In a revelation during an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, Dev Patel, the British actor, unveiled his directorial debut, Monkey Man, which draws inspiration from Indian mythology. Patel candidly confessed to grappling with shame over his Indian heritage in the past, admitting that it wasn’t always perceived as ‘cool’.

“There was a time when I was ashamed of the Indian part of my heritage.

When you’re in school in Greater London, it’s not the coolest. I’m trying what I can to not show that part, going into films like Slumdog Millionaire and doing all these kind of movies. I realised actually that with the first movie I’m going to direct, I’m not going to double down, I’m going to triple down on culture,” said the actor, whose rise to prominence was propelled by his role in Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire.
In discussing Monkey Man, he highlighted its inspiration from an ancient tale featuring Lord Hanuman, where the deity grapples with loss of confidence and identity before finding redemption alongside marginalized communities, rendering it an ideal narrative for an action-packed film.“I grew up watching Bollywood and Bruce Lee and Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jim Carrey and Jackie Chan. It’s all in there (in Monkey Man). It’s the cocktail that makes me,” Dev continued.

In this gripping action thriller, Dev Patel portrays a young man driven by a desire for justice following his mother’s tragic demise at the hands of corrupt leaders. However, his journey for vengeance takes an unforeseen twist, leading him to become a beacon of hope for the oppressed, embodying the essence of the Monkey Man. Alongside Patel, the stellar cast includes Sikandar Kher, Sharlto Copley, Sobhita Dhulipala, Makarand Deshpande, and Ashwini Kalsekar.
Notably, Patel not only stars but also serves as a producer alongside acclaimed filmmaker Jordan Peele. Premiering to rave reviews at SXSW earlier this year, Monkey Man promises an electrifying cinematic experience.