Amitash Pradhan excited about Hollywood debut

Actor Amitash Pradhan has landed a plum role in the upcoming dance-based film "Heartbeats", which will be directed by writer of "Step Up" franchise Duane Adler.

"I'm really excited about this project. We start shooting from January 2016," Amitash, who is currently undergoing a workshop for the film in Mumbai, told IANS.

Recalling how he landed the role, the actor, known for playing the baddie in Dhanush-starrer Tamil actioner "Vella Illa Pattathari", said: "I had sent my dance and acting clip to Nalini Ratnam (casting director), who further sent it to the production team. Then I went to Mumbai and gave eight to nine screen tests and auditioned for the role".

Calling it a "Bollywood meets hip-hop" kind of dance film, he said he feels extremely honoured to be training with the best dancers in the business.

"It's such an honour to be associated with choreographers such as Tessandra Chavez and Shampa Gopikrishna, who had worked in 'Bajirao Mastani'," he added.

To be shot in and around India, the film is about a female American hip-hop dancer who travels to India for a wedding and falls in love with a man who introduces her to Indian style of dancing.

The film is being produced by Sriram Das and Karine Martin. Streaming service Dance Network has also partnered with Das on this project.