Check Out Shanta Parasuraman’s Story

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Shanta Parasuraman.

Hi Shanta, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up as an athlete, playing competitive soccer, basketball, and track & field in the DC area.

When I kept getting injured in high school, I turned to the musical instruments I had played since I was young, and I also joined the choir. I really fell in love with theatre when I was 16 and decided to get a degree in it.

I did plays and musicals after I graduated from Indiana University for several years in NYC and the DC area, then decided to pivot more to on-camera work. I also got into voice acting, which was a really fun way to incorporate elements of my past vocal training.

Now, I pursue a variety of performance fields: improv and sketch comedy, voiceover, TV, film, writing, and more. Whenever I get to express myself creatively and artistically, I feel fulfilled.

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?
One of the first struggles I faced was my own mind. I battled self-doubt and anxiety, and to this day, I am still a perfectionist. It, of course, has some benefits, but being so self-critical and afraid to “mess up” can only hinder an artist in their journey.

Another struggle was, of course, the pandemic and the actor/writer strikes. I started pursuing my on-camera career around this time, so there were and still are many slow periods. I’ve had to turn my focus to other things, whether it’s stage work or creating my projects, to keep finding inspiration instead of self-pity.

I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think one thing that sets me apart from others is my well-roundedness as a performer.

I love that I can go from an extremely heightened animation role to an internal, subtle role in a dramatic, independent film. I do both drama and comedy, but I do feel a special joy when I can make someone laugh. One of the reasons I came to LA was to pursue more comedic opportunities.

I don’t know if there is a specific job I’m most proud of. But I am always proud of myself when I do something I’m scared of. I always want to learn, grow, and improve, and it’s one of the biggest driving factors in my approach to life.

Contact Info:

• Website: shantaparasuraman.com
• Instagram: @shalalashanta
• Twitter: @shalalashanta

Image Credits
Stephanie Girard