From Valencia to Bollywood: Could Enrique Arce win Indian hearts too? |
Met Enrique Arce, who plays Arturo, antagonist of Money Heist, and figured, this actor’s gotta be in Bollywood...
Enrique Arce at the International Film Festival of Delhi. PIC/PTI
In a world so deeply connected, I kinda find it surprising when the Spanish actor, Enrique Arce, 53, tells me he only heard of Zoya Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD, 2011), once he flew down to India.
It’s a road movie that’s packed more desi flights to Spain than anything we know! Also, Enrique’s from Valencia, closest town from Bunol, where the iconic Tomatina festival in ZNMD, and in real life, takes place.
How do we know Enrique? As Arturo Roman, manager of the Royal Mint of Spain, where eight robbers with aliases after cities (Rio, Oslo, etc) break in, to hold 19 people hostage, in the Spanish series, La Casa De Papel (2017-21).
It’s one of the world’s most watched series (on Netflix), titled Money Heist. Because, as Enrique says, ‘House of Paper’ from Spanish, wouldn’t translate well!
For what felt like commentary on capitalism, it’s the thieves on the show, with a strong moral-code, who come across as heroes — while Arturo, the sly, self-centred corporate dude, is the villain of Money Heist!
What are movies/series, if not alternate reality. Wherein audiences immerse themselves enough to start confusing characters with actors, and heaping so much love on the latter. That explains stardom.........