Tena Desae, the Indian crossover star of the year, is all set to star opposite the `Slumdog Millionaire` star Dev Patel in John Madden`s `The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel`.
"I would love to work in both the industries - Hollywood and Bollywood. I am greedy for both Hollywood and Bollywood. For me, Bollywood is not new as it is something that I grow up on...I know the plot... stories and characters that are written and made. I haven`t got the right opportunity to show my work in Bollywood," Tena told PTI.
Tena, who was seen in Hindi films like `Yeh Faasle` and `Sahi Dhandhe Galat Bandhe`, insists that marketing a film is very much important today.
"I learnt a lot from the two films - `Yeh Faasle` and `Sahi Dhandhe Galat Bandhe`. What I did here in a way helped me in my first Hollywood venture. I don`t regret doing those films as it helped me in a way in clearing the auditions and getting this film. But I did learn that a strong and effective marketing strategy is needed today," Tena said.
"I did realise that how important marketing and promotions are today. The two Hindi movies that I did were not marketed well and so not many people came to watch the film, hence the audience doesn`t know much about me. I am a newcomer and I cannot sell a film on my own. There has to be a backing in terms of producers. The role and the script are not the only factor to chose or do a film but the names associated with the project also matters," she said.
`The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel` is a British comedy-drama directed by John Madden. The film is based on the2004 novel, `These Foolish Things`, by Deborah Moggach. The film features an ensemble cast, with Judi Dench, Dev Patel, Celia Imrie, Bill Nighy, Ronald Pickup, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson and Penelope Wilton, as a group of British retirees staying in an ancient retirement hotel in India.
"The film is about a bunch of British retirees, who travel to India to spend their retirement years. They decide to take up a residence in what they believe is the newly restored Marigold Hotel. But it is seemingly less luxurious than the advertisements, the hotel starts surprising the guests in an unexpected manner," Tena said.
"I play Sunaina, who is one of the important characters among the stalwart casts. I play Dev Patel`s i.e. Sunny`s love interest. I am trying to deal with friction from Sunny`s mother, who opposes our marriage," she said.
The film was released in the UK in February this year, and it is schedule to release in India this Friday.