Nicolas Cage: “I Want To Make A Movie In India”

Face-Off, Con-Air, Gone in 60 Seconds… odds are a man’s list of all time favourite movies will have a Nicolas Cage movie on it. So it really doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why we would jump at the chance of an interview.

When FHM meets one of its favourite Hollywood actors for all time what happens? You’d reckon some smashing conversation, some rounds of beer followed by body shots? Yeah. That didn’t happen, but we still managed to chat with him about his motorsports career and certifiably insane fans.

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What is the weirdest thing a fan has said to you?

I was in Romania, which is near Transylvania and there was this woman jumping up in the air and trying to bite me on my neck. She really made me nervous and then she came to the airport with her passport in her hand thinking that she was going to board the plane with me. That was crazy!

That is pretty nuts. But have you ever thought about what you’d do if you were not an actor?

My first love is the ocean, I knew that if I was not going to make it as an actor I had to do something on the water, whether it was a be a fisherman or be a merchant marine on the boat, I just wanted to be on water and may be like Herman Melville writing the great ‘Moby Dick’, or try to fantasise that I could be like that great writer – that of course is probably stretching it.

Would you have ever thought about taking up a sport?

Well, I do enjoy motor sports, I used to race a little bit out of Villa Springs, California and I think if I was in any kind of sport it would be car on a motorboat racing. Which is also one of the reasons I was very happy to launch the new Audi A8L. The second was that I grew up with an Audi in my family. My grandfather had an Audi and I have great memories in that car with my granddad, so I am very happy to do this.

If given the chance where would you drive it?

In Mumbai no doubt. I want to be seen through the streets of Mumbai in this car and I have already got my colour picked out!

But since the motorsports career is not happening, you can tell us how your cinema career kicked off.

Well, it all began when I saw James Dean in a movie East of Eden, directed by Elia Kazan. I was 15, and I realised the power of film performance and had no doubt in my mind that is exactly what I wanted to do. Then I went off and worked in a movie theatre, I sold popcorn and tickets and I looked at the movies, and then I thought about how am I going go from this – to that. Thankfully it all worked out.

Were there any other role models apart from James Dean?

I loved Marlon Brando my father took me to see Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon when I was a child and that was amazing. I have had a lot of influences.

Did you also have multiple mentors?

Sean Connery was a great mentor for me when we were doing ‘The Rock’. I used to walk with him to the sets and refer to him as ‘Maestro’ and ‘Sir Michael Caine’. So, I have had some great people to work with.

Do you have a favourite co-star?

I can’t pick one to be honest. I loved working with Sean, I loved working with Angelina and I loved working with Joaquin Phoenix. Come to think of it I have been blessed to work with some really talented people.

So, which is your favourite movie outside of a Nicolas Cage movie?

I am still amazed by what Stanley Kubrick was able to accomplish with 2001 back in those days. I mean you still look at the movie now; it is just like virtual reality, what he could do with the technology then, just blows my mind.

And was there a movie you have had the most amount of fun shooting?

I made this movie years ago with Sarah Jessica Parker called Honeymoon in Vegas and we were in a beautiful part of Hawaii, Kauai and then we went to Las Vegas and we all had a very good time and I think that was the most fun I ever had shooting a movie.

But you are known for action, so the Nicolas Cage we see jumping over cars and firing bullets is he the real deal or a stunt double?

I try to do all my stunts as far as possible – well as many as the studio will let me do. There are some stunts they just do not want any actor to do because they want you to finish their movie as they have got a lot invested in it. But I try to do all my stunts. So, when you do go to see one of my movies, it is most often me doing those things.

Have you heard much about Indian cinema?

Well, I do want to make a movie in India and do the dance where they change the light bulb. I like changing light bulbs and petting puppies. They are my favourite things to do!

Nicolas Cage, in a Bollywood movie. Yes, or No?

Unequivocally yes, I want to make a movie in India and I want to have that experience and I want to see what great Indian director can do with me and what I do in terms of performance and I want to have an experience being in the culture and being in the place, I am sure that would inspire me. I just needed to be invited, so all you young filmmakers out there and older filmmaker, just give me a call. I fly down to do a movie with you.

Any plans to come down to India in the near future even just for a visit or for a holiday?

Well, I must and it is something that I haven’t had a chance to do yet, I came close I almost did a movie called Darjeeling Limited, my cousin wrote the script for it along with Wes Anderson. I think I might just go on a holiday with my family, I think that would be the best way for me to go for the first time.

What would you want to see?

Well, I want to see all of it, I want to experience all of it. The magic of India, the culture and learn something and of course all the food is divine, I love the lamb, the naan bread and the tikka and yes I am very passionate about Indian food.

Nicolas Cage was present to launch the Audi A8 L in Dubai.

From the June 2014 issue of FHM India.