Bollywood and Christmas might seem like an unlikely combination at first glance, but film director Gurinder Chadha reveals that there is, in fact, a strong connection between the two. Chadha, best known for her 2002 hit Bend It Like Beckham, explains that Bollywood’s vibrant tradition of singing, dancing, and celebration fits naturally with the spirit of Christmas. This joyful, musical energy inspired her latest project, Christmas Karma, a festive film blending Bollywood-style storytelling with a classic British tale.
Christmas Karma is Chadha’s new musical movie, featuring an eclectic and star-studded cast including Kunal Nayyar, Hugh Bonneville, Pixie Lott, Boy George, Danny Dyer, Charithra Chandran, and Eva Longoria. The film is a Bollywood-inspired adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless novella A Christmas Carol. However, Chadha emphasizes that the film is also deeply British, celebrating a wide tapestry of musical traditions that reflect the multicultural nature of modern Britain.
During a recent interview at a London hotel, the 65-year-old director shared insights about her creative process and her current work. Alongside Christmas Karma, Chadha is also developing a sequel to Bend It Like Beckham, a project she confirmed to the BBC this summer. Although excited, she admitted feeling the pressure to live up to the original’s beloved reputation. “I don’t want to rush it. The last thing I want is people to go, ‘it’s not as good as the original,’” she said, underlining her careful approach to revisiting the iconic characters.
The original A Christmas Carol, first published in 1843, tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly man who detests Christmas but undergoes a profound transformation after supernatural visits from three ghosts. Chadha’s Christmas Karma reimagines this story through the character of Mr Sood, a modern-day Scrooge figure who embarks on a similar journey of redemption. Kunal Nayyar, famous for his role as Raj in The Big Bang Theory, takes on the lead role. Nayyar insists he is nothing like his character in real life and enthusiastically shares his love of Christmas, noting how the festival was always a joyful occasion in his upbringing in New Delhi. “Indians have a beautiful approach to celebrate all festivals,” he observed, highlighting the inclusive spirit that underpins the film.
The ghosts who visit Mr Sood are portrayed by notable actors and musicians. The first ghost, Jacob Marley, is played by Hugh Bonneville, widely recognized for his roles in Paddington and Downton Abbey. The Ghost of Christmas Present is played by American singer and actor Billy Porter. Porter confessed that before this film, he identified more with Scrooge’s cynical attitude toward the holidays. Bonneville, on the other hand, is a self-professed Christmas enthusiast and enjoys the early festive season, although he draws the line at hearing Christmas songs too soon. “I used to be Bah Humbug about it, and want Christmas decorations to go up on, frankly, Boxing Day, but I’m getting earlier and earlier,” he said, injecting a bit of holiday humor.
An interesting subplot in Christmas Karma draws on a poignant piece of history. Mr Sood’s character is depicted as one of the 28,000 Ugandan Asian refugees who arrived in the UK in 1972 after being expelled by the country’s military dictator Idi Amin. This refugee background shapes Mr Sood’s complex personality; as an older man, he becomes dismissive of asylum seekers seeking refuge in the UK, embodying a kind of forgetfulness about his own roots. This aspect of the story explores themes of identity, displacement, and the sometimes painful relationship between past and present.
Chadha revealed that her inspiration for creating a Scrooge-like character came from her own family experiences. She described a “Grinch-like” relative who criticized their Christmas celebrations, telling them, “I don’t know why you’re all doing this. You’re not white.” This family member, she later understood, was “carrying the trauma” of being forced to leave his home country as a child. Chadha also drew inspiration from contemporary political figures, noting that her character’s occasional right-wing remarks echoed real-life politicians from similar backgrounds. Writing the film during the COVID-19 lockdown gave her time to reflect on these nuanced social dynamics.
Leo Suter, who plays Bob Cratchett—Mr Sood’s underpaid employee—highlight