Lee Jung-jae of ‘Squid Game’ fame says he is ready for Bollywood

Lee Jung-jae, the Emmy-winning star of the global phenomenon ‘Squid Game’, has expressed a keen interest in stepping into Indian cinema.

Recently the South Korean actor opened up about his admiration for Bollywood and shared insights on returning to his iconic role for the latest season of the Netflix hit.

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“I would love to be a part of a Bollywood film if I was given the opportunity,” Lee said, smiling as he spoke about his curiosity towards the Indian film industry.

Known for his magnetic presence and powerful performances, Lee’s global stardom took off after he played the desperate yet determined Seong Gi-hun, player 456, in ‘Squid Game’, which took the world by storm in 2021.

Reflecting on returning to the set for the third season, Lee got introspective. “It was a day of mixed feelings when I put on that green tracksuit with my number 456 on it and stepped onto the set again for the first time,” he said. “I also felt the same way when I put back on the red-haired wig. I’ve worked in this industry for a long time, but I’ve never felt a rush of emotions quite like that.”

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‘Squid Game’ not only turned into a cultural milestone but also brought in a staggering 17 Emmy nominations in its debut season, bagging six awards. Lee made history by becoming the first Asian actor to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

When asked what, in his opinion, contributed to the show’s wild popularity, Lee pointed to a combination of timing and relatability.

“I did not expect this kind of success,” he admitted. “I think it’s about timing. When the first season came out, the world was still in the middle of the pandemic. People were struggling financially, emotionally, and mentally. That real-life struggle mirrored in the characters, and maybe that’s why it resonated so deeply.”

Now, with the release of the much-anticipated third and final season, ‘Squid Game’ is breaking records once again. The series racked up 60.1 million views in just three days of release, making it the ninth most-watched non-English TV show in Netflix history.