Upen Patel is in Los Angeles brushing up his acting skills

Upen Patel has been away in Los Angeles brushing up on his acting skills.

He has enrolled himself for a refresher course at the Institute of Lee Strasberg Theatre.

Upen is happy to admit, "I am a firm believer that one doesn't stop learning ever and so, am doing this course. You have to clear auditions to get into this course and only if they are impressed, do they pick you for this class. I got in and now I just randomly go for a monthly or a two-month workshop."

Of course, there is the question of how much Upen will really learn by attending a class every now and then. That doesn't seem to bother Patel, "There are 20 students in the class and the classes go on for five hours, seven days of the week. We do specific workshops on improvising, reading of scripts, collective memory etc.

They also teach different techniques and unusual acting skills. I have now decided to go to Lee Strasberg at least twice a year to brush up my acting skills." We are waiting to see the results...

Notable Alumni
Robert DeNiro
Al Pacino
Alec Baldwin
Dennis Hopper
Scarlett Johansson
Matt Damon
Angelina Jolie
Julia Roberts
Ray Ramano
Mickey Rourke
Uma Thurman
Julianne Moore

Other Indian actors who cleared the course
Ritiesh Deshmukh
Ranbir Kapoor

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Upen's African Diwali

For the first time in the last three years, Upen Patel will be able to spend time with his mom during the festival of lights. Upen's mom who lives in London, is presently in the city. He has booked her on a flight to South Africa (where he is going for a shoot) so they could celebrate Diwali together.

Patel says, "I haven't been able to share much time with my mom. In fact, even though she's in India more often than before, I have been very busy with work. However, we are spending Diwali together. Festivals are always family time and I didn't want her to be alone."

Upen is shooting for an ad in South Africa and arranged for Mrs Patel to join him, "She keeps complaining that I don't spend time with her. Now I have got her a ticket and we both will be travelling to Cape Town and then Johannesburg. It will also be an opportunity for me to finish my work and also be with her at the same time."

He adds, "Diwali is special for me, and this year I plan to look at the positive side of life. I am working very hard with the films I have and will be coming up with some good releases next year."

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Malaika Arora Khan, Lara Dutta and Dino Morea at the GQ Magazine launch

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Upen Patel to play Mr. Romeo

Bollywood hunk Upen Patel will finally be seen in a solo hero film titled Mr. Romeo. The film is a romantic comedy, directed by National award nominee Vishal Bhandari.

Upen plays a guy, who is searching for his true love and in the process ends up finding four lovely ladies. He now has to decide on who will be his true love. The four leading ladies are yet to be finalized. Shyam Bajaj is producing the film while Nadeem Shravan composes the music.

Mr. Romeo would be made at a budget of Rs.15 crores and be filmed at locations like Italy, France, Austria, and India.

Upen's next release is Ganesh Acharya's directorial venture, Money Hai Toh Honey Hai where he shares screen space with Govinda, Aftab Shivdasani, Manoj Bajpai, Celina Jaitley and Hansika Motwani. Upen will also be seen in Suneel Darshan's next and Abbas-Mustan's next.

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Zee Cine Awards 2008 - Red Carpet

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Upen shares dancing shoes with the inimitable Govinda

Lately, Upen Patel has been uncharacteristically nervous. "That's because I've been shooting a music video with the one and only Govinda. Can you imagine me just a four-film old newcomer with two left foot doing a jig with the awesome Govinda?" So who says senior can't take to their juniors kindly?

Upen's face lights up as he talks about Govinda's on-camera largesse. "Govinda just adopted me on the sets of Money Hai To Honey Hai. That's the film for which we're currently shooting the promotional music video. The song is a very racy Race kind of dance track by a new duo named Nitish-Soni. I died when I realized I had to dance with Govinda for this song. On top if it, the film's director Ganesh Acharya was the choreographer. Govindaji and Ganeshji have done…like a million films together."

But Govinda made sure Upen was completely comfortable cavorting in combination for the camera. "He guided me through my steps, made sure our styles matched. He's so spontaneous and free-styled while my steps are far more controlled. But you've to see us together for this number. Not for a second does Govinda let me slip up."

Upen is truly appreciative of Govinda especially at a time when stories about the senior star's eccentricities are being circulated. "I find Govinda so normal, down to earth and nurturing. I've had some bad experiences with established actors. But Govinda makes you forget a thousand you-know-whos," Upen laughs without giving anything way.

Subash K. Jha

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"I know who's gunning for me" - Upen Patel

There's a definite design to demolish Upen Patel's reputation. And Upen knows who's behind the smearing schemes. "I'm being made out to be this publicity hungry woman-eating Casanova with nothing better to do than chase skirts. I know exactly who's behind these."

Apparently, a certain section of the industry is determined to hold Upen up for ridicule. Off the record, he names some people who have in some way or other felt slighted threatened or rejected by the actor. "But the truth is I'm not here to take up a panga with anyone. I'm accused of having a temper problem. Fine. But do I display my temper unnecessarily? I got into a situation with the One Two Three director Ashwani Dheer. But did you see how silly I looked in One Two Three, especially when I take my shirt off in the middle of a song, everyone laughed when it wasn't meant to be funny."

Upen takes a deep breath. “I'm accused of being the kiss-and-tell type. Will anyone, even my closest friends, be able to claim I've shared my girlfriend secrets with anyone? I'm not that kind of a guy."

What about the stories of Upen whizzing past Mumbai's fast lanes with Tabu? "Did I call up journalists and say I'm seeing the lady? Did I plant stories of our friendship? No! The next thing I hear Tabu is upset with me, for what? What have I done? Or Tanissha for that matter. I've been shouting from rooftops that I'm single. Will someone please listen to me?"

When other actor's past rares its head it's often an ugly occurrence, But Upen Patel feels he's being hounded for a perfectly normal past….sans hanky panky. "The latest attempt to force me unnecessarily into a corner is a group of pictures featuring me and Deepika Padukone released on the net by someone who has nothing better to do. Now, I'm being accused of leaking out those pictures! What would I gain by doing something so silly? It's not as if they're sleazy pictures. They're part of mine and Deepika's modeling days. We shot the photo-spread for a men's magazine. What's wrong with that? I've shot similar pics with other model-friends like Yana Gupta. What is the point of bringing them out? If they're meant to embarrass the lady, then they don't work. I'm very proud of my modeling days and all that I did back then."

Upen insists he knows who his enemies are. "But I won't give them the pleasure of publicity by naming them. Neither will I let them demoralize me. I came to Mumbai from London with a dream. Today, I've made a place for myself and for my sister whose modeling agency is doing very well. I will make it big without being a star-son or having godfathers and sugar daddys in the industry."

Subash K. Jha

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Upen and Deepika - Too Close for Comfort

We got these pics of hunky actor Upen Patel getting extra close with yet another PYT. However, a closer look revealed that the babe in the picture is none other than the hot-n-happening Deepika Padukone. So, what is Miss Padukone doing getting all touchy with the Patel chokra. We thought she was dating Ranbir Kapoor right?

Well, for all those whose minds have already started wandering, these pics were apparently taken during a photo shoot for designer Wendell Rodriguez few years back. But the question that comes foremost on our minds is why are these pictures in circulation now? Could it be some mischief-monger at work who has released these pics?

Your guess is as good as ours.

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The Rock Star

The tanned and bronzed look seems to be working PERFECTLY for the hunky, Upen Patel! This exclusive shot was taken during the shoot of Suneel Darshan's upcoming flick, Shaka Laka Boom Boom.

The film is being shot in the mesmerizing South African city of Cape Town. No wonder the Patel boy is looking like a super-stud! Shaka Laka Boom Boom is a musical, and has Upen in the role of a rock star! Well, we are sure his off-screen persona will rub off on-screen, too!

The film also stars Kangana Ranaut, Bobby Deol and Celina Jaitley. And the music is composed by none other than Himesh Reshammiya.

Catch some more exclusive shots of Upen looking his best in the film.

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The best debut male 2006

After burning the modeling ramp, looks like Upen Patel is now all set to take over the film industry with his prowess. The model turned actor recently won the best debutant award at the prestigious Anand Bazar Patrika awards held at Kolkatta on Wednesday. While Bipasha Basu won the best actress award. The younger actor who is just one film old actually seems to be getting himself in the habit of winning awards. The latest buzz making rounds is that Upen Patel has been nominated for the best newcomer category at GIFA awards this year. He probably is also on the list of Star Gold’s ‘Sabse Favourite Kaun’, which is an audience choice award.

With the potentials of winning awards from his very first film, Upen Patel is showing signs of superstar in the making. Currently, Upen is shooting for Suneel Darshan’s Shaka Laka Boom Boom and Vipul Shah’s Namastey London.

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My first film has been such a great debut for me, Upen

Super hunk Upen Patel is high on the endorsement charts. He has lately been signed on as the Youth Icon for Provogue, which boasts of illustrious Style Icons in the past. Besides he will also be The Brand Ambassador for D'damas desire and is negotiating another Big Campaign. Upen has also been associated previously with big brands like Tuscan Verve, Tommy Hilfiger, etc. "It's really the best I could have asked for at such a short time. Having been a supermodel to the actor transition has been quite a journey. But since I have got huge releases coming up and have signed good films, I have quit Ramp completely." says Upen. "My first film has been such a great debut for me. I will work harder and grow as an actor with each film and let my performance speak for itself," he added.

Upen has signed on the biggest banners and has become the hottest newcomer to do so. Infact many in the Industry are of the opinion that he has signed on such big banners in such a short time is bound to get him the best debut award!

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Provogue's new youth icon- Upen Patel

Model turned actor Upen Patel has won himself 'The Provogue Youth Icon' status. He's the brand ambassador for Provogue's new line of denim and innerwear. As per reports in a daily, he has signed a 5-year contract with Provogue. He has contributed to the look and styling of the brand.

His forthcoming films include Suneel Darshan's SHAKALAKA BOOM BOOM, Vipul Shah's NAMASTE LONDON etc.

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