KU News Release

‘Bunker Hill’ actor Saeed Jaffrey to speak Monday at Oldfather Studios

LAWRENCE — Saeed Jaffrey, the legendary actor from India who has starred in more than 150 films, will speak informally with University of Kansas students and the public next week.

The event with Jaffrey, whose film credits include “Gandhi” and “My Beautiful Launderette,” starts at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18, in KU’s Oldfather Studios, 1621 W. Ninth St.

Since early August, Jaffrey has been in Lawrence and several other Kansas cities to play a role in “Bunker Hill,” a new film by Kevin Willmott, KU associate professor of theatre and film. Willmott said the major filming for “Bunker Hill” is wrapping up this month.

While in Kansas, Jaffrey has been on shoot locations such as Bunker Hill, Nortonville, Lawrence, Coffeyville, West Mineral, Gove and Sedan.

Jaffrey’s career began in radio in India where he expanded to theater and founded his own company. He has a graduate degree in history from the University of Allahabad and has studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In the 1950s, he was a Fulbright scholar to the United States where he earned a second graduate degree at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Willmott notes that Jaffrey has worked with directors such as Satyajit Ray, James Ivory, David Lean and Richard Attenborough. Jaffrey is a member of the Actors’ Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. He is the first Asian to become a member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to drama.

Willmott’s most recent film, “CSA: The Confederate States of America,” was released nationwide by IFC Films this year. Matt Jacobson, KU associate professor of theatre and film, who was the photography director for “CSA,” is directing photography for “Bunker Hill” as well.

“Bunker Hill” is the story of a former Wall Street executive who leaves prison and heads for the small town of Bunker Hill, Kan., where his former wife and their children have started a new life. Soon after he arrives, an apparent massive terrorist attack against America darkens the town. Cut off from the world, the town’s militant past is reawakened and forces coalesce to protect citizens from an unseen enemy. The town’s fear leads to the creation of a posse of gunmen, resulting in torture, illegal searches and eventually, murder.

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