Dubai: He has no regrets about being called Daniel Radcliffe's clone.

Dhavel Dave, Harry Potter lookalike, loves the attention showered on him.

In an e-mail interview with Gulf News Dave, 19, from Ahmedabad in the west Indian state of Gujarat, said he is mobbed each time he leaves the house.

"But I am used to it now and have learnt to handle myself in the expected manner. People ask me for my autograph and I love that. I don't have a girlfriend like Harry has Hermione. But girls do ask me for my autograph," said Dhavel who lives with his parents. He will be in Dubai on July 18.

"It will be my first trip overseas. I am very excited. I have been invited by Jashanmal for the launch of Harry Potter's last book," said Dhavel, a student of Commerce and a third year college student.

 

His father works as a storekeeper for the Cancer Division at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad and his mother is a housewife. He hopes to work in the Indian IT industry after graduation.

Dhavel said he feels special, more so because he has no connection with the actor Daniel Radcliffe who plays Harry.

"I have no connection with Dan at all. He lives in a fantastic mansion somewhere and earns millions and I live in a city in India.

"I was told that I looked like Harry Potter when the Prisoner of Azkaban movie was released. By then everyone in India knew who Harry Potter was. It made me want to read all his books and see the movies."

He said that it took him awhile to get used to being called Harry instead of Dhavel. "I cannot forget the first time I was called Harry. I am having fun. I make people smile which makes me feel very good. I am not afraid of talking to strangers as now I am used to it," he said.

Like the hero

Dhavel hopes to meet Daniel Radcliffe. "It's a great feeling that a famous personality looks just like me. I sometimes wonder what his life is like. I would have a lot of questions to ask if I ever met him. I wonder whether he is good at his studies, what his likes and dislikes are, how he spends his spare time."