Disha Patani on Working With Kevin Spacey: ‘He Gives Actors a Lot of Space to Experiment’ (EXCLUSIVE)

Disha Patani is beginning to expand her international cinematic footprint with her Hollywood debut “Holiguards Saga - The Portal of Force.” She speaks to Variety India about sharing screen space with and being directed by Kevin Spacey. The actor also opens up about breaking into the international market and cracking the code through auditions.

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Patani says Spacey encourages actors to draw from their own lives and instincts. “He is amazing. Being an actor, he understands his actors. He is one of the finest actors in the world. He gives his actors a lot of space to experiment. He would tell us to draw from our own experiences. We would be encouraged to think of questions like ‘How would you react to a situation like this?’ ‘Would you cry?’ ‘What would you feel?’ ‘How would you emote?’ Every morning, he would sit with us and take us through the scene. I found that really special. I don’t think I had done that with any of the creators in the past. It’s also like taking some responsibility in understanding the character and delivering it,” she shares.

While many perceive breaking into Hollywood as a matter of talent, she believes the process is far more technical. She hints at representation, accessibility, auditions, and even logistics such as visas. Patni, who was last seen in “Welcome to the Jungle,” shares, “A lot depends on accessibility. The West focuses heavily on audition templates. You have to audition for things. It depends on how accessible that is for you and who you are signed with. Destiny also plays a role. Sometimes, they just end up seeing your work and offer you projects and auditions. It also depends on the visa and other logistics. It’s all very technical.”

She adds, “It is a different country at the end of the day. But you will have to be present. You can’t sit here and crack roles there. You can audition from here, but it is best to go there, stay for a bit and work on it. It is the same with any country.”