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Working in Bollywood has been an interesting experience.  Today I worked on a Nokia commercial with none other than Sharhrukh Khan, said to be the most recognized face around the globe.  Cast and crew were called on set at 7 am.  Upon arrival we were taken on set and rehearsed what we would be doing.  The different scenes ranging from living room, train station, club, and cafe were all scheduled for the day and all located inside of the soundstage. Shahrukh Khan arrived on set around 11 am.  Before he arrived there was a buzz in the crowd, whispers rang though the set… Shahrukh is almost here, Shahrukh is here.  All production stopped once he arrived.  Ok, not all production.  The director, the DP, the grips, lighting crew and cast all kept working, everybody else came to set and just stared at Shahrukh.  Everybody else included: costuming, hair, make-up, catering, security, assistants and many others I had know idea what they did.

We shot the scenes and moved along.  Between shots Shahrukh Khan would sit between his four bodyguards, chain smoke and drink something out of his mug. Eyes always looking to the ground.  With the 98% of the people on set starring at him I don’t think he had a choice.

We had no interruptions and quickly moved through the different sets where we did different task from dancing in a night club to lounging at a Paris coffee shop (I played guitar on that set).

It was a fun shoot and a really interesting experience being on set with Shahrukh Khan to witness what he goes through onset, which can only be multiplied hundreds of times off set.  One more example of the difference between working in the United States vs India.