Today we’d like to introduce you to Chhaya Nene.
Hi Chhaya, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I knew in elementary school that I would be on television. I just didn’t know how. The how was answered when my parents fought to allow me to audition to a reporter on my school’s news program. I didn’t just book the reporter role, they created a host role just for me!
That start would lead to working as a journalist in middle school, a news anchor in high school and then a journalist in both college and graduate school. I realized that I love storytelling and shining a spotlight on those who deserved it, but who never really got it.
I was able to cover cults, beheadings, elections, homelessness, and people who were making a difference in the community. My reporting took me to India and even working at the CBS Bureau in London.
While covering these various stories, I realized that people would pay attention to hard new topics if they saw a celebrity they admired was involved.
The day I graduated I told my parents I was going to pursue acting. It may have seemed random to everyone, but when I was in middle school, I had gone on a modeling trip in New York where I also acted and fell even more in love with storytelling. I promised myself that if I had ever made it to Los Angeles, I would stay and make it work.
I had hoped and still do that if I was to achieve notoriety, I would use that notoriety to focus on social justice issues I liked to report on.
I’ve since been able to do acting and journalism side by side. There are days when I’ve written for Reader’s Digest and other days when I’m on set for ‘General Hospital’, ‘Big Sky’, or working on a South Asian version of the Vagina Monologues.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road.
There has been so many challenges–from accepting what I really wanted to do, learning a different profession, finding a way to work multiple jobs to pay rent, finding the people who supported me, and keeping faith on the days when I want to give up.
There were days when I wonder why I did this to myself, how I’ll make money, and how to keep progressing. I feel the imposter syndrome, and there are days when I wonder when it’ll be my turn.
I don’t think I’m unique in my struggles but I can certainly appreciate how this is a journey and not a sprint.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actress. And I love it. There’s nothing else I love more than being able to fully empathize, understand, and respect a character’s story and journey. I love the human aspect of storytelling in the sense that I believe every person we meet has a story that’s uniquely theirs and they are fascinating.
That love of people and their story led me to becoming an investigative journalist first and then an actress. I like doing both and I think people can do both side by side. That journey has allowed me to travel to India to cover cults and elections and to England to cover everything from a beheading to a Royal Wedding.
I think that determination and relentless pursuit to achieve my dream of working on social justice roles and bringing the spotlight back to the people who should have it is something that is involved in all the work I do.
When I’m not acting, I coach actors both adults and children. I love seeing actors come to life and get excited when the scene clicks into place. I also box, paint, cook, and do yoga.
I’m most proud of the times I stand up for what’s right even if it’s uncomfortable.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I think we’ve already had a big shift in making the industry become more authentic. We still have a long way to go but I think TV and film is starting to shift into a place where we can watch it and everyone can see themselves.
And I think this shift is important. For years BIPOCs have watched films where they weren’t represented and still enjoyed entertainment, I think it’s time for everyone to have the chance to feel seen. I also think that people have the opportunity to create their own short films, web series, Tiktok series, and social media shorts where they get to write, direct, act, and produce their own characters.
Another related change I see happening is the industry recognizing and capitalizing on content creators who are bringing in large audiences on their individual platforms. This will change both the theatrical and commercial industry.
Pricing:
- $1/hr for self taping
- $1.50/hr for coaching
Contact Info:
- Website: www.csnene.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chhayanene/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/chhayanene
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChhayaSNene
- Other: https://resumes.actorsaccess.com/chhayanene
