THE film Slumdog Millionaire inspired a generation of aspiring young Asian actors.

And now, at the age of 22, Hampshire’s multi-talented Kiran Rai has landed a leading role in Bollywood film Parachute, directed by Louis Vander straten, which he is currently filming in Sri Lanka.

The ambitious entertainer’s ‘can-do’ attitude and incredible powers of persuasion have meant he already has his own TV chat show and a glittering modelling career.

He hosts the celebrity talk show Secrets with Kiran Rai, which is broadcast on six different radio channels and two television stations in the UK.

He also played a suave British Indian in the Hollywood movie Forbidden Note.

A model, actor, radio host, media personality, Kiran prides himself on combining his artistic skills and business know-how but if pushed to describe what he is he would say an actor.

The catalyst came with his one-man show Good Things Happen To Good People, which he wrote, directed and produced on his own at the age of 18.

An ambitious ‘re enactment’ of his life story, he played 27 different characters!

But, while there seems no limit to what this workaholic driven performer can achieve, he revealed his troubled school years and rocky relationship with his family was not the ideal start in life.

Determined to prove his doubters wrong, he spent two years building his career in Romsey, where he made several music videos and advertising campaigns in Sparsholt and Hampage Wood.

He has also been signed to ten top model agencies around the world and was ambassador for the online fashion and beauty store asos.com.

He was a favourite model with Duke Clothing and the face of Birmingham fashion week at the NEC for two years running.

Many leading men began their working life as models, such as Mark Wahlberg and Ashton Kutcher, and Kiran, who is from a Hindu Punjabi background, has joined their ranks. But it is not an easy option.

“Modelling can be from ten in the morning until nine or ten at night.

And then the next day, maybe, the same again.”

A shrewd businessman he says fronting up a campaign for a leading hotel chain in Europe or a fashion brand in Dubai is an investment in his future because it helps keep his face in the mind of casting directors.

It was also through modelling that Kiran had an introduction to radio and his show Secrets with Kiran Rai airs on Betar Bangla 1503 AM, aimed at London’s Bangladeshi community, every Wednesday afternoon. It attracts nearly two million listeners.

It is the acting – and the one-man stage show, however, that comes from the heart.

“The one-man show was about my life, my mum and dad – who I do not have the best relationship with.

“In playing so many characters, I would put myself in my mum and dad’s shoes. My mum wanted me to be a doctor and my dad wanted me to be a dentist, so the play was very hard to watch with all the conflict.”

In fact, despite Kiran’s success and glamorous career, his troubled teens and difficult family life contributed to a nervous breakdown. This motivates him while continuing to cause him angst.

“I love my dad but my mum doesn’t speak to me as much. I can’t trust people and have real trust issues.

“I was bullied at school and my brother doesn’t speak to me.

“I had a nervous breakdown in my teens and my mum doesn’t like me – we just don’t click,” Kiran tells me openly.

“I got miserable and depressed – I’ve tried to lead my own life.

I’ve wanted to show them that the person they rejected is not an idiot or a clown.

“Yes, I dropped out of school and got into fights. I couldn’t understand my anger and I had a breakdown.

“They always expected more of me but I was only 14/15 years old. Now I’m out of that. I love my mum but it’s best the way it is.

“It has all made me headstrong to bring myself up alone, to produce the West End theatre show which paved the way to a show on Broadway.”

Following the stage show, Kiran also had roles in recent British films The Forbidden Note, Secrets of the Past and A Total Thug Up.

Now, despite living the dream filming in Sri Lanka, Kiran says: “I never actually set out wanting to get into Bollywood but I was given this role.

Whatever opportunities you get you’ve just got to grab them. I don’t even speak the language! But I have the main role playing the policeman.

“I auditioned in a Chinese restaurant...well, I gate-crashed someone else’s audition and afterwards the director said to me: “this is destiny”.

“In Bollywood, I don’t need to learn the script. They just feed you the line.

Although audiences won’t hear my voice as it’s being dubbed by someone else.”

The film will not just be singing and dancing in the Bollywood tradition: “”It’s not just panto any more – it’s a proper film,” Kiran assured me.

It will, however, have many traditional elements. It will be a love story; Kiran’s character will fall out with the father-in-law and there will be fighting!

As for the future, Kiran hopes more films will follow: “ but when I’m ready,” he says. “I just want to have a normal life. I’m tired of proving myself and I just want mental happiness.

“I really do want to reconcile with my family but at the same time I’m done trying to prove to everyone that I’m not naïve and stupid.”