FILM INTERVIEW: PUJA MOHINDRA
Actress Foresees Greater South Asian Influence in Hollywood
As Bollywood gains increased exposure round the world over, actresses such as Puja Mohindra are building foundations of success for Indian Americans within Hollywood. The Chicago native, who earned an MFA from the American Conservatory Theater, performed as an Indian classical dancer, indeed earning notches on her belt as she builds quite the solid filmography. Among the projects to her credit are television programs such as Three Rivers, CSI: Miami, Ghost Whisperer, Valentine, and an upcoming Jerry Bruckheimer pilot for CBS in Miami Trauma.
In moving out to Los Angeles from Chicago to build her acting career, Puja, who spoke to Buzzine as she promoted a short film — Rahul Nath’s Foreign, in which she plays the lead — sees a whole new world in Hollywood, one where Indians and South Asians are slowly but surely discovering an identity. She is happy to see several network and cable television programs featuring a substantive character portrayed by an actor of South Asian descent which sends the right messages to younger generations.
“When I was growing up, you didn’t see many South Asians on the stage or screen in American films and theater. Today, you do, and I think it is so inspiring and empowering, if you are a young person, to see people who look like you in the media,” Puja stated to Buzzine. “It’s very empowering to see someone who looks like you on TV or in films because it makes our community visible … and integrated into the fabric of mainstream America.”
Of course, despite the increasing visibility of South Asians in front of the camera, life on the other side is a little less rosy, particularly amongst the decision-makers. Through her experiences as an on-screen thespian, Puja noticed so few actresses of Indian-American decent in the casting room.
“Most people hiring (or casting) are not Indian. They think you being Indian is what you are, not realizing that, in reality, you are your own essence. People brought in to casting are basically apples and oranges,” she observed, adding how the director of Foreign, the short film in which she played the lead role, was a breath of fresh air since he cast for the energy of the role, not because of the ethnicity of the character. “You wouldn’t bring Tyler Perry and Spike Lee in the same audition…but that is what we as Indians are up against. But if we evolved, we will hear more voices.”
Accordingly, Puja thinks producers and directors will have to start taking risks in order to break the mold of narrow-mindedly viewing being Indian as a singular attribute, adding that it is essential for filmmakers be as open-minded as possible.
Speaking of being open-minded, Puja certainly hopes Rahul Nath’s Foreign is well-received. A story of a woman’s journey in being in an openly abusive relationship, Puja believes Foreign features an important aspect many people overlook with such films.
“I just knew this is an important story to tell. I want people to see it. I want people to feel uncomfortable during key moments,” she told Buzzine. “If you aren’t comfortable during certain parts, then you just aren’t getting the issue. My hope for Foreign is that it will draw attention to the issue of abuse and violence against women, and inspire people to have the courage to talk about this issue in a brutally honest way. Only when we start talking about this issue — instead of hiding it or feeling shame around it — can we take action to help others or ourselves.”
As for what she hopes the audience will expect in watching Foreign, Puja leaves it up to each individual’s interpretation.
“Films are about honest storytelling, and I think it’s up to the audience to interpret the message or meaning. The way an audience is affected, whether they feel this film is a ‘wake-up call’ or not, depends on their own response to it — who they are and their past experiences,” Puja carefully stated. “The way any story is told is the artistic vision of each storyteller and director, and Rahul’s interpretation of this young bride’s journey is raw and painful with life-and-death stakes and consequences. True, Radhika’s story may not have a happy Hollywood ending, but it is still uplifting because it requires her to be courageous to change the course of her life and circumstances. In that way, even a heartbreaking story like this one can be hopeful and inspiring.”
Such hopeful inspiration may actually be found in Puja herself, as the up-and-coming actress from Chicago continues to find solid roles to portray on screen, including an upcoming gig opposite Martin Landau and Peter Lupus in A Fighting Chance, Christian Sesma’s I’m Not Like That No More starring Paul Rodriguez, and an appearance in J.J. Abrams’s latest television series for NBC, Undercovers. If audiences and entertainment executives take her as seriously as she hopes they do for Foreign, no doubt Puja Mohindra will soon be a household name.
(Editor’s Note: This is part 1 of 2 of Buzzine’s coverage of ‘Foreign.’ Watch for director Rahul Nath’s feature story, also running this week.)
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