He's a fast-rising star in several modern mediums. Workaholic actor-model-broadcaster Kiran Rai is one to watch, says Jeremy Lewis
KIRAN RAI? Didn't he do well? International model, actor, comedian, broadcaster, agent, media co-ordinator, chat show host... how does he describe himself? "I always did acting, so I call myself an actor first – with a lot of other strings to my bow," says the workaholic 22-year-old from West Bridgford. A multi-faceted career was built on shaky foundations. "I got kicked out of Rushcliffe School after a disagreement with and as a teenager I had a struggle with depression," he adds. "I was in with the wrong crowd and ended up fighting with my friends." Now that we have dealt with the bad news, what about the good? Kiran went to London and applied his skills as a performer, nurtured at Nottingham's Television Workshop for promising young actors, and his God-given powers of persuasion and persistence, to forge several careers simultaneously. Now he finds himself in a talented young generation of south Asian and British Indian performers who are snaring top media jobs, rejecting comedy stereotypes and showing they are as comfortable in Hollywood as Bollywood. You think of young comedian Paul Chowdhry; actors Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi), Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Freida Pinto (Slumdog, The Immortals). "I learned from my mistakes but it wasn't always easy," says Kiran, who is from a Hindu Punjabi background. "I'd had enough of Nottingham and the wrong crowd and went to London. I lived in a shabby hostel with no money. I worked at Pizza Express but I wasn't any good at serving – my hands were shaking. "I did get a few open mic sessions in front of people and I was useless. I did Shakespeare and when people asked me what it meant I had to say I didn't know." Pulling out of depression coincided with the influence of a mentor and manager in David Gore, who helped him get a West End outing for his one-man play Good Things Happen to Good People. It tells the story of Kiran's youth and his breakdown. From the Soho Theatre it went for a run in New York in the Richmond Shepard Theatre. Kiran has had roles in recent British films The Forbidden Note, Secrets of the Past and A Total Thug Up and he would rather pursue mainstream movie career than look eastwards to his cultural roots. "I've been offered Bollywood," he says, "but I don't want it." Plenty of Hollywood stars made their camera debuts as models and Kiran hopes to follow the same path. It is slightly easier work for a good-looking chap who looks after himself. At a lean 5ft 10in he is shorter than most male models but he was able to fill a niche as a young Asian with an intelligent expression. Kiran has been signed to ten top model agencies around the world and was ambassador for the online fashion and beauty store Asos.com. He was a favourite model with Duke Clothing and the face of Birmingham fashion week at the NEC for two years running. "I bring myself to modelling as a person," he says. "You may be the most beautiful person in the world but if you don't have the personality you'll be shown the door. I'm always at the gym but I don't do the machines. I do the steam. I'm fanatical about saunas and steam rooms. "I also drink four litres of water a day. I love wine, but just one glass. You have to take care of yourself. I groom myself and I appreciate clothes. If I don't look good, I don't feel good." Kiran frequently visits family in Nottingham – he credits his father for the encouragement he has received – and has been known to drop into Maid Marian Way restaurant MemSaab. He enjoys a chicken tikka dinner with sag aloo. It was through modelling that had an introduction to radio and his show Secrets with Kiran Rai airs on Betar Bangla 1503 AM, aimed at London's Bangladeshi community, every Wednesday afternoon. It attracts nearly two million listeners. Now his comedy chat show, with a wide range of guests, is on Sky TV's Sikh channel. None of it happened by accident and Kiran is the first to admit he gives an idea all the argument it is worth. He has also starred in music videos and TV advertisements and worked with Indian actors Kulvinder Ghir, Deepak Verma and Ameet Chana. Kiran had a key role in the world's biggest inter-company multi-sports tournament – the World Corporate Games, held in Liverpool earlier this summer. As head of media he was responsible for co-ordinating media coverage. And talking of Liverpool, he has a high profile at the city's Fashion Week. Remarkably, for one who is not fluent in Spanish, his modelling tuition courses include one in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He had an introduction to the country through an ex-girlfriend. Is he spreading himself too thinly? "I've got to be careful I don't do too much," he says at his home in Twickenham. I never do two things at the same time, it's always one after the other. I've been at it for 24 months without a break. I've been learning lines, preparing for the studio, doing emails. I'm in a good state of mind. I ask God for success – but if it doesn't come I'll just have to work all the harder for it."
KIRAN RAI? Didn't he do well? International model, actor, comedian, broadcaster, agent, media co-ordinator, chat show host... how does he describe himself? "I always did acting, so I call myself an actor first – with a lot of other strings to my bow," says the workaholic 22-year-old from West Bridgford. A multi-faceted career was built on shaky foundations. "I got kicked out of Rushcliffe School after a disagreement with and as a teenager I had a struggle with depression," he adds. "I was in with the wrong crowd and ended up fighting with my friends." Now that we have dealt with the bad news, what about the good? Kiran went to London and applied his skills as a performer, nurtured at Nottingham's Television Workshop for promising young actors, and his God-given powers of persuasion and persistence, to forge several careers simultaneously. Now he finds himself in a talented young generation of south Asian and British Indian performers who are snaring top media jobs, rejecting comedy stereotypes and showing they are as comfortable in Hollywood as Bollywood. You think of young comedian Paul Chowdhry; actors Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi), Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Freida Pinto (Slumdog, The Immortals). "I learned from my mistakes but it wasn't always easy," says Kiran, who is from a Hindu Punjabi background. "I'd had enough of Nottingham and the wrong crowd and went to London. I lived in a shabby hostel with no money. I worked at Pizza Express but I wasn't any good at serving – my hands were shaking. "I did get a few open mic sessions in front of people and I was useless. I did Shakespeare and when people asked me what it meant I had to say I didn't know." Pulling out of depression coincided with the influence of a mentor and manager in David Gore, who helped him get a West End outing for his one-man play Good Things Happen to Good People. It tells the story of Kiran's youth and his breakdown. From the Soho Theatre it went for a run in New York in the Richmond Shepard Theatre. Kiran has had roles in recent British films The Forbidden Note, Secrets of the Past and A Total Thug Up and he would rather pursue mainstream movie career than look eastwards to his cultural roots. "I've been offered Bollywood," he says, "but I don't want it." Plenty of Hollywood stars made their camera debuts as models and Kiran hopes to follow the same path. It is slightly easier work for a good-looking chap who looks after himself. At a lean 5ft 10in he is shorter than most male models but he was able to fill a niche as a young Asian with an intelligent expression. Kiran has been signed to ten top model agencies around the world and was ambassador for the online fashion and beauty store Asos.com. He was a favourite model with Duke Clothing and the face of Birmingham fashion week at the NEC for two years running. "I bring myself to modelling as a person," he says. "You may be the most beautiful person in the world but if you don't have the personality you'll be shown the door. I'm always at the gym but I don't do the machines. I do the steam. I'm fanatical about saunas and steam rooms. "I also drink four litres of water a day. I love wine, but just one glass. You have to take care of yourself. I groom myself and I appreciate clothes. If I don't look good, I don't feel good." Kiran frequently visits family in Nottingham – he credits his father for the encouragement he has received – and has been known to drop into Maid Marian Way restaurant MemSaab. He enjoys a chicken tikka dinner with sag aloo. It was through modelling that had an introduction to radio and his show Secrets with Kiran Rai airs on Betar Bangla 1503 AM, aimed at London's Bangladeshi community, every Wednesday afternoon. It attracts nearly two million listeners. Now his comedy chat show, with a wide range of guests, is on Sky TV's Sikh channel. None of it happened by accident and Kiran is the first to admit he gives an idea all the argument it is worth. He has also starred in music videos and TV advertisements and worked with Indian actors Kulvinder Ghir, Deepak Verma and Ameet Chana. Kiran had a key role in the world's biggest inter-company multi-sports tournament – the World Corporate Games, held in Liverpool earlier this summer. As head of media he was responsible for co-ordinating media coverage. And talking of Liverpool, he has a high profile at the city's Fashion Week. Remarkably, for one who is not fluent in Spanish, his modelling tuition courses include one in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He had an introduction to the country through an ex-girlfriend. Is he spreading himself too thinly? "I've got to be careful I don't do too much," he says at his home in Twickenham. I never do two things at the same time, it's always one after the other. I've been at it for 24 months without a break. I've been learning lines, preparing for the studio, doing emails. I'm in a good state of mind. I ask God for success – but if it doesn't come I'll just have to work all the harder for it."
