Bollywood Stars Who Went On To Shine In Hollywood Films

Humorous and graceful, Mr. Kumar Pallana was a well-known actor in Hollywood films. Though he did not appear in major roles, whatever parts he were given in his movie career, he pulled them off brilliantly and left his mark amid the presence of several big names from the industry. He was said have stolen every scene he featured in. Some of his most notable films include ‘Bottle Rocket’ (1996), ‘Rushmore’ (1998) and ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ (2001) ‘Bomb the System’ (2002) and ‘Another Earth’ (2011). Born in Indore on Dec. 23, 1918, Pallana breathed his last at his home in Oakland, Calif on 10^th October, 2013.

Known for decades as Kumar Of India, Pallana was the third of nine children. He resided in the US since the 1940s. He made his screen debut as an extra in American westerns of the early 1950s. He was owner of an Indian restaurant, Cosmic Cup (now Cosmic Cafe) in Dallas, Texas. Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson used to go to his restaurant often. Anderson roped in him in ‘Bottle Rocket’, ‘Rushmore’, ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’, and ‘The Darjeeling Limited’. Besides acting, Pallana also impressed the audience with plate-spinning, balancing acts and swordplay, featuring on an array of shows including “Captain Kangaroo” and “The Mickey Mouse Club.” His other films include ‘Duplex’ (2003), ‘Romance & Cigarettes’ (2005), and ‘10 Items or Less’ (2006).