His trip to India early this year with wife Deborra-Lee Furness seems to have clawed its way into his heart, as actor Hugh Wolverine Jackman, who says he took back “lots of love, warmth and good memories” from the country, is yearning to visit again.
“It (the India trip) was fantastic.Deborra and I visited Jaipur and it was beautiful. We enjoyed our brief stay in India and would love to visit again,” says the 42-year-old, who also shook a leg with actors Shah Rukh Khan and Vidya Balan to some Bollywood dance numbers during his trip to Mumbai in March.
Jackman also met actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and was bowled over by the kindness of Bollywood stars. “It was great; despite being big stars in India, they were extremely humble and kind,” says the actor, who now wants to act in Bollywood movies.“Definitely! I am looking forward to working in Bollywood films … There are many actors including me who are willing to work in Hindi cinema … Bollywood is huge, and extremely popular over here,” says Jackman, who has watched SRK-starrer My Name Is Khan and “loved it”.
The actor-producer is also happy with the rising potential of international cinema in India. “The Indian market has definitely grown over the years for Hollywood films. Films like Slumdog Millionaire, Avatar etc did extremely well in the country. It has become an important market with huge consumption for Hollywood films,” he says.Voted People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive a few years ago, Jackman will be now seen in robot boxing sci-fi film Real Steel, that hits Indian screens on Friday. He hopes Indian audiences “like and appreciate it as much as X-Men.”
Hugh stuff
Full name: Hugh Michael Jackman
Age: 42
Debut: TV: Law of the Land (1994); Film: Paperback Hero (1999)
Known for: X-Men series, Kate & Leopold, Van Helsing, The Prestige
Latest flick: Real Steel
Spouse: Deborra-Lee Furness
Kids: Oscar Maximillian, 11; Ava Eliot, 6
Hugh’s self-designed wedding ring bears the Sanskrit inscription 'Om paramar mainamar’, meaning ‘we dedicate our union to a greater source’.
