Iranian-American director-writer Ramin Bahrani is making headlines for his Netflix film, The White Tiger. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film but that hasn't deterred naysayers from passing comments on him. Recently, Ramin was subjected to racist comments by a man on the streets in the US. Talking to an international magazine, the filmmaker revealed that the incident took place last week when he was doing a Zoom Q&A with The White Tiger executive producer Ava DuVernay.
"I was in Atlanta on location in a residential neighbourhood directing a TV pilot for Apple. We had worked late that day, so I had to do my Zoom interview with Ava on my phone while we were still in the street. During the interview, I noticed a car parked behind me. When the driver saw me and my colleague (who is South Asian) he said, 'You all think you run the world. You all don't run s---.' His friend told him to calm down and leave it alone. As the driver pulled away, he shouted, 'Go back to your own country!" Ramin revealed.
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Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who played the female lead in The White Tiger, has jumped to Ramin's support. Reacting to the incident, Priyanka told the magazine, "Asking me about my thoughts on what happened to Ramin is a sign of where we stand today, and the work we have to continue to do. So my question in response is - who belongs here, and who doesn't? Isn't America a melting pot of all people from all backgrounds? This country was built on the back of immigrants in search of the American dream, a life of freedom, opportunity, and a safe place not only for themselves but for their families."
Ava, who saw the incident take place, said, "Ramin was very calm. Very matter of fact. Which saddened me. It was as if he was used to that type of treatment. Being the ultimate professional, he suggested we proceed with the interview."
(Source: People Magazine)
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