I starred in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice – I met more celebrities than I could count!
A Black Country actor has spoken of his once-in-a-lifetime experience of starring in Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
"I walked onto the set and Tim Burton was just standing there, I was completely starstruck."
Those are the words of 41-year-old professional actor Rupi Lal, from Stone Cross, West Bromwich, who recently appeared as a named actor in Tim Burton's latest movie.
The highly anticipated Beetlejuice Beetlejuice quickly became one of the most talked about movies this season, with many fans of the original cult classing Beetlejuice waiting for more than 36 years for a true sequel.
The sequel features a strong cast that includes original actors Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, and Beetlejuice newcomers Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci and William Dafoe.
Rupi, who is an actor with the talent group, Red Talent Management, said he was shocked when he received an email confirming that he had gotten the role.
"I couldn't believe it when I got the email from my Agent at Red Talent Management confirming that I got the role" Rupi said.
"I sent in my audition tape and it came back only a few days later. It was under a codename but then it was confirmed that it was actually for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice."
Rupi added: "Before now, the biggest thing I had done was BBC's Red Rose in 2022, but this was a whole other animal.
"I didn't want to fanboy, but when we got to the Warner Brother Studios in Leavesden in London, I walked around the corner and Tim Burton himself was there. I couldn't believe it."
Rupi, a Tim Burton movie fan, said it's 'an honour' to be included in a sequel to the 80s original, saying that 'it was a once in a lifetime opportunity'.
He said: "It was amazing. It was really a dream come true, I'm a huge Batman fan and being able to work with Tim Burton was just a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
"It was really supposed to be a two-day shoot, but because of the pre and post-process work that was taking place, it turned into three or four days of work, and they called me back after the writer strikes to film some more."
During one interaction with the alternative movie director, Rupi said he nicknamed 'Doc' as Tim Burton 'probably didn't remember' his name.
Rupi added: "I kept seeing Tim Burton and every time he saw me he kept saying 'You alright Doc?'. I think it may be because he didn't remember my name, but it was really funny.
"On the first day of filming, I thought I saw Michael Keaton as well. I managed to talk to Jenna Ortega, she is really lovely, and I got to meet Colleen Attwood, who is obviously an extremely talented costume designer. It surprised me how lovely everyone was."
After playing the role of a Doctor, Rupi was told by a stunt person that he could take an item from the set. He instantly grabbed the doctor's hat and surgical mask he was wearing on the scene and asked Tim Burton to sign it.
He said: "I said I was a gigantic Tim Burton fan and someone said I could take something to see if Tim Burton would sign it.
"I was doing a voice-over and he came over to say that I kept making him laugh. He shook my hand and I said was a Batman fan and he signed a memento for me. He really is such a nice person."
The actor and YouTube personality who goes by the name 'The Rupi and Dan Show' said that seeing his name on the rolling credits of the film was 'surreal'.
Rupi ended: "Honestly, it was such a great experience. Everyone was so nice and professional.
"I took my wife to the screening in Leicester Square and just at the end when you see your name in the end credits next to all these big A-list actors. It was just surreal. An amazing experience."