With the impressive rags-to-riches underdog story of Slumdog Millionaire finally etched in Oscar’s history books, attention can now turn to what’s next for the film’s two breakout stars, Dev Patel and Freida Pinto. It’s no secret the success of Slumdog Millionaire — eight Oscars and nearly $100 million and counting at the box office — and the glow from the awards season spotlight has been good for their careers. Patel nabbed Jesse McCartney’s role in M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender, and now it looks like Pinto has landed a juicy role of her own: She’ll be costarring with Josh Brolin and Anthony Hopkins in Woody Allen’s next film. (Not the one with Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood, called Whatever Works, which is due this summer.) The role is a major coup for Pinto, considering Allen has directed many actors to Oscar glory, with Vicky Cristina Barcelona’s Penélope Cruz being the latest example.
Both actors made their feature film debut in Slumdog Millionaire, so to have follow-up projects as high-profile as these definitely bodes well for each of them. But I have a feeling Pinto may emerge with the better career –- she’s been absolutely stunning on every red carpet, and will be working with a director who Cruz said in her acceptance speech has "written over all these years some of the greatest characters for women." Pinto seems to be in much better hands than Patel (lest we forget that Shyamalan’s last film was, indeed, The Happening), even though Allen has been hit-or-miss this decade. But then, Patel is just 18 years old (Pinto is 24), and has been nothing but gracious and infectious in nearly every interview I’ve seen, particularly during this charming red carpet encounter with Anne Hathaway. And charm — on top of acting chops — certainly goes a long way.
What do you think, PopWatchers? Who is destined for the better career –- Patel or Pinto (or, gasp, neither)? Or is it written that both will become big stars? And isn’t it about time actors of Indian descent achieve true megastardom?
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He will rock as Zuko. And he is a fine actor. Sky’s the limit for this kid. She seems to be on her way as well.
Seriously? I can’t believe EW is doing this, especially considering the rumors they’re dating. Or, who am I kidding, it’s because of the rumors they’re dating, isn’t it? Crass, EW. Why not write something about great things from the both of them? Or are you scrambling that much for more post-Oscar stories? I expected better, though I’m beginning to wonder why.
Pinto hands down.
I think both will go on to have long successful careers, but they’re probably at the height of their stardom now
I kind of think that Dev will have the better career. Pinto has a good opportunity to show what she can do in her next movie, but she really didn’t have too much to do in Slumdog so the jury is still out on her acting abilities. And I think that her slight Indian accent, despite her exceptional English, could limit the roles she’ll be offered. Patel has a British accent, which will serve him well, and he showed great acting chops in Slumdog. His charming personality won’t hurt either. That said, I hope they BOTH have long, illustrious careers. They both seem like genuinely likable personalities and they are both very easy on the eyes (Frieda might be one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen). Good luck to them and may they represent the color-blind future of Hollywood filmmaking.
Dev Patel is terrific on the BBC show Skins… that’s where I first saw him. I think I remember reading that he got the part in Slumdog because Danny Boyle’s daughter liked him in that, too. He’s hilarious in Skins, I think he has a pretty wide range after seeing him in Slumdog. I think that for both actors it will really depend on what projects they sign on to.
“Or-gasp- neither of them?”
Or maybe, perhaps, (GASP) both of them? I would never think to pit them against each other, they’re male and female leads who wouldn’t be competing in any way.
Sigh.
Internationally they will do well. In London / Europe and Asia. She could be a top model, rep’ing companies like Loreal. That’s what I expect next for her.
I think the obvious answer is Pinto, but I think Patel is going to end up in a lot of interesting stuff. I didn’t like the movie, but I can’t help but like everyone involved (thank God of this season would have turned me violent). Best wishes to both. And to more roles for all minorities in the future as well
um… there are mega-stars who are Indian (see Bachan, Amitabh – and his entire family, really). Just b/c the US doesn’t know who they are doesn’t mean the rest of the world doesn’t either. I am Indian-American, and every time I travel outside the States someone randomly yells the name of a Hindi movie actor – this has happened in Paris, London and even on safari in South Africa. Your question isn’t about mega-stardom, b/c that’s already happened. It’s about acceptance in the States.
“isn’t it about time actors of Indian descent achieve true megastardom”
- that’s kind of an ignorant, typical American mindset. Uh, have you heard of “Bollywood”??? But I guess the only film industry that counts is the one in the USA. They have their megastars out there.
Dev Patel, definitely. He’s shown some range and did remarkably well in Slumdog. I think he’ll go far. Freida – well, I don’t think so highly of her acting skills as I do of her beauty. She may go far too, since she is that *that* beautiful.
They both are so infectiously charming, I hope they both do well.
Nice to see new faces like these instead of the tired, untalented crap from other young “stars”
Freida is a beautiful, beautiful young woman but Slumdog just wasn’t as much of a showcase for her as it was for her costar Dev. And that’ll make the difference between the two and their career. Slumdog is a monster at attracting interest, increasingly so, and Dev’s blunt edginess and emotion are more memorable than Freida’s more wandering Latika. But the two both have extraordinary personalities.
I just hope Freida and Dev do not succumb to cheesy B-grade movies and stereotypical Indian movies (remember Mike Myers and The Love Guru?). I think they could star in a Bobby Jindal biopic, with the Slumdog kids playing their kids.
I agree that Freida Pinto will probably have a better career in the long term–she’s utterly gorgeous, and landing a Woody Allen project is indeed a career-maker (depending on the project…)
As to Dev Patel…now look, I appreciate what Skins was trying to do, but I don’t think it ever really accomplished it. Furthermore, I don’t think Dev’s character really became anything beyond comic relief. He had an interesting storyline involving his issues with Maxxie, but I didn’t feel his acting was particularly strong, even in those potentially meaty scenes. And all signs point to suck for Avatar. So…Dev Patel still needs to prove himself in my book.
((I suppose I should note that I haven’t seen Slumdog yet, but I really want to.))
It’s obvious: Pinto. She’s a hot chick. Hot chicks always become celebrities, even if they’re not talented, which she is.
Patel — I predict he will be the next Ben Kingsley and get great character parts.
Dev has been praised for his acting by Clint Eastwood, and Anthony Hopkins – couple of great actors who recognised his depth in getting into the character he played. Dev does have a incredible careen laid out for him. Now it is up to him what choices he makes along the way, as that will determine how great or not his careen would be.
Frieda on other hand, had a small part in Slimdog, and while played very well, it remains to be seen whether she has what it takes to be a magastar. Freida is smart and learns quickly. So I am sure, she will be making good choices in her life and take her career as high she wants to take it.
Both have potential and the road is open to them. Dev is still young.. he has another 6 yr to catch up on Freida in life experiences.
On reading through comments here, it never amazes me to find some thinkers with closed mind, whom I would prefer to be not wasting valueable webspace, but as they say the world needs all of us. So to them, good to read your views.
Beautiful women of any ethnicity can make it, but an Indian leading man in Hollywood films. I don’t think we’re there yet.
I think Dev Patel will have a much more successful career. I thought Freida Pinto’s was the weakest performance in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’.
I am very happy for the Slumdog Millionaire win. I am still unsure of his role as Zuko in the upcoming film The Last Airbender. It’s very curious that when interviewed by Larry King and recently on the Red Carpet, Dev did not mention his part in The Last Airbender even though he was asked what projects were in his future.
I think people have underestimated Dev Patel all along. Nobody seems to have thought he’d be the Skins cast member to make it big. Yet here he is, having acted admirably in a film in a crazy place like Mumbai, and partly in Hindi, a language he didn’t really speak. He’s a very funny guy, and would be marvellous in a comedy.
That said, Frieda should do well too, since her next gig is a Woody Allen flick.
They will do well internationally… but probably not so well here. We only recently annointed a black guy as the biggest movie star in the world, and look how long that took!
Just saying that minorities really do struggle in Hollywood…. seriously! We are all still waiting on another leading black actress that’s not Halle Berry or Beyonce!
First off, what a great article! This is exactly what I want to see! Thank you! Secondly, I think both performers were fantastic in Slumdog Millionaire, but Patel shined brighter in my mind. Pinto wasn’t featured as heavily as he was, and I think he has more range. He can play the horny teenager (TV’s Skins) and now a deeply affected, multidimensional young man. Patel’s attitude in life (being so witty, as well as gracious, in interviews) made his dark and sometimes quiet performance in Slumdog Millionare even better in my eyes.
Jeez, what a kind of mean spirited article! Can’t we just wish them both a best of luck to their future successes?
Why can’t both of them become stars? Why does one have to “beat” the other one in star status? They’re both awesome – I’m sure they will both do well in their own way.
I would prefer Patel to make it big, since Pinto’s performance was the weakest by far in Slumdog. Then again, it was a small part, and maybe Allen can get something out of her.
That being said, I wish them both well. And yes, it is time for a South Asian actor to make it big in the States. All we have so far is Kal Penn. We need more!
Let’s see, Pinto’s doing a Woody Allen film and Patel’s doing a Shyamalan flick. Hmmmmmm, I’m gonna say Pinto’s career will be better because it’ll last through next year.
Well he’s actually got acting talent whereas she is just a pretty face. So logic dictates that Freida will probably have the better career.