 The mainstream film industry in America is opening new doors for South Asian talent.Sit up and take note. South Asians are making inroads into Hollywood. From acting to direction, music, writing, cinematography and technical credits, South Asian talent is headed for Hollywood. No more stereotyped roles of taxi drivers or store clerks for South Asians. Now they share the limelight with their Hollywood co-stars in mainstream cinema. Indian Directors like Gurinder Chaddha and Mira Nair have wooed the Western audiences with poignant narratives highlighting the South Asian culture. Hollywood has recognised the star power of several British/American actors of Indian descent who are considered not foreign but as one of their own. Dev Patel of Slum Dog Millionaire fame, actor turned politico Kal Penn (Kalpen Suresh Modi) popularly known as ‘Kumar' of Harold and Kumar slacker comedies, Asif Mandvi (Spiderman 2, The Mystic Masseur) and Naveen Andrews (Provoked, Bride & Prejudice, GrindHouse) have developed great fan followings in America.
The South Asians have been working in Hollywood for some time but the opportunities to rise and shine have come their way fairly recently. One wonders what factors have prompted this broadening of Hollywood horizon for them? These are not the best of times for Hollywood. It is grappling with the impact of the global economic slowdown while and struggling hard to fill the production and talent vacuum created by writers' strikes.
Paradoxically, this spells good news for South Asians. To maintain a decent flow of finances, Hollywood has opened doors to foreign investments. The recent collaboration between Reliance Group and DreamWorks is a breakthrough for South Asia. The collaboration of Hollywood and Indian film companies has led to a spurt in South Asian origin executives in leading entertainment organisations as well. Korn/Ferry International, the world's largest executive search firm, in recognition of the work of South Asians in Hollywood, announced the US listing of its 25 most influential South Asian Executives in the Entertainment and Media Industry.
The famous entertainment database company, The Ulmer Scale, has released a top 10 list of South Asia's most bankable stars worldwide. Dev Patel, star of Slumdog Millionaire, tops the list. This is a whopping recognition of the South Asian star power by Hollywood's movers and shakers.
Hollywood's South Asian affair does not end here. Reports say that Hollywood is outsourcing more and more special effects to India as they are 40 percent cheaper than the US. According to Business Week, India's Tata Elxsi is opening its first visual effects studio in Los Angeles as part of a growing effort by Indian production companies to capitalize on shrinking Hollywood budgets. The time is not far away when South Asian skilled force will be doing special effects for high-end Hollywood projects.
There is good news for Pakistan as well. Mir Zafar Ali, a Pakistani visual effects specialist working in Hollywood, won the 2008 Special Effects Oscar for ‘The Golden Compass', starring Nicole Kidman and "Bond" man Daniel Craig. The film also bagged a Special Effects BAFTA Award.
It would be grossly unfair to say that Hollywood's financial woes are the only reason South Asians have made it big in US cinema. Hollywood's love for diverse cast and unique stories has also helped South Asians in carving a niche for themselves. In the end it's always the talent that shines through. The South Asian artists are highly talented and the West is simply acknowledging this fact and giving them the status they rightfully deserve.
Bollywood superstar Aiswairya Rai has become a Hollywood sweetheart, delighting her global audience with blockbuster movies like Pink Panther2, The Last Legion, Provoked, Mistress of the Spices and Bride& Prejudice, each featuring her in lead role.
Strings, the famous pop-band of Pakistan has developed a true international appeal. Their major Hollywood breakthrough came in 2004 when Columbia TrStar Films of India, the sister concern of Columbia Records, included their song ‘Najaney Kiyun' In the soundtrack of the Urdu version of epic Hollywood blockbuster Spiderman.
Another feather in the South Asian diaspora's cap is casting of Pakistani actor Faran Tahir as Captain Robau in the recent box office hit Star Trek.
The work done by South Asians is winning accolades from Western critics and this enriching journey of cultural fusion will create a new breed of global artists who will capture the imagination of global audiences. 
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