Upen Patel at Bhojpuri film launch

Upen Patel struggles to speak in Hindi. Then what made him turn up at the launch of a Bhojpuri movie? Ask him that and Upen goes on the defensive. "Who says that I cannot communicate in Hindi? Haven't they seen any of my movies? I must say that I am very comfortable when I speak Hindi," he says.
After all, he was invited to the launch. And given the rate at which the Bhojpuri film industry is growing, it was difficult to ignore the offer. "People genuinely wanted me to come for the launch, and hence I have come here. I respect every form of cinema and since Bhojpuri cinema is growing a lot, I wanted to lend my support to it."

Upen's presence excited quite a few local stars at the do. Manoj Tiwari, who is one of the leads in the film, smiled: "I saw posters of Upen in London and was impressed by his popularity. It was only when I returned to India that I discovered he was an Indian actor, that too a star. This is the first time I am meeting him."

Last seen in "Shaka Laka Boom Boom", Upen has recently signed three films with Ashtavinayak productions. Perhaps, stardom in the Bhojpuri film industry beckons Upen now.

-(SAMPURN)