industry as a transport assistant for THE DECEIVERS in 1998, which
was filmed in India. Before entering film, Sahni looked after his family business in Delhi, India after receiving his
degree in Political Science from the University of Delhi.
31 His ability to get work done earned him recognition within the industry and appreciation from all. He cofounded India Take One Productions (ITOP), a production services company based in India. In 1999 ITOP started
small scale shoots for commercials and TV-shows, but significantly scaled operations over the years to film for
India-centric mainstream projects. Sahni has been critical to ITOP’s success, which now has an enviable and
reputable client portfolio including leading global production houses and studios like Warner Bros., Pytka
Productions, Fox Star Studios, MTV Films, Celador Films UK, Annapurna Pictures, Sony Pictures, Walt Disney
and Paramount Films. Additionally, he has been core to the production of multiple award winning movies in India
such as SLUMDOG MILLIONAIR, EAT PRAY LOVE, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, MISSION:
IMPOSSIBLE – THE GHOST PROTOCOL, ZERO DARK THIRTY and LIFE OF PIE.
His other film credits include MILLION DOLLAR ARM, SAVE YOUR LEGS, INDIAN, HARMONY,
BROKEN THREAD, JACKASS NUMBER TWO, LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD,
THE THREAD, THE MISTRESS OF SPICES, ALEXANDER, BRIDE & PREJUDICE, NATALE IN INDIA,
BHOPAL EXPRESS, and HOLY SMOKE. Sahni also worked as Production Supervisor for the television show
“Bollywood Hero” and a Line Producer for “Jeremy Piven’s Journey of a Lifetime,” “Indus,” “Foreign Body” and,
most recently, “Sense8.”
Award winning director of photography BEN SMITHARD BSC (Director of Photography) caught the
attention of the film industry and the general public with his cinematography on the visually ravishing BBC drama,
“Cranford.”
Starring Judi Dench, Julia McKenzie and Imelda Staunton, Smithard’s work on “Cranford” earned him a
Primetime Emmy in 2010 for Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie.
Smithard’s feature credits also include the Declan Lowney comedy, ALAN PARTRIDGE; the historical
period drama, BELLE with breakout star, Gugu Mbatha-Raw; I, ANNA, a noir thriller for director Barnaby
Southcombe starring Charlotte Rampling; the award-winner film, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN for director
Simon Curtis starring Michelle Williams and Eddie Redmayne; THE TRIP for director Michael Winterbottom; and
the Tom Hooper directed film, THE DAMNED UNITED.
In 2012, Smithard earned a British Society of Cinematographers Best Cinematography Award nomination
for lensing “The Hollow Crown” episode, “’Henry IV: Par I.’”
Born in England, Smithard entered the film industry as a lighting technician after graduating from art
college. He quickly rose through the ranks and has built an impressively wide-ranged resume since then, having
shot over five hundred commercials and one hundred music videos in the past fifteen years.
Continuing his work on commercials, television series and films all over the world, Smithard is
represented in the United States by Dattner Dispoto and Associates.
MARTIN CHILDS (Production Designer) MBE trained as an architect in the 1970’s before joining the
design department at the BBC.
32 He has enjoyed a prestigious career as a production designer; winning the 1998 Academy Award for best
Art Direction-Set Decoration (jointly with Jill Quertier) for John Madden’s SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and was
nominated for the 2001 Academy Award also jointly with Jill Quertier for QUILLS.
He has also been nominated once for the Art Directors Guild Award for Excellence in Production Design,
and four times for a BAFTA AWA Award for Best Production Design for MRS BROWN, SHAKESPEARE IN
LOVE, QUILLS and “Parade’s End.”
In the New Year’s Honors List in 2002, Childs was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of
the British Empire for his services to the film industry as a production designer.
VICTORIA BOYDELL (Film Editor) has been working as an Editor in her own right for the past fifteen
years. During this time, her varied credits have proven her to be a multifaceted editor. In the early stages of
Boydell's career, she edited numerous popular British television series and was nominated for a BAFTA TV
Award for her work on the series “Occupation.”
Boydell’s film credits include the multi-award winning KIDULTHOOD, HUSH, AFRICA UNITED and
THE AWAKENING directed by Nick Murphy and starring Rebecca Hall, which was selected for the 2011 BFI
London Film Festival. She also worked on TV movie “Random,” which screened at the Toronto International Film
Festival to positive reviews and for which she was nominated for the Best Editing for Drama RTS Award.
In 2011, Boydell was awarded the Panalux Craft Award at the Women in Film and Television Awards; an
awards ceremony in which the recipient is recognized for their enormous talent amongst industry peers and
colleagues.
Her more recent credits include “Great Expectations,” starring Ray Winstone and Gillian Anderson for
which she was nominated for the Best Editing for Fiction BAFTA Award 2011 and the Best Editing for Drama
RTS Award for BLOOD, for which she re-collaborated with Director Nick Murphy, BROKEN which won the Best
Film Award at the 2012 British Independent Film Awards, the critically acclaimed series “Southcliffe” for Warp
Films and the award winning BELLE directed by Amma Asante.
Boydell is currently working on LONDON SPY for Working Title with director Jakob Verbruggen,
starring Ben Whishaw and Charlotte Rampling.
LOUISE STJERNSWARD (Costume Designer) has enjoyed a successful and prolific career as a
costume designer who specializes mainly in feature films. Her recent credits include THE BEST EXOTIC
MARIGOLD HOTEL and DESERT DANCER directed by Richard Raymond.
Her other feature credits include HUMMINGBIRD directed by Steven Knights, WEST IS WEST
directed by Anthony de Emmony, MADE IN DAGENHAM directed by Nigel Cole for which she was nominated
for a BAFTA Award, CREATION directed by Jon Amiel, NUTCRACKER: THE UNTOLD STORY directed by
Andrei Konchalovsky, I REALLY HATE MY JOB and FADE TO BLACK, both directed by Oliver Parker, LA
33 TIGRE ET LA NEVE directed by Roberto Begnini, WIMBLEDON directed by Richard Loncraine, THE
DREAMERS and STEALING BEAUTY, both directed by Bernado Bertolucci, THE WARRIOR directed by Asif
Kapadia which won the Alexander Korda award for Outstanding British Film of the Year, SEXY BEAST directed
by Jonathan Glazier, MILK directed by William Brookfield, SECRET LAUGHTER OF WOMEN directed by
Peter Schwabach, ALL THE LITTLE ANIMALS directed and produced by Jeremy Thomas, INCOGNITO
directed by John Badham, VICTORY directed by Mark Peploe, AFRAID OF THE DARK directed by Mark
Peploe, HIGH SEASON directed by Clare Peploe, EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY directed by James Scott,
THE BABYSITTER directed by Renea Clement and THE PASSENGER directed by Michelangelo Antonioni.
THOMAS NEWMAN (Music By) is widely acclaimed as one of today’s most prominent composers
for film. He has composed music for more than fifty motion pictures and television series and has earned twelve
Academy Award nominations and six Grammy Awards.
He is the youngest son of Alfred Newman (1900-1970), the longtime musical director of Twentieth
Century Fox and the composer of scores for such films as WUTHERING HEIGHTS, THE HUNCHBACK OF
NOTRE DAME, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK and ALL ABOUT EVE. As a child, Thomas Newman pursued
basic music and piano studies. However, it was not until after his father’s death that the younger Newman, then age 14,
felt charged with the desire to write.
Newman studied composition and orchestration at USC with Professor Frederick Lesemann and noted
film composer David Raksin, and privately with composer George Tremblay. He completed his academic work at Yale
University, studying with Jacob Druckman, Bruce MacCombie and Robert Moore. Newman also gratefully
acknowledges the early influence of another prominent musician, the legendary Broadway composer Stephen
Sondheim, who served as a great mentor and champion.
A turning point in Newman’s career took place while he was working as a musical assistant on the 1984
film, RECKLESS, for which he soon was promoted to the position of composer. And so, at the age of 27, Newman
successfully composed his first film score. Since then he has contributed distinctive and evocative scores to
numerous acclaimed films, including DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN, THE LOST BOYS, THE RAPTURE,
FRIED GREED TOMATOES, THE PLAYER, SCENT OF A WOMAN, FLESH AND BONE, THE
SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, LITTLE WOMEN, AMERICAN BUFFALO, THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY
FLYNT, OSCAR AND LUCINDA, THE HORSE WHISPERER, MEET JOE BLACK, AMERICAN BEAUTY,
THE GREEN MILE, ERIN BROCKOVICH, IN THE BEDROOM, ROAD TO PERDITION, FINDING NEMO,
LEMONY SNICKET’S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, CINDERELLA MAN, JARHEAD, LITTLE
CHILDREN, THE GOOD GERMAN, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD and WALL-E. His most recent projects
include THE DEBT, THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU, THE HELP, THE IRON LADY, THE BEST EXOTIC
MARIGOLD HOTEL, SKYFALL, SIDE EFFECTS, SAVING MR. BANKS and THE JUDGE. Newman also
composed the music for HBO’s acclaimed 6-hour miniseries “Angels in America” directed by Mike Nichols. He
34 received an Emmy Award for his theme for the HBO original series “Six Feet Under.” His upcoming projects
include Pixar’s animated sequel FINDING DORY and SPECTRE, Sam Mendes’ latest James Bond thriller starring
Daniel Craig.
In addition to his work in film and television, Newman has composed several works for the concert stage,
including the symphonic work Reach Forth Our Hands, commissioned in 1996 by the Cleveland Orchestra to
commemorate their city’s bicentennial, as well as At Ward’s Ferry, Length 180 ft., a concerto for double bass and
orchestra commissioned in 2001 by the Pittsburgh Symphony. His latest concert piece was a chamber work entitled It
Got Dark, commissioned by the acclaimed Kronos Quartet in 2009. As part of a separate commission by the Los
Angeles Philharmonic, the work was expanded and adapted for symphony orchestra and string quartet and premiered
at Walt Disney Concert Hall in December of 2009. In October, 2014, Newman and musician Rick Cox released 35
Whirlpools Below Sound, an evocative, contemporary collection of avant-garde electronic soundscapes which the two
collaborators developed over a period of 25 years, and which constitutes a fascinating departure from Newman’s work
in film music.
35 Characters Created in Deborah Moggach’s Original Novel
CAST (in order of appearance)
Sonny Kapoor
DEV PATEL
Muriel Donnelly
MAGGIE SMITH
Car Valet
DANNY MAHONEY
Ty Burley
DAVID STRATHAIRN
Evelyn Greenslade
JUDI DENCH
Douglas Ainslie
BILL NIGHY
Madge Hardcastle
CELIA IMRIE
Norman Cousins
RONALD PICKUP
Carol Parr
DIANA HARDCASTLE
Hari
SHUBHRAJYOTI BARAT
Susan
FIONA MOLLISON
American Tourist
ZACHARY COFFIN
Douglas’ Assistant
JAYESH KARDAK
Sunaina
TINA DESAI
Kushal
SHAZAD LATIF
Nimish
AVIJIT DUTT
Mr. Dharuna
DENZIL SMITH
Scorpion Tuk-Tuk Driver
ASHOK PATHAK
36 Jodi
POPPY MILLER
Babul
RAJESH TAILANG
Abhilash
ATUL TIWARI
Anokhi
SEEMA AZMI
Mrs. Kapoor
LILLETE DUBEY
Lavinia Beech
TAMSIN GREIG
Guy Chambers
RICHARD GERE
Cyril (Bike Mechanic)
NEERAJ KADELA
Doctor at Clinic
SARVESH VYAS
Babul’s Niece
LATEESHA DORIK
Vikram
VIKRAM SINGH
Sunaina’s Mother
AVANTIKA AKERKAR
Sunaina’s Father
SHISHIR SHARMA
Jay
SID MAKKAR
Laura Ainslie
CLAIRE PRICE
Jean Ainslie
PENELOPE WILTON
Norman’s Tuk-Tuk Driver
LOKESH RAI
Factory Owner
ATUL K. KALE
Receptionist / Evelyn’s Hotel
SUFIYAN KHAN
Hari’s Cousins
DINESH PRADHAN
ANITA PRADHAN
37 Associate Producer
TABREZ NOORANI
Unit Production Managers
MATTHEW JENKINS
SANJAY KUMAR
First Assistant Directors
GEORGE WALKER
UDAYAN BAIJAL
Key Second Assistant Directors
OLIVIA LLOYD
ANANYA RANE
Made in Association with TSG ENTERTAINMENT
Chief Makeup & Hair Designer
DANIEL PHILLIPS
Choreographer
LONGINUS FERNANDES
Production Sound Mixer
NAKUL KAMTE
Supervising Sound Editor
IAN WILSON
Post Production Supervisor
ALISTAIR HOPKINS
Supervising Art Director
JAMES WAKEFIELD
Art Director
DILIP MORE
38 Assistant Art Directors
MAHESH SALGAONKAR
RAGHUNATH MORE
Set Decorator
ED TURNER
Standby Art Director
ELIZABETH KILHAM
Lettering Artist
NANDU MAHAMUNI
Draftsman
AVINASH JADHAV
Graphics
PRACHI AGRAWAL
Set Decorator
SWAPNALI DAS
Props Buyer & Assistant Set
Decorator
VASUDHA PATNI
Props Buyer
AAYUSHI DIXIT
Second Assistant Director
ADITYA TENDULKAR
Second Second Assistant Director
MANHAR SHAHEED
Third Assistant Directors
ANDY YOUNG
KRISHAN PRATAP
Key Set Production Assistant
RONICK A. LAVINGIA
Set Production Assistants
SHAUNAK KAPUR
SHIVANI RANA
MOHIT SILSWAL
Production Managers
RAKESH SINGH
RAJEEV MEHRA
Production Coordinators
AMELIA PRICE
RAMAN PRASHER
Assistant Production Coordinators
LORRAINE HEWSON
PRANAV SAHNI
Delhi Coordinator
RAHUL SONI
Mumbai Coordinator
NUVENDRA SINGH
39 PRANISHA PRASAD
JAYANT RAO
Udaipur Coordinator
SONAL MATHUR
Production Assistants
GLEN WIGGALL
ISHAAN MISRA
Runners
VISHAL SINGH
RAJ
Office Assistant
KHIRESHWAR DAS
Technical Support
VIPIN GUPTA
Walkie Talkie Attendant
GANESH BIST
B Camera Operator & Steadicam
ALASTAIR RAE A.C.O.
First Assistants Camera
ADAM COLES
DEVENDRA THAKKAR
Second Assistants Camera
DAVID BIRD
VISHAL JAIN
Third Assistants Camera
MANISH GHADGE
MURALI KRISHNA
Camera Assistants
MOHAMMED HASHIM
SHAZAD HASHIM
DIT
DAN CARLING
DIT Assistant
SANTOSH PAWAR
Video Assists
HEMCHANDRA RAI
MANISH KUMAR
Data Lab Technicians
JOSEPH DIBBLE
WILL GARDNER
Data Lab Assistant
AJEY KODLIKERI
Stills Photographer
LAURIE SPARHAM
Boom Person
GAUTIER ISERN
40 PRITHVIRAJ SAHOO
HITESH PALIWAL
Sound Assistants
Propmaster
KUMAR RAJENDRA
Assistant Propmaster
YOGENDER KUMAR
Leadman
SABIR ALI
Propmen
SURESH SHARMA
RAM MILAN CHOUBEY
Store In-charge
VIJAY PAREEK
Standby Props
PATANJALI BHATI
Assistants Standby Props
ANUJ JOSHI
KRISHNA THAKUR
Action Vehicles & Props
Coordinator
TRILOK NOWLAKHA
Assistant Vehicles Coordinator
GOPICHAND
Props Assistants
DHARMENDRA KUMAR
MOHAMMED RAHIS
Script Supervisor
KIM ARMITAGE
First Assistant Editors
MARINA THEODOTOU
VIVEK PRATAP
JENS BAYLIS
Assistant Editor
ASHRAF KHAN
ABHISHRUTI
BEZBARUAH
GURPREET SINGH
GREWAL
Gaffer
RAMESH SADRANI
Best Boy Electric
TUKARAM S JOSHI
41 Key Grip
RONAN MURPHY
Key Grip (India)
BIDAN CHANDA
Assistant Grips
BAPPI CHANDA
ISHRAT SHAIKH
IKRAM MD.
BABU MALI
Costume Supervisor
ALISON LEWIS
Stylist
RIYAZALI MERCHANT
Costume Assistants
YANIKA WATERS
BHARAT MANDEKAR
SHEFALI PATEL
Dressmen
SACHIN RAHATE
ZAKIR HOSSEIN
PAULUS MUNTODE
Tailors
DEVAPUTRA MADRI
ANAND KUDUMULA
Makeup Artists
BEVERLEY BINDA
KAMLESH SHINDE
Hair & Makeup Artists
JOYCE LUIZE MARGARET
XAVIER D'SOUZA
VAIBHAV SHINDE
Location Manager
BHAWANI SINGH
Assistant Location Manager
SANJAY CHATURVEDI
(Jaipur)
Assistant Location Manager
(Udaipur)
LOKESH SINGH RATHORE
Assistant Locations (Jaipur)
AMIT ARORA
Assistant Locations (Udaipur)
SANDEEP SHARMA
42 NIRANJAN RAJBHAR
KAPIL CHANDA
WASIM KHAN
SANTOSH RAHATE
AJIT PADAVE
Location Assistants
ANURAG BIWAL
MANISH BANJARA
Base Camp Manager
RAKESH DHIMAN
Assistant Base Camp Manager
ANIL VANVALA
Base Camp Assistants
Location Manager (Mumbai)
Spot Boys
GAURAV CHATURVEDI
CHANDRABHAN
CHOUDHARY
NAVIT DUTT
MAHENDRA KUMAR
CHAUHAN
SUBHASH CHAND
SUNIL KUMAR
MITHUN KUMAR
AMAR CHAND
MADAN
Special Effects
SHIVANAND MOHILI
SADANAND DEVADIGA
Assistant to John Madden
NICKI SUNG
Assistant to Graham Broadbent
ANKITA CHOWFIN
Assistant to Judi Dench
PENNY RYDER
Cast Production Assistants
RAGHUVIR JOSHI
INDIRA BAIRWA
MANISH SHARMA
ASIF KHAN
SHER SINGH
Financial Controller
DAVID WILCOCK
Production Accountant
DEEPAK JAITELY
First Assistant Accountants
ELIZABETH BRIZZELL
PARDEEP KHANNA
43 SHANKAR
JAIPRAKESH
RAKJKUMAR
SURAJ
VIKRAM
SHATRUGAN
LALLAN GUPTA
RAMESH SHETTY
SUPRIYA RANAWAT
SHIVAM SAXENA
FORAM SADRANI
ABHIRAJ SINGH
Second Assistant Accountant
AMIT RASTOGI
Third Assistant Accountant
DEVANKUR GOEL
Assistant Accountant
TOM ROTHWELL
Cast Accountant
MARIE DONG
Post Production Accountant
TARN HARPER
Casting Associate
TRISHAAN
Assistant Casting (Jaipur/Udaipur)
Assistant Casting (Delhi)
SANJEEV MAURYA
Assistant Casting (Mumbai)
AMIT SARKAR
Assistant Choreographers
SHAMPA GOPIKRISHNA
DEEPAK SINGH
ROZITA RAJPUT
Transport Captain
SHIV BALI
Travel Coordinators
ELLA CHAITOW
PRADEEP ARORA
Hotel & Transport Coordinator
(Udaipur)
ANIRUDH SINGH
RANAWAT
LOKENDRA SINGH
RATHORE
Transport Coordinator (Udaipur)
MAHINDER PAL SINGH
Film Courier
NILESH DEOLEKAR
Motorbike Instructor
GARY HOPTROUGH
Unit Publicist
AMANDA BRAND
44 Catering
RED PEPPERS
Set Medics
DR. PANKAJ PANDYA
DR. HEMANT PORWAL
DR. RAJEN BAHHEKA
Technocrane Operator
ANUMPRAKASH
MOHAPATRA
Assistant Technocrane Operator
GOVIND PANDHRE
Grip Equipment Provided by
THE GRIP WORKS
Lighting Equipment Provided by
Technocrane Provided by
Production Services in India
Provided by
LIGHT AND GRIP
EQUIPMENT HIRES INDIA PVT.
LTD.
MAD CRANES
INDIA TAKE ONE
PRODUCTIONS
BLUEPRINT PICTURES
Head of Development
BEN KNIGHT
Creative Executive
ANNA BURNS
Production Assistant
ROSANNA EDEN-ELLIS
Sound Editing by
IAN WILSON SOUND LTD
Supervising Dialogue / ADR
SAM SOUTHWICK
Sound Effects Editor
ALASTAIR SIRKETT
Dialogue Editor
PAUL WRIGHTSON
Editor
45 Assistant Sound Editor
PHIL LEE
Foley Mixer
SIMON TRUNDLE
Foley Artists
PAUL HANKS
DAVE POULTON
Foley Supervisor
PHILL BARRETT
Foley Recorded at
UNIVERSAL SOUND
Re-Recorded at
TWICKENHAM STUDIOS
Supervising Re-Recording Mixer
TIM CAVAGIN
Re-Recording Mixer
CRAIG IRVING
Additional Re-Recording Mixer
DAFYDD ARCHARD
ADR Mixers
Sound Mix Technician
MAX WALSH
Sound Assistant
SOPHIA HARDMAN
Sound Department Runners
EMMA PAYNE
MATILDA WYLIE
Twickenham Studios
Post Production Manager
VIVIEN JORDAN
ADR Voice Casting
MARCELLA RIORDAN
Dolby Consultant
JAMES SHANNON
Post Production Delivery
Coordinator
ADAM FIL MENDEZ
STEFANO MARCHETTI
(MOLINARE)
JONATHAN TAYLOR
India ADR Recordist
AYUSH AHUJA
India ADR Engineer
ARAVIND KUMAR
46 India Crowd Coordinator
CHAMPA TIWARI
India ADR Studio
FUTUREWORKS MEDIA
LTD.
Digital Intermediate by
MOLINARE TV & FILM
LTD
Colourist
GARETH SPENSLEY
Online Editor
GARETH PARRY
Post Production Manager
KATIE SHAHROKH
DI Coordinator
STEVE KNIGHT
DI Manager
MATT JAMES
DI Conform Editors
TIM DREWETT
MICHELLE CORT
TOM SUGDEN
Data Transfer
LIZZIE NEWSHAM
MIKE ANDREWS
Film Consultant
LEN BROWN
Post Production Script
SAPEX
Titles by
MATT CURTIS
Film Processing (Post Production)
CINELAB
STEVE OWEN
JOHNATHAN DICKINSON
Visual Effects by DOUBLE NEGATIVE
Visual Effects Supervisor TOM PROCTOR
Compositing
PATRICK NAGLE
Artists
MARK PAYNE
Digital
Matte Painter
JONATHAN
OPGENHAFFEN
ISAAC
LAYISH
SARAH
LOCKWOOD
Match Move
Artists
47 STEVEN
TIZZARD
SAM
REED
JOSH
CHAPPELL
CHRISTOPHE
R WRIGHT
VFX
Production
FAY MCCONKEY
ANTONELLA
FERRARI
EMMA
MOFFAT
EUROPEAN UNIT
Line Producer (Spain)
DENIS PEDREGOSA
Production Managers
NEIL RAVAN
SALVADOR YAGUE
Art Director
HUW ARTHUR
Set Decorator / Buyer
OLIVIA PORTMAN
Set Decorator
SERAFIN GONZALEZ
Standby Props
JULIAN WEAVER
Set Dressers
JOTA CARRACEDO
PAULA GONZALEZ
Daily Set Dresser
SERGIO KOLOMIYETS
Second Assistant Directors
ANDY MANNION
RICARDO DELGADO
Third Assistant Director
BEN QUIRK
Production Coordinator
ASIA JARZYNA
Executive Assistant
LETICIA RHODES
Office Runner
ELENA DEL SAZ-OROZCO
Key Set Production Assistant
LINO PANYAGUA
B Camera Operator & Steadicam
VINCE McGAHON
A Camera First Assistant
ANDY BANWELL
B Camera First Assistants
SIMON HECK
TAMMO VAN HOORN
48 BENJAMIN
CARLSON
A Camera Second Assistant
HOWARD MILLS
B Camera Second Assistant
IAN JACKSON
Second Assistant Camera
ZURINE ETXEBARRIA
Camera Trainees
ANDREW BINNS
ANA ARISTEGUI
DIT
MUSTAFA TYEBKHAN
DIT Assist
ESTEBAN WIAGGIO
Video Assists
BENSON NJENGA
J.C. MOLINA
Cable Person
RONKY RODRIGUEZ
Production Sound Recordist
JIM GREENHORN
Boom Operator
SHAUN MILLS
Sound Assistant
JACK WOODS
Assistant Editors
GABRIELLE SMITH
SERKAN NIHAT
Gaffers
MICHAEL McDERMOTT
JORGE SACRISTAN
Best Boy Electrics
VINCE MADDEN
FRANCISCO MARTIN
VALERO
Electricians
VINNY MADDEN
STEVE DAVIS
STEFAN MITCHELL
MARTIN DUNCAN
ANDREW DUNCAN
SCOTT HEAPY
FRANK SHEEKEY
Generator Operator
IVAN TORRES
Grip
SIMON WARD
49 MARK CLARK
CALVIN BISHOP
JOHN ASH
LEE PARFITT
DARRELL McGUIGAN
GUSTAVO MURIANO
DARREN RIDLEY
Key Grip
EDUARDO LUJAN
Best Boy Grip
ALFONSO LUJAN
B Camera Grip
FELIX MILBURN-FOSTER
Grip Trainee
MATTHEW CLYNE
Set Costumer
CARMEN ACOSTA
Costume Assistants
JOANNE MOSLEY
JESSICA FELL
Hair & Makeup Assistants
NATALIA MONTOYA
ALICIA ARENILLA
Makeup Assistants
JO ADAMS
LISA McCONVILLE
KATIE LEE
Location Managers
TOM WOODS
PEDRO ARAEZ
Location Assistant
DAVID POWELL
Location Production Assistant
NICOLAS ARAEZ
Property Master
RAYMOND HOLT
Assistant Property Masters
RYAN BRADBURY
JOSEPH DEAN
Construction Stagehand
DAVE ADSHEAD
Standby Carpenter
JOHN GIBSON
Production Accountants
ANDREW HILL
MARYLLIS GONZALEZ
Cashier
ESTEFANIA SANCHEZ
Set Medic
MORAG WEBSTER
Catering
Extras Coordinator
THE CATERING
COLLECTIVE
MAYCA GUERRA
50 ROCIO PEREZ
ELENA PEREZ
Transportation Coordinator
RICARDO SERRANO
Picture Vehicles Coordinator
DIEGO RODRIGUEZ
Construction
GENE DU CRUZ
Camera Equipment
MOVIETECH
DIT Equipment
4K LONDON
Data Lab Equipment
THE DIGITAL ORCHARD
Orchestrations
J.A.C. REDFORD
Music Recorded by
LARRY MAH
Orchestra Recorded by
SIMON RHODES
Additional Recording by
SHINNOSUKE MIYAZAWA
Music Mixed by
SIMON RHODES AT ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS,
LONDON
Assistant Engineers
GORDON DAVIDSON
MATT JONES
Audio Coordination
GEORGE DOERING
Music Contractors
LESLIE MORRIS
ISOBEL GRIFFITHS
Music Preparation
JILL STREATER MUSIC
PREP
Music Editors
BILL BERNSTEIN
TONY LEWIS
JAMES BELLAMY
Instrumental Soloists
JOHN BEASLEY
GEORGE DOERING
Vocal Soloists
HARIHARAN
SUCHI
51 STEVE TAVAGLIONE
JAGAN RAMAMORTHY
SONGS
“MOVE IT ON OVER”
Written by Hank Williams Sr.
Performed by George Thorogood & The
Destroyers
Courtesy of Concord Music Group, Inc.
“DEATH BY LIFT SHAFT”
Written and Performed by Mike Reed and Tony Lewis
“PLASTIC BUBBLE”
Written by Steven Adams, David Brogan,
Zachary Gill and Daniel Lebowitz
Performed by ALO
Courtesy of Brushfire Records / Republic
Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises
“YE ISHQ HAI”
Music Composed by Pritam
Lyric by Irshaad Kamil
Performed by Shreya Ghoshal
Courtesy of Tseries
“BALMA”
Music Composed by Himesh Reshammiya
Lyric by Sameer Anjaan
Performed by Shreya Ghoshal & Shriram
Courtesy of Tseries
“SHWAS-UCHHASHWAS / THE BEGINNING”
Written by Zakir Hussain
Performed by Zakir Hussain,
Shujaat Khan, Bhavani Shankar
Courtesy of Zakir Hussain
“MEHNDI THARO”
Traditional
“WEDDING MANTRA”
Traditional
“AILA RE AILA”
Music Composed by Pritam
Lyric by Nitin Raikwar
Performed by Khatta Meetha
Courtesy of Tseries
“STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT”
Written by Bert Kaempfert, Charles Singleton
and Eddie Snyder
“JBJ”
Written by Gulzar, Shankar Mahadevan,
Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa
Performed by Zubeen, Shankar Mahadevan
& Sunidhi Chauhan
Courtesy of Yash Raj Films
by arrangement with The Royalty Network, Inc.
“JHOOM BARABAR JHOOM”
Written by Gulzar, Shankar Mahadevan,
Aloysuis Peter Mendonsa and Ehsaan Noorani
Performed by KK, Sukhvinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer
& Shankar Mahadevan
Courtesy of Yash Raj Films
by arrangement with The Royalty Network, Inc.
SOUNDTRACK ON
52 THE PRODUCERS WISH TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR ASSISTANCE:
RAVLA KHEMPUR - A HERITAGE HOTEL
CASTLE KANOTA
PEARL PALACE HERITAGE
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA – MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING
ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD OF INDIA
SPECIAL THANKS TO AMRAPALI JEWELS
At any age, life can be an adventure. Go for it at takepart.com/marigold2
Prints by
Approved No. 49244
© 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, PM/IN Finance, LLC
and TSG Entertainment Finance LLC.
The events, characters and firms depicted in this photoplay are fictitious. Any similarity to
actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or firms is purely coincidental.
Ownership of this motion picture is protected by copyright and other applicable laws,
and any unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition of this motion picture could result
in criminal prosecution as well as civil liability.
53 ©2015 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
PROPERTY OF FOX. PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS TO
REPRODUCE THIS TEXT IN ARTICLES PUBLICIZING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE MOTION
PICTURE. ALL OTHER USE IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, INCLUDING SALE, DUPLICATION, OR
OTHER TRANSFER OF THIS MATERIAL. THIS PRESS KIT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, MUST NOT BE
LEASED, SOLD, OR GIVEN AWAY.
54