by Jaspreet Pandohar
Freelance journalist

He’s played a rude boy nemesis to Sacha Baron Cohen in Ali G Inda House, a post apocalyptic survivor in 28 Days Later, a homeless heroin addict in The Feral Generation and even a cocky MC in Eastenders. However, Ray Panthaki’s latest screen role sees him in an altogether more sensitive guise.

In City Rats, the British born actor portrays a frustrated young artist obsessed with making a disabled prostitute his muse. A far cry from the recent slate of Gangster obsessed flicks churned out by the British film industry, the dark comedy weaves together a collection of urban tales featuring eight troubled Londoners struggling for recognition and approval amongst a diverse society.

Exploring contemporary issues of sexuality, disability, ethnicity, love, life and death, Steve Fantauzzo’s screenplay scrubs the gloss off glamorous London to portray the melting pot of the city’s east end. Impressed with the original script and dialogues, Ray says he didn’t have to think twice about coming on board when approached by director Steve M Kelly along with co-stars Danny Dyer (Football Factory, Human Traffic, The Business), Tamar Hassan (Layer Cake, Eastern Promises) and Susan Lynch (Beautiful Creatures, Enduring Love).

His high hopes for the film were confirmed when it toured the international festival circuit, garnering critical acclaim at the Slamdance Film Festival in Utah which is known for championing a truer representation of independent film-making. “There was amazing feedback from Slamdance for City Rats. The Americans really got it. They appreciate British films full stop but really liked its structure as it’s similar to what we’ve seen in Americans films like Shortcuts, Crash and Magnolia,” he says.

“What really attracted me to the role of Dean is that I kind of saw elements of myself in him. That frustrated artist reminded me of myself as a younger actor, you know, when you really believe in tour talent so much but at that point other people don’t get it. When you live and breathe your art it’s tough to explain that to people.”

In fact, Ray was so behind his art that when it came to raising extra funds to make the film happen he personally spoke to producers who then asked him to come on board as one of them. Already a credited producer, Ray’s experience behind the camera started when he co-produced a short film called Licks (2002) and later progressed to acclaimed urban dramas Kidulthod (2006) and The Feral Generation (2007). It’s a role he seems to be increasingly interested in.

“When I first started out as an actor I was lucky enough to work on some really successful movies, but the producing came off the back of Eastenders,” he explains. “I was always aware that going into something like that there could potentially be stigma when I left the show. I’ve seen actors come out of the show and not been as successful as they maybe would have liked to.”

“I made a conscious decision to get serious, so with my first pay packet I bought a decent laptop and avoided buying into the whole celebrity culture that comes with being on a show like that. I locked myself away in my dressing room and created my own project.”

That project started off as a short story but has since developed into a possible feature film, as Ray describes. “It’s a very personal project to me so if I’m allowed to, I’d like to direct it which I feel confident in doing now. It’s linked to the topic of knife crime.” The fact that Ray has been with his partner, actress Brooke Kinsella, since 2005 leads to the assumption that the tragic murder of her younger brother, Ben Kinsella, may be the unfortunate source of inspiration. Ben was 16 years old when he stabbed to death outside a London pub in June 2008.

Ray admits that making dramas about social issues is what makes him happy. “We know these kind of dramas don’t necessarily make money at the box office but it’s what makes me tick. Telling important stories that move people and make them think is what I’m about. I have been conscious about that as an actor and producer. I am also aware that as a producer I need to make a big commercial movie just so that it will enable me to do whatever I want to do as an artist.”

This is partly what takes Ray to Los Angeles this month. “I’ve always said I’d never be one of those British actors who say rights that’s it, I’m off to LA. It’s a huge place over crowed with brilliant actors and I’ve always promised myself I’d wait till I’m invited and know people want to meet me. It’s a two-fold trip, Ray as an actor and also as a producer. I’m going to chat with studios about this commercial project I’m working on.”

“It’s the most commercial movie you can ever think of, it ticks all the boxes but has still got a bit of edginess to it which is what I want to create and keep as a company. I’ve been working it for two years, aimed at an American market and it’s taken a lot of preparation. Feedback has been phenomenal and it’s gone beyond my expectations.”

When he returns later in May, Ray goes straight into Gurinder Chadha’s new movie, It’s a Wonderful Afterlife. But if you can’t wait till then to see Ray there’s no need to worry. Revolver Entertainment’s decision to give City Rats a simultaneous multi-platform release means audiences can decide how, when and where they wish to see it – be it in the comfort of your own home, in the cinema or online.

City Rats is released in the UK on April 24th 2009.

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Jaspreet Pandohar is a freelance entertainment journalist
jaspreetpandohar@yahoo.co.uk