Dev Patel Says He 'Tripled Down' on His Indian Heritage in “Monkey Man” After Feeling 'Ashamed' of It Growing Up

"When you're in school in greater London it's not the coolest,” the 'Monkey Man' star told Kelly Clarkson of his culture during his childhood

Dev Patel was determined to make his Indian heritage a big influence in his new film.

Appearing on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Monday, April 8, the actor, 33, admitted that he “tripled down” on his culture in his directorial debut Monkey Man after feeling “ashamed” of it during his childhood.

"There was a time in my life where I was ashamed of the Indian part of my heritage; when you're in school in greater London it's not the coolest,” he told host Clarkson, 41.

“I [was] doing everything I can not to show that part and then going and shooting films like Slumdog [Millionaire] and doing all these other movies … I realized actually that with the first movie I'm going to direct, I'm not just going to double down, I'm going to triple down on the culture,” he continued, adding, “We're all the underdogs of our own story, everyone is, to an extent. For me, I want to take all the ugly bits and the vibrant bits."

Patel, who grew up in Harrow, north London, also explained how the action thriller was inspired by Indian mythology and a story told to him by his father Raj, who along with Patel’s mother Anita is from Kenya and of Gujarati Indian descent.

Related: Dev Patel Says He Broke His Hand While Filming Monkey Man: 'My Hand Was Like an Elephant’s Foot'

“He’s [his father] got this little chain around his neck with this monkey holding a mountain in one hand … He told me this story of Indian mythology and Hanuman [a Hindu deity]. If you go to a gym in India you’ll see Arnold Schwarzenegger and Hanuman,” explained Patel. “He represents nobility and courage and strength but also in one of the old stories he’s someone that forgot who he was, he lost confidence in himself and that for me was an interesting art for an action movie of not someone who has the perfect quips for each occasion and someone you don’t think is going to win.”

“I just wanted to create the film that young Dev always wanted to see,” continued Patel.

Related: Dev Patel and Tilda Cobham-Hervey Make Their Red Carpet Debut as a Couple at Monkey Man Premiere

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In Monkey Man, Patel stars as an anonymous young man who "unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless," according to its synopsis on IMBd.

The Lion star also co-wrote the film, while it was produced by actor and comedian Jordan Peele. 

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