Dev Patel reveals Monkey Man revolves around the current situation in India, says tried 'best to be a voice for the voiceless’

Despite being born and brought up in England, Dev Patel has not forgotten his Indian roots. The 33-year-old actor, who made his acting debut with Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, has achieved amazing talents. Patel is all set to make his directorial debut with the action-thriller Monkey Man on April 5, 2024, and fans from around the world are eagerly waiting to watch his talents, both as an actor and director.

Ever since Universal Pictures dropped the breathtaking teaser and trailer, netizens can't stop anticipating the storyline. The videos have given some exclusive sneak peeks about Indian culture and mythology showcased in the film. Although the film has been backed by Jordan Peele and Universal Pictures, the whole story focused on Indian traditions and values. While talking about the film at SXSW 2024, Dev Patel recalled some of his amazing tales, which he heard from his grandfather.

ALSO READ: Monkey Man new trailer – Here’s what to expect from the fresh clip of Dev Patel’s latest action venture 

Dev Patel about Indian culture

Patel shared that his grandfather used to tell him stories of Ramayana and Hanuman, and these worked as inspiration for him while making the Monkey Man. The actor also said that his father has an amazing Hanuman pendant that has some incredible mythology tales engraved in it. “When you put those stories in a caste system with the idea of the one percent against the elite, I was like, I can take what would be a Lord of the Rings-type film and distil it down and give it some social weight. I thought I could fuse this mythology with my love for the action genre,” said the British actor.

Watch 50k+ Titles on SonyLiv, Zee5, Fancode and 20+ OTTs and 250+ Live TV channels with OTTplay Premium subscription at just ₹75 for the first month. 

What is Monkey Man all about?

While spilling some beans about Monkey Man, Dev stated that the film revolves around traditional faith and the current situation in India. According to him, faith can be a beautiful teacher for the uneducated. These mythology tales hugely inspire children, who grow up in villages. For Dev, Hinduism is a beautiful philosophy. With Monkey Man, he tried his best to be a voice for the voiceless.

Monkey Man star-cast

For the unfamiliar, Made In Heaven-fame Sobhita Dhulipala and Aarya-fame Sikander Kher are also making their Hollywood debut with Monkey Man. The film also stars Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Ashwini Kalsekar, Aditi Kulkunthe, and Makarand Deshpande in pivotal roles.

ALSO READ: Monkey Man screening - Dev Patel struggles to hold back tears after receiving standing ovation | Watch video