Matt Damon, Tom Holland's India diaries: Bollywood dreams, Nolan and The Odyssey
In an exclusive interview, actors Matt Damon and Tom Holland spoke about The Odyssey and working with Christopher Nolan while promoting the film in Mumbai. The conversation also turned to India, fan culture and Tom's interest in doing an Indian film.
There are some interviews you prepare for, and then there are those that stay with you long after the cameras stop rolling. Meeting Matt Damon and Tom Holland for The Odyssey was one of them.
The duo arrived in Mumbai on Friday morning for the India premiere of Christopher Nolan's much-awaited epic and quickly experienced something that has become synonymous with the filmmaker's films here: unwavering love from Indian audiences. Few Hollywood directors command the kind of fandom Nolan enjoys in India, and it was clear that Matt and Tom were taking it all in.
The next day, when they walked into the interview room, they initially seemed a little reserved. It had been a hectic schedule, and the room itself was dimly lit, designed more for the cameras than for conversation. But within minutes, the mood changed. As they settled in comfortably, the formal interview soon turned into an easy conversation.
The warmth also showed up when this journalist's microphone decided to act up. As the crew scrambled to fix the technical glitch, both actors laughed and said they were used to equipment misbehaving. Having spent months filming on Christopher Nolan's elaborate IMAX sets, they joked that things often went haywire on productions of that scale. And just like that, the ice broke.
For Matt, the trip also marked his first visit to India. While the schedule left little room for sightseeing, he admitted he would love to return for a longer holiday. Tom had an even more ambitious wish list. Beyond the usual tourist attractions, he said he wanted to travel through India's interiors, experience different cultures, and hopefully spot tigers in the wild.
Once the conversation shifted to The Odyssey, both actors spoke with unmistakable admiration for Nolan's vision. Matt described working with Nolan as an actor's dream, praising the filmmaker's preparation and clarity. Despite mounting one of the biggest productions in recent memory, Nolan, he said, creates an environment where actors can simply focus on their performances.
Matt also reflected on why Homer's epic continues to resonate even after thousands of years. Rather than seeing it as an ancient text, he spoke of it as a story built on deeply human emotions. "It's about homecoming. It's about family. It's about war. It's about death. It's about regret," he said, explaining that every generation finds its own meaning in the tale, which is precisely why it has endured for over three millennia. Tom, on the other hand, opened up about his partner, Zendaya, getting a "perfect" from Nolan and why it never sparked any envy in him.
The mood remained light when the conversation shifted to Indian cinema. Matt was quick to say that if anyone could pull off a Bollywood film, it would be Tom, crediting his co-star's dancing skills. Tom laughed at the suggestion, admitting he would be open to starring in an Indian film if the opportunity ever came his way. He also shared how he loves the way Indian fans celebrate their films and often watches their reactions online.
Directed by Christopher Nolan and produced by Emma Thomas, The Odyssey also stars Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Travis Scott, Charlize Theron and Elliot Page, among others. The film is slated to hit theatres in India on July 17, a day before it's worldwide release.
There are some interviews you prepare for, and then there are those that stay with you long after the cameras stop rolling. Meeting Matt Damon and Tom Holland for The Odyssey was one of them.
The duo arrived in Mumbai on Friday morning for the India premiere of Christopher Nolan's much-awaited epic and quickly experienced something that has become synonymous with the filmmaker's films here: unwavering love from Indian audiences. Few Hollywood directors command the kind of fandom Nolan enjoys in India, and it was clear that Matt and Tom were taking it all in.
The next day, when they walked into the interview room, they initially seemed a little reserved. It had been a hectic schedule, and the room itself was dimly lit, designed more for the cameras than for conversation. But within minutes, the mood changed. As they settled in comfortably, the formal interview soon turned into an easy conversation.
The warmth also showed up when this journalist's microphone decided to act up. As the crew scrambled to fix the technical glitch, both actors laughed and said they were used to equipment misbehaving. Having spent months filming on Christopher Nolan's elaborate IMAX sets, they joked that things often went haywire on productions of that scale. And just like that, the ice broke.
For Matt, the trip also marked his first visit to India. While the schedule left little room for sightseeing, he admitted he would love to return for a longer holiday. Tom had an even more ambitious wish list. Beyond the usual tourist attractions, he said he wanted to travel through India's interiors, experience different cultures, and hopefully spot tigers in the wild.
Once the conversation shifted to The Odyssey, both actors spoke with unmistakable admiration for Nolan's vision. Matt described working with Nolan as an actor's dream, praising the filmmaker's preparation and clarity. Despite mounting one of the biggest productions in recent memory, Nolan, he said, creates an environment where actors can simply focus on their performances.
Matt also reflected on why Homer's epic continues to resonate even after thousands of years. Rather than seeing it as an ancient text, he spoke of it as a story built on deeply human emotions. "It's about homecoming. It's about family. It's about war. It's about death. It's about regret," he said, explaining that every generation finds its own meaning in the tale, which is precisely why it has endured for over three millennia. Tom, on the other hand, opened up about his partner, Zendaya, getting a "perfect" from Nolan and why it never sparked any envy in him.
The mood remained light when the conversation shifted to Indian cinema. Matt was quick to say that if anyone could pull off a Bollywood film, it would be Tom, crediting his co-star's dancing skills. Tom laughed at the suggestion, admitting he would be open to starring in an Indian film if the opportunity ever came his way. He also shared how he loves the way Indian fans celebrate their films and often watches their reactions online.
Directed by Christopher Nolan and produced by Emma Thomas, The Odyssey also stars Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Travis Scott, Charlize Theron and Elliot Page, among others. The film is slated to hit theatres in India on July 17, a day before it's worldwide release.
