I am a friend when I need to be a friend, a father when I need to be a father, a musician when music calls. I switch roles accordingly.
I love playing odd roles.
Typecasting is an interesting thing because, in a way, if you're good at something, you're going to work at that thing. In other ways, you constantly have to change people's opinion of you as one thing, especially if you want to play different roles. You have to shatter that image sometimes.
People lament that there's no roles being written for South Asian or Muslim characters. But their parents don't want their children to go into the entertainment field. You don't get it both ways.
When you're brown and Indian, you get offered a lot of doctor roles.
I think I would like to see more roles for South Asian performers that are more inclusive and part of the American Diaspora, the American tapestry, perhaps the way that African American and Hispanic roles have developed.
I want to do different roles and not get stuck in a rut and 'Shanghai' will be one film I'm absolutely looking forward to.
Larger-than-life roles have never excited me. I'd rather play someone real who goes through obstacles and becomes a hero.
I was always looking for relatability, because I am not someone cut out for larger than life roles.
I think once you get noticed as an actor you get roles irrespective of the characters you portray.
