Back in 1997, Bollywood’s OG Kancha Cheena went global, sharing the screen with Brad Pitt in 'Seven Years in Tibet'!
Danny Denzongpa is the Bollywood villain we "love to hate" - of course, only on screen. As an actor, he is insanely brilliant with his commanding screen presence. From the ruthless Kancha Cheena in 'Agneepath' to the menacing Chatur Singh Chita in 'Krantiveer' to the cold-blooded Katya in 'Ghatak: Lethal' and more - he has successfully made the evil look cool on screen! And unlike many others, he doesn't need to shout consistently to dominate the screen. His icy stare and calm, piercing voice do the job effortlessly.
A recipient of several accolades, including the Padma Shri, Denzongpa has appeared in hundreds of Hindi films besides a few Bengali, Nepali, and Tamil films. Not just Indian cinema; he has gone all the way to Hollywood as well. And guess what? He has acted alongside Brad Pitt!
The celebrated actor turns 77 today. On this occasion, let's take a trip back to 1997 when Denzongpa went global with an American biographical drama.
'Seven Years in Tibet', directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, is based on Austrian mountaineer and Schutzstaffel (SS) sergeant Heinrich Harrer's 1952 memoir of the same name. The film explores Harrer's experience in Tibet between 1944 and 1951.
Hollywood legend Brad Pitt played the lead role in the film. And Danny Denzongpa portrayed Regent to the child Dalai Lama. His character serves as a force to be reckoned with in the Tibetan government amidst the threat of foreign invasion. His performance captured the gravitas beautifully, receiving enormous love from critics and audiences alike.
(Credit: Rotten Tomatoes Classic Trailers)
Speaking about his role in that film, the veteran actor shared in an interview with India Today, "It was not a lengthy role but it was a strong and lovely character. There was a dignity about the ruler...”
'Seven Years in Tibet' premiered on September 13, 1997, at the 1997 Toronto International Film Festival, and was released theatrically on October 8, 1997, in the United States and Canada. The film grossed $37,957,682 domestically and $93,500,000 overseas with an overall box office gross of $131,457,682.
It received mixed reviews from critics. Roger Ebert, one of the world's most renowned film critics of all time, wrote, "... 'Seven Years in Tibet' is an ambitious and beautiful movie with much to interest the patient viewer, but it makes the common mistake of many films about travelers and explorers: It is more concerned with their adventures than with what they discover."
Brad Pitt, Seven Years in Tibet (1997). pic.twitter.com/883imrPZ5T
— Cine Argy (@CineArgy) November 16, 2024
(Credit: Cine Argy)
The film - 'Seven Years in Tibet' - was supposed to be shot in India. However, due to some political reasons, it was eventually shot in Argentina, with some portions shot in Nepal, Austria, and Canada.
After the film's release, the director revealed in an interview that two crews of the film had secretly shot about 20 minutes of footage in Tibet.
If you study Denzongpa's life, you'll realize why he was perfect for his role in 'Seven Years in Tibet'. He is a practicing Buddhist and believes he was a samurai in one of his past lives. His father, Rinzing Yongda, was the head of Pemayangtse, a Red Sect Buddhist monastery in Yuksom (west Sikkim), while two of his elder brothers were lamas for a brief period.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Denzongpa!
