Veteran theatre personality Barry John has moved to Mumbai. Known for the school of acting that he runs in Delhi, Barry John has taught the nuances of acting to the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Raghuvir Yadav Kunal Kapoor and Manoj Bajpai. Obviously, when he decided to set up his school in Mumbai, these acclaimed stars had to be present.
Barry’s reason to move to the heart of the Hindi film industry is that the capital doesn’t offer enough opportunities to do well. He says, “Delhi doesn’t offer much in professional terms. Mumbai on the other hand is the centre of the film industry as well as theatre.”
As for the need for an acting school in Mumbai, Barry says, “You can’t rely on raw talent. Talent might be a foundation for a career in acting, but it has to be developed.” No wonder then that Shah Rukh names Barry John as his first and last guru. However, Barry seems a little reluctant to take all the credit for the superstar’s status. According to Barry, SRK has largely forgotten what he was taught. He says, “Now Shah Rukh delivers what is demanded by the nature of his film and the Bollywood industry.” Why does he sound unhappy about that?
Now the veteran is all set to direct and produce films along with training new comers in the industry. “There are some who deserve to be here. Then there are those who do not deserve this industry. The demand of quality actors cannot be met at the moment.” After having taught so many bright stars, the guru has finally decided to make a film. Let’s not be surprised if we see a mellowed down King Khan in one of Barry John’s ventures.
