An Inspired Chat with Dr. Priyadarshini G. Roy of Los Angeles

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Priyadarshini G. Roy. Check out our conversation below.

Dr. Priyadarshini G., we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me right now is very structured, disciplined, and purpose-driven. I wake up at 5:00 a.m. and begin my day with meditation, which helps ground me spiritually and mentally before stepping into a full day of responsibility. That quiet morning practice is a reminder that patience is essential, both with myself and with my spiritual journey, and it sets the tone for clarity, gratitude, and focus.

From early morning through about 5:00 p.m., I’m immersed in academia, media, and radio (i.e., teaching as a professor, developing curriculum, researching, writing, and producing media content across platforms). Balancing multiple careers requires perseverance and persistence; showing up every day, even when it’s exhausting, is part of honoring the work and the purpose behind it.

After my workday, I prioritize physical and mental well-being by working out for one to two hours, which is crucial for sustaining the stamina this lifestyle demands. Evenings are dedicated to family responsibilities, reflection, and intentional rest. I usually go to sleep early, understanding that longevity in any field is built through consistency and care.

Weekends are fueled by passion. That’s when I focus deeply on my film and acting prospects (i.e., script readings, auditions, and creative development). I also create content for my YouTube channel, including singing covers, dance videos, and other artistic expressions that keep me connected to the joy of creation. When possible, I cook on weekends and use that time to reset, realign, and prepare mentally and spiritually for the week ahead.

Overall, my days are anchored in patience, perseverance, persistence, and passion. Every part of my routine supports a larger vision; one rooted in purpose, faith, storytelling, service, and the belief that meaningful success is built one intentional day at a time.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Priyadarshini G. Roy, an actor, singer, dancer, producer, professor, and storyteller at heart. At the core of everything I do is a deep belief that stories are what bind us together across cultures, generations, and lived experiences. My work lives at the intersection of art, academia, and advocacy, where storytelling becomes both a creative expression and a means of connection, healing, and social impact.

Through my production company, Priyadarshini Films and Entertainment, along with my work in academia and media, I tell stories across multiple mediums, including film, television, music, dance, radio/podcasts, and scholarship. Whether I’m acting in a historical epic, producing documentaries, teaching media theory, or interviewing global artists and thought leaders, the intention remains the same: to amplify narratives that are often misunderstood, underrepresented, or overlooked.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people is erasure. When stories are simplified, history is silenced, or lived experiences are spoken for rather than heard, connection dissolves. As an Indian American woman raised between cultures, I have seen how stereotypes replace nuance and how entire communities become invisible when their stories are excluded from dominant narratives.

What restores those bonds is honest storytelling. When we allow complexity, vulnerability, and truth to exist, stories become bridges instead of barriers. This belief is at the heart of my work across mediums, and it is most powerfully reflected in my award-winning documentary, Colonized: The Largest Genocide. The film confronts a silenced chapter of history through a human-centered lens, using storytelling not to provoke division but to invite dialogue, awareness, and empathy. Its recognition at multiple international film festivals affirmed for me that audiences across cultures are hungry for truth when it is told with integrity and care.

Storytelling binds us together because it reminds us of our shared humanity. Whether through film, academia, radio, or digital platforms, my mission is to amplify voices that have been marginalized and to create space for stories that educate, heal, and connect. Right now, I am focused on expanding that mission globally through film and streaming projects centered on strong female protagonists, scholarly work examining media and audience engagement in the digital age, and creative platforms like my podcast and YouTube channel that merge scholarship with artistic expression.

My brand is rooted in patience, perseverance, persistence, and passion, and in the belief that storytelling, when done with purpose, has the power not only to entertain but to unite, restore, and transform.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Outside of personal struggles that I’ve spoken about before on other media platforms, one of the defining struggles of my life has been people questioning where I was from. As an immigrant raised in America, I was often told I was “too Indian.” When I spent extended time living and working in India, I was told I was “too American.” Existing between two worlds can quietly navigate your sense of identity, especially when neither side fully claims you. For a long time, I internalized that dissonance, as though I had to choose one version of myself over the other.

Healing came with the realization that I am not divided. I am whole. Having lived and worked in both countries has allowed me to embody the best of both worlds. That duality is not a limitation, but a strength. It gave me cultural fluency, emotional intelligence, and the ability to navigate spaces with empathy and nuance. What once felt like judgment became clarity. I have always been proud of both of my cultures and lands and never let other’s unsolicitated opinions affect my self-worth. In fact, it shaped my worldview and expanded my horizons.

Another defining wound was growing up too fast. As the eldest daughter in a deeply supportive immigrant family, responsibility arrived early. Life required maturity before childhood had fully unfolded. While that came with its own quiet tribulations, it also shaped my resilience, discipline, and sense of purpose. I learned accountability, patience, and perspective at an age when many are still discovering themselves.

With time, I’ve learned to be grateful for those trials. They gave me a way of seeing the world beyond my years, grounded in substance rather than surface. That perspective continues to guide how I live, create stories, and lead, especially in an era where distraction and fleeting digital validation often replace depth. My healing has come through acceptance, gratitude, and the understanding that my journey, though unconventional, has given me clarity, wisdom, and an unshakable sense of self.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is real, but it is not the entirety of who I am. What people see is my discipline, my achievements, my resilience, and my commitment to purpose. What they don’t always see are the quiet moments of doubt, reflection, prayer, and recalibration that make that public version possible. I am deeply private about my inner world, not because it is inauthentic, but because I believe some parts of growth are meant to be protected. The person I am in private is softer, more introspective, and deeply rooted in faith, gratitude, responsibility to my family and community, and someone who loves unabashedly and selflessly. The public version is simply the part of me that has learned how to carry that inner work with grace and consistency.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope people don’t just speak about titles, credits, or accolades. I hope they say that I lived with integrity and intention. That I used storytelling not for attention, but for connection. That I built bridges across cultures, created space for voices that were often unheard, and led with patience, perseverance, persistence, and compassion. Most importantly, I hope the story told about me is that I left people, and the world, more thoughtful, more seen, and more inspired to live truthfully than I found them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/dr.priyadarshinig.roy/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.priyadarshinig.roy/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpriyadarshinigroy/
• Twitter: https://x.com/DrPriyaGRoy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/priyadarshini.g.roy/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrPriyadarshiniGRoy
• Other: https://www.priyadarshinigroy.com/

Image Credits
Gene Lewis-Virtu Imagery