Hugh Grant reveals he's 'half Indian...or half Pakistani'; here's how
What's the story
Hollywood actor Hugh Grant recently attended the 2025 Hindustan Times Leadership Summit in Delhi. During his appearance, he revealed that his father was born in India and that he could be "half Indian or half Pakistani." The revelation came during a conversation with Bollywood actor Rahul Khanna about his career and family background.
Family background
Grant's father's origins and mother's expectations
Grant shared, "I had to find his birth certificate the other day because I was applying for some visa or something...It was some very obscure town in the north of India." "In fact, I think it might be Pakistan...He's either Indian or Pakistani by birth. So, I guess that makes me half Indian or half Pakistani." He also revealed that his mother didn't want him to be an actor as she considered "actors and prostitutes" to be the same.
Career path
Grant's unexpected journey into acting
Despite his mother's reservations, Grant accidentally fell into acting at 23. "I thought, 'Okay, this is a laugh. I'll do this for a year or two.' Because I was poor, I had no money. And then I'll do a grown-up job," he said. However, he has continued acting and is now 65 years old. "In some ways, I'm ashamed of myself," he added.
Streaming debate
Grant's views on streaming platforms and theatrical releases
Grant also shared his views on the ongoing debate between theatrical releases and streaming platforms. He expressed a strong preference for cinema, saying he has found it hard to fall in love with streaming. "I absolutely hate streaming...Films shown to an audience are communal. I find it hard to fall in love with a film on a smartphone." "A lot of offers for streaming leave me feeling tired, I can't get excited."