Search the Internet          Tips

He's the Guru of Sex

Nirshan Perera

Jimi Mistry, who played one of Om Puri's sons in the hit comedy drama, East Is East, plays the male lead in Guru of Sex, based on a story idea by Shekar Kapur who will also be the movie's co producer.

The movie, scheduled to be shot in New York starting mid April, will be directed by Daisy Mayer whose movies include the hit comedy, Matilda.

The new movie follows the adventures of a young man who comes to America in search of opportunities, wealth and limelight.

But circumstances challenge his dream, and he ends up being a guru who teaches tantric yoga. Female leads are played by the Oscar winner Marisa Tomei and Heather Graham.The movie is being made by Working Title, the British firm whose hits include Elizabeth, directed by Kapur. Miramax is expected to release Guru of Sex in America.

Mistry, who plays Dr. Fonseca on the popular British TV series, East Enders, recently finished filming The Mystic Masseur, Ismail Merchant's latest movie.

He spent the past two months shuttling back and forth between his cold flat in London and the sunny Caribbean island of Trinidad, where most of the film was shot. Based on a V.S. Naipaul novel, the movie follows the rise of an ambitious schoolteacher from poor obscurity to political fame.

Aasif Mandvi stars as the lead character, Ganesh, with Ayesha Dharker as his doting wife and Om Puri as a cantankerous father-in-law. Mistry plays the part of Pratap, Ganesh's protégé who also pulls the story together as the narrator.

"I like doing as much good work as I can," Mistry says. "find it kind of difficult doing work just because it's going to be a huge film. Essentially the story and the script are at the heart of the decisions that I make."

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report