Maradona Rebello
Encyclopedia
Maradona Rebello is an Indian actor who works in the Bollywood
film industry. Rebello's first name was inspired by the footballer Diego Maradona
and was kept by his father. After acting in theatres in school and a brief career in modelling, Rebello's film career began with the 2010 film Pankh
, which highlights the common practice in the Indian film industry of casting children in role contrary to their natural genders. Rebello played the character of a 20-year old boy named Jerry, who used to act in girl roles when he was young. Jerry used to cross-dress as a girl for his roles and after growing up, becomes confused about his identity. Pankh was released on 2 April 2010 and received negative reviews. After that, Rebello signed the film Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon, which deals with a homosexual relationship. The film was released in November 2010, and received mixed reviews.
, during the Quarter Final between Argentina
and England
, in the 1986 FIFA World Cup
. Where on one hand Diego Maradona scored "the goal of the century", back in India, Maradona Rebello was born. His father, who is a sports manager, was inspired by Diego Maradona's winning goal and named his son as Maradona. The Rebellos are a Christian
family from the Mumbai
suburb of Bhayander. While Rebello was always passionate about acting, he was all set to pursue medicine after his Higher Secondary studies. He even acted in plays such as An Evening With Shakespeare and Actors which was staged at the National Gallery of Modern Art
. He said, "once did a play An Evening with Shakespeare and Actors. There was a scene where Romeo
is mesmerised by Juliet
when he sees her for the first time. I’ve said those lines a million times." Rebello's modelling career took off by chance when he was spotted by a model coordinator outside a cinema hall and was signed up for assignments. Rebello also auditioned for the 2009 film Slumdog Millionaire
and met director Danny Boyle
, but was rejected because Boyle thought that his looks were not Indian enough to meet his characterization.
. He went for the audition and gave his shots, but was apprehensive to join the Bollywood
film industry, because he believed in a different image of Bollywood—one with romance and drama. "I went for the audition of the movie Pankh. Director told me about the demands of the role. I told it to my parents and they heard the story from the director Sudipto. They gave me green signal to act in the movie. [...] Nude scene and scene of an onscreen kiss with a boy are very essential in the movie. It’s very hard to imagine the story without these scenes.” Rebello was impressed by the script and accepted the role. The film is reportedly based on the case of child actor Ahsaas Channa
, who is apparently a girl passed off as a boy in movies like Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
and Vaastu Shastra. The film highlights the common practice in the Indian film industry of casting children in roles contrary to their natural genders.
Rebello played the character of a 20-year old boy named Jerry, who used to act in girl roles when he was young. Chattophadhay said, "Jerry's character is very complex. The film shows him as a famous child artiste. He cross-dressed as a girl for his roles and is confused about his identity. There is also a song in the film where he fantasizes about Bipasha Basu
seducing him, creating confusion in his mind about his real identity." During shooting, Rebello was embarrassed about his nude scenes in front of actors Lilette Dubey and his kissing scene with another man. About his experiences while shooting Pankh, Rebello said, "When we shot the nude scene, the crew was kept to a minimum. But I was in safe hands at the end of the day. I never imagined that my debut would be in the form of Pankh. I am blessed. I also feel that if Pankh would've come immediately after Dev.D, it could've worked better. But this is the right time for it to make it to the cinemas."
Pankh was released on 2 April 2010 and received negative reviews. Taran Adarsh
from Bollywood Hungama
said, "Frankly, Pankh made no sense to me and at the end of the screening, I only felt sorry for myself since I wasted two precious hours of my life on something that wasn't worth it. Talking of performances, Maradona Rebello tries hard to look convincing." After the film, Rebello signed another project—titled Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon—where plays the role of a man who has an affair with his gay brother’s wife. Rebello said, "I can't reveal much about the part. But I got to work with screen divas like Zeenat Aman
and Helen. Not bad for my second film." The film was directed by Sanjay Sharma and written by his brother Kapil Sharma who also played the lead. It premiered in April 2010 at India's first mainstream Gay Film Festival and the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. Featuring the first gay kiss in Indian cinema, Dunno Y has Aman performing the song "Aap Jaise Koi" from her 1980 film Qurbani
. Dunno Y was also selected for screening at the New York Film Festival
in September 2010.
Dunno Y was released in November 2010, and received geenrally mixed reviews. Rajiv Vijaykar from Indian Express felt that "The sequences between the gay lovebirds are sensitively yet boldly handled and director Sanjay Sharma deserves a pat for evoking some amount of sympathy for homosexuals at a time when the legalities were different in India–the film is set in 2008. Yuvraaj and especially Kapil are very effective as the lovers. But the film has several flaws, most of them avoidable. For one, the main issue is diluted too much with the politics within the family, and the issue of the errant father serves no purpose." Subhash K. Jha, while writing for Bollywood Hungama
, commented that "While the explicit gay love-making sequences are done with a bravado that's more corny than candid a sub-plot about the gay protagonist's torrid affair with her brother-in-law (Maradona Rebello) has potential. But by the time the Neglected Wife and the in house toy boy get into a shower together the passion and the pain of a family on the edge, have all been washed away."
and Amitabh Bachchan
. His other inspirations are Mexican actor Gael García Bernal
and Hollywood actors Leonardo Di Caprio and Jude Law
.
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film industry. Rebello's first name was inspired by the footballer Diego Maradona
Diego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
and was kept by his father. After acting in theatres in school and a brief career in modelling, Rebello's film career began with the 2010 film Pankh
Pankh (film)
Pankh is a 2010 Bollywood film written and directed by Sudipto Chattopadhyaya and starring Bipasha Basu, Lilette Dubey, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ronit Roy, Sanjeeda Sheikh and newcomers Maradona Rebello and Amit Purohit. The film was released on 2 April 2010...
, which highlights the common practice in the Indian film industry of casting children in role contrary to their natural genders. Rebello played the character of a 20-year old boy named Jerry, who used to act in girl roles when he was young. Jerry used to cross-dress as a girl for his roles and after growing up, becomes confused about his identity. Pankh was released on 2 April 2010 and received negative reviews. After that, Rebello signed the film Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon, which deals with a homosexual relationship. The film was released in November 2010, and received mixed reviews.
1986–2008: Early life
Rebello was named after the footballer Diego MaradonaDiego Maradona
Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting...
, during the Quarter Final between Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
and England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, in the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
. Where on one hand Diego Maradona scored "the goal of the century", back in India, Maradona Rebello was born. His father, who is a sports manager, was inspired by Diego Maradona's winning goal and named his son as Maradona. The Rebellos are a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
family from the Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
suburb of Bhayander. While Rebello was always passionate about acting, he was all set to pursue medicine after his Higher Secondary studies. He even acted in plays such as An Evening With Shakespeare and Actors which was staged at the National Gallery of Modern Art
National Gallery of Modern Art
The National Gallery of Modern Art is the leading Indian art gallery. The main museum at New Delhi was established on March 29, 1954 by the Government of India, with subsequent branches at Mumbai and Bangalore...
. He said, "once did a play An Evening with Shakespeare and Actors. There was a scene where Romeo
Romeo Montague
Romeo is one of the fictional protagonists in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is the son of old Montague and his wife, who secretly loves and marries Juliet, a member of the rival House of Capulet...
is mesmerised by Juliet
Juliet Capulet
Juliet is one of the title characters in William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet, the other being Romeo. She is the daughter of old Capulet, head of the house of Capulet. The story has a long history that precedes Shakespeare himself....
when he sees her for the first time. I’ve said those lines a million times." Rebello's modelling career took off by chance when he was spotted by a model coordinator outside a cinema hall and was signed up for assignments. Rebello also auditioned for the 2009 film Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British epic romantic drama adventure film directed by Danny Boyle, written by Simon Beaufoy, and co-directed in India by Loveleen Tandan. It is an adaptation of the novel Q & A by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup...
and met director Danny Boyle
Danny Boyle
Daniel "Danny" Boyle is an English filmmaker and producer. He is best known for his work on films such as Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours, 28 Days Later, Sunshine and Trainspotting. For Slumdog Millionaire, Boyle won numerous awards in 2008, including the Academy Award for Best Director...
, but was rejected because Boyle thought that his looks were not Indian enough to meet his characterization.
2009–present: Bollywood debut, Pankh and Dunno Y
While doing BMM (Bachelors in Mass Media) from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, Rebello got an offer from Sudipto Chattopadhay to audition for the upcoming film PankhPankh (film)
Pankh is a 2010 Bollywood film written and directed by Sudipto Chattopadhyaya and starring Bipasha Basu, Lilette Dubey, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ronit Roy, Sanjeeda Sheikh and newcomers Maradona Rebello and Amit Purohit. The film was released on 2 April 2010...
. He went for the audition and gave his shots, but was apprehensive to join the Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
film industry, because he believed in a different image of Bollywood—one with romance and drama. "I went for the audition of the movie Pankh. Director told me about the demands of the role. I told it to my parents and they heard the story from the director Sudipto. They gave me green signal to act in the movie. [...] Nude scene and scene of an onscreen kiss with a boy are very essential in the movie. It’s very hard to imagine the story without these scenes.” Rebello was impressed by the script and accepted the role. The film is reportedly based on the case of child actor Ahsaas Channa
Ahsaas Channa
Ahsaas Channa is a child actor in India. She used to play the role of Ganga Walia before Priya Bathija took the role in Zee TV's Kasamh Se by Ekta Kapoor. She was a contestant in Zee TV's Ek Se Badhkar Ek. She has acted as a boy in movies such as Aryan, My Friend Ganesha, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna...
, who is apparently a girl passed off as a boy in movies like Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna commonly known as KANK is a 2006 Bollywood film directed by Karan Johar and produced under the Dharma Productions banner...
and Vaastu Shastra. The film highlights the common practice in the Indian film industry of casting children in roles contrary to their natural genders.
Rebello played the character of a 20-year old boy named Jerry, who used to act in girl roles when he was young. Chattophadhay said, "Jerry's character is very complex. The film shows him as a famous child artiste. He cross-dressed as a girl for his roles and is confused about his identity. There is also a song in the film where he fantasizes about Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu
Bipasha Basu is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Bollywood films. A former model, she was the winner of the Ford's Godrej Cinthol Supermodel contest in 1996.-Early life:...
seducing him, creating confusion in his mind about his real identity." During shooting, Rebello was embarrassed about his nude scenes in front of actors Lilette Dubey and his kissing scene with another man. About his experiences while shooting Pankh, Rebello said, "When we shot the nude scene, the crew was kept to a minimum. But I was in safe hands at the end of the day. I never imagined that my debut would be in the form of Pankh. I am blessed. I also feel that if Pankh would've come immediately after Dev.D, it could've worked better. But this is the right time for it to make it to the cinemas."
Pankh was released on 2 April 2010 and received negative reviews. Taran Adarsh
Taran Adarsh
Taran Adarsh is an Indian film critic, journalist, editor and film trade analyst. He is also a former producer and screenwriter. He is the son of film director and producer, B.K. Adarsh....
from Bollywood Hungama
Bollywood Hungama
Bollywood Hungama is a leading Bollywood entertainment website, owned by hungama.com....
said, "Frankly, Pankh made no sense to me and at the end of the screening, I only felt sorry for myself since I wasted two precious hours of my life on something that wasn't worth it. Talking of performances, Maradona Rebello tries hard to look convincing." After the film, Rebello signed another project—titled Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyon—where plays the role of a man who has an affair with his gay brother’s wife. Rebello said, "I can't reveal much about the part. But I got to work with screen divas like Zeenat Aman
Zeenat Aman
Zeenat Aman is an Indian actress who has appeared in Hindi films, notably in the 1970s and 1980s. She was the second runner up in the Miss India Contest and went on to win the Miss Asia Pacific in 1970...
and Helen. Not bad for my second film." The film was directed by Sanjay Sharma and written by his brother Kapil Sharma who also played the lead. It premiered in April 2010 at India's first mainstream Gay Film Festival and the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival. Featuring the first gay kiss in Indian cinema, Dunno Y has Aman performing the song "Aap Jaise Koi" from her 1980 film Qurbani
Qurbani (1980 film)
Qurbani is a 1980 Indian Bollywood movie. The word "qurbani" means "sacrifice" in English. Produced and directed by Feroz Khan . The film stars Feroz Khan, Vinod Khanna, Zeenat Aman, Amjad Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Aruna Irani, Amrish Puri and Kadar Khan...
. Dunno Y was also selected for screening at the New York Film Festival
New York Film Festival
The New York Film Festival has been a major film festival since it began in 1963 in New York. The films are selected by the Film Society of Lincoln Center...
in September 2010.
Dunno Y was released in November 2010, and received geenrally mixed reviews. Rajiv Vijaykar from Indian Express felt that "The sequences between the gay lovebirds are sensitively yet boldly handled and director Sanjay Sharma deserves a pat for evoking some amount of sympathy for homosexuals at a time when the legalities were different in India–the film is set in 2008. Yuvraaj and especially Kapil are very effective as the lovers. But the film has several flaws, most of them avoidable. For one, the main issue is diluted too much with the politics within the family, and the issue of the errant father serves no purpose." Subhash K. Jha, while writing for Bollywood Hungama
Bollywood Hungama
Bollywood Hungama is a leading Bollywood entertainment website, owned by hungama.com....
, commented that "While the explicit gay love-making sequences are done with a bravado that's more corny than candid a sub-plot about the gay protagonist's torrid affair with her brother-in-law (Maradona Rebello) has potential. But by the time the Neglected Wife and the in house toy boy get into a shower together the passion and the pain of a family on the edge, have all been washed away."
Influences
Rebello used to be in dramatics in school and did modelling while he was in college. Hence, he was associated with the world of acting and stardom from a young age. His primary influences have been actors Shahrukh KhanShahrukh Khan
Shahrukh Khan , often credited as Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, as well as a film producer and television host. Often referred to as "the King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films....
and Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan
Amitabh Bachchan is an Indian film actor. He first gained popularity in the early 1970s as the "angry young man" of Hindi cinema, and has since appeared in over 180 Indian films in a career spanning more than four decades...
. His other inspirations are Mexican actor Gael García Bernal
Gael García Bernal
Gael García Bernal is a Mexican film actor and director.-Early life:García Bernal was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, the son of Patricia Bernal, an actress and former model, and José Ángel García, an actor and director. His stepfather is Sergio Yazbek, whom his mother married when García Bernal was...
and Hollywood actors Leonardo Di Caprio and Jude Law
Jude Law
David Jude Heyworth Law , known professionally as Jude Law, is an English actor, film producer and director.He began acting with the National Youth Music Theatre in 1987, and had his first television role in 1989...
.