Upen Patel rolls up sleeve for 'action roles'

New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) Model-turned-actor Upen Patel is all set to take Bollywood by storm with his macho skills, and feels action roles would be "ideal" for him.

"I don't mind playing any kind of roles, but I think action roles will be ideal for me," said Upen, who has already signed six films.

In debut film "36 China Town", a thriller directed by director duo Abbas-Mastan, Upen says he is playing "a stylish guy". "He has this knack for arriving at a wrong place at the wrong time and that makes him the prime suspect in the film."

Upen confessed he didn't have to struggle much for the role.

"I got a call from Subhash Ghai. He said he is making a film and wants to launch a new star. He had seen my modelling work and felt I have the potential to be a star. I fell in love with the story and instantly said yes."

And yet another clotheshorse left the catwalk for the silver screen.

Admitting that modelling has become a stepping-stone to films for models, he said: "We have no godfather. We are not celebrity sons either. Modelling gives us a visibility and we get noticed. It definitely helps us to enter films."

"I have a role parallel to that of Akshay Kumar in 'Namaste London'. I am glad that the industry has accepted me with open arms," said Upen, who has signed on Suniel Darshan's next venture and Vipul Shah's "Namaste London" with Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif.

Excited about his first release, he said: "I am all set for my debut with '36 China Town'. I am looking forward to the release."

Understandably, he is all praise for his benefactors. "I owe a lot to Subhash-ji and Abbas-Mastan. They have been extremely supportive. No matter what I'll achieve, I'll always be thankful to Subhash-ji."

Click the Movie button below for more info:
36 China Town