Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaveri Seth.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Things for me started with dance. I learnt pretty early on that I loved dancing – it’s all that mattered and all that I did. At seven, I started learning an Indian classical dance form; in middle school, jazz; in high school, contemporary, and in college, I was choreographing and performing all the time. Dance was the main character in my story for a long time. I grew up in India in a family that deeply believed in finding a purpose, in doing what one loved doing.
But things shifted after college. I suppose life feels a lot easier and more meaningful when you know what you want to do and get to do it. At 21, for the first time, I wasn’t so sure. I took some time off from dancing, came to America (LA, actually) for the first time, and found myself questioning all that I had known and been so far. I dabbled with graphic design for a bit, started cooking and baking a lot. Eventually, I went to the San Francisco Bay Area for my master’s in dance and design. Dance was the only thing I’d ever been sure of so it made sense at the time.
Interestingly my first semester there I heard about an audition for a play in the South Bay and while I’d never acted or even dreamt of acting as an adult, I auditioned. It was all very spur of the moment, serendipitous, and thrilling, and I landed the lead. This is how acting happened for me.
After a couple of years of theater in California, I found my way into the world of films. I assisted director Mira Nair for a year in India on Monsoon Wedding Musical as well as BBC’s A Suitable Boy. This experience was everything and more – I was basically thrown into the mad but beautiful world of cinema, and for that one year, I learned and absorbed it all. I got to watch and often perform with the most incredible actors being directed by Mira, be around brilliant designers weaving their magic with costumes, sets and so much more. It was scary, often too difficult to bear, but beautiful. Too many life skills were acquired during this period.
Post my time with Mira, I decided to commit myself to acting full-time, and well that’s where I am today. I’m acting; I’m learning. My first feature film released last year, and I have another release coming up this year that I’m excited about. It’s been a good time so far – I have many interests, I’ve pursued a variety of things, but it feels good to have something in my life again that I feel as passionate about.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I suppose, especially if I zoom out a bit, my journey has been relatively smooth. I’ve had a comfortable life and much to be grateful for. Also, the opportunity to work with Mira Nair was a great first step in films. But, there’s usually more to every story and in some ways it hasn’t all been smooth sailing for me either.
Like I shared, I grew up with a passion for and dedication to dance. It was so central to my life that I needed no other purpose. But there came a time when that passion turned to confusion, and I didn’t know where to go or what to do with it. I’d taken a break from dancing and didn’t know how to find my way back to it. So, before the journey with acting began, I’d had years of feeling completely lost, purposeless, like I was wasting my life away. It was a pretty low period in my life. Even where I am today isn’t exactly smooth – as is the case for many other actors/artists. Acting can be a waiting game; there is constant rejection, and your patience is consistently tested. It can really make you doubt yourself, see parts of yourself you’re not ready to witness and be vulnerable in ways that can sometimes break you. But then, this is all a part of why you’re doing what you’re doing, so smooth or not, you’re here for it.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve done quite a few TV commercials. A Valentine’s special Spotify commercial I did last year has been my favorite to date. It was set entirely in an elevator, and I loved the narrative and my character! Every now and then, I’ll do some fashion shoots, mostly creative brand campaigns. I had my first feature film release in 2023, called Gulmohar, alongside Sharmila Tagore, Manoj Bajpayee, and Suraj Sharma, which is streaming on Hulu. It’s a beautiful ensemble story with some very special people. I did a short film last year called Halves, about a couple navigating the question of love, their past, and their present, all on their second date. I also have a release coming up this year, an eight-episode drama comedy about a family that is forced to go into therapy together, which should be interesting!
5 years in films so far and I’ve learnt a lot; I’m learning a lot. I know I constantly strive to find the truth in what I do. I care too deeply about intention and honesty; I hope that shows in my work. I’ve always been okay with being who I am, even if that’s different from what others expect of me. It isn’t always easy, but I am proud of that and I hope to keep it that way.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Got to love the ocean! And that LA is where so much art is created and shared with the world. What do I not love? Probably the architecture.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kaveriseth.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kavidrama/
Image Credits
Anirudh Agarwal
Devansh Jhaveri
Kush Patel
Tarun Chouhan
