Dev Patel: ‘Chappie’ incredibly relevant

British actor of Indian descent Dev Patel feels that he bagged the role in sci-fi entertainer “Chappie” to add an Indian appeal to the film on artificial intelligence.

“India is one of the most rapidly developing nations and we know everyone around the world respects its technological advancement, so the film is incredibly relevant. I think that (director) Neill Blomkamp cast someone like me to make the film international and appeal to the audience in India,” Dev, who earned global recognition with the Oscar winning “Slumdog Millionaire”, told IANS over phone from Berlin.

With a futuristic setting, the film takes cinema-goers to a world where crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanised police force. It narrates a story of a police droid, Chappie, which is stolen and is re-programmed, making him the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself. The film highlights measures taken by humans to safeguard their existence.

The film, which also stars Sigourney Weaver and Hugh Jackman, will release in India on March 13. And Dev hopes audience “really respond to the film well” and “find it entertaining”.

Talking about his character — Deon Wilson, Dev said: “ He’s a young guy who lives a reclusive lifestyle, and happens to be a genius from Oxford in London. But he doesn’t care about violence and robots that can fight, his real objective is to find a companion and to find a robot that can feel.

“So he goes and pitches in about the idea, but is ridiculed by his boss. He then decides to steal a droid and put a chip of artificial intelligence in it to make a artificial intelligent robot.”

The 24-year-old actor seems to be a fan of Robot Maid from “Richie Rich” cartoon as he fancies a robot who can help him with his daily chores.

“I would love a robot that could clean my bedroom, do dishes, the laundry, cut my grass. That would be just lovely,” he said.

Inputs by IANS