Conversations with Elisha Kriis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisha Kriis.

Hi Elisha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Gujarat, India. In our family education is of utmost importance. Both my parents are Judges and my sister is a gold-medalist in business economics. So TV and Films were nowhere near the radar of things to aspire for.

But destiny has its way. My performing arts journey began when I was in fourth grade and I played the co-lead in my school drama. It was highly appreciated and later chosen to be aired on DD1 television (DD1Gujarati). Before that experience, I was quite shy, but something inside me said – this is what I like; I can entertain people.

While growing up in India, I was also greatly inspired by Hollywood movies and travel shows — captivated by the idea of Samantha Brown’s journeys on TV. It made me realize what a big and wonderful world we live in.

My first dream was to explore as much of this beautiful world as possible. After finishing my Bachelor in Business Administration from MSU, Vadodara. I took the leap and moved to Mumbai. There I worked hard and cracked the audition to become a host for India’s first exclusive travel network (TravelXP) series. Our shows were broadcasted to over 40 million homes around Asia, the Middle East, Africa, North America, and Europe, translated into seven languages.

My second dream was to express myself creatively through entertainment. After spending four years traveling across Europe, South East Asia, and the Middle East, I decided it was time to move on to the next dream. Believing that storytelling could be a great way to both entertain and inspire people alike, I made the brave decision to stop everything else and transition into films. In 2016 I shifted my base to Los Angeles to pursue my career in films. In the U.S. alone, I have worked in over 9 feature films so far. In 2018-2019, I had five feature film releases, Body Of Sin, Ink&Rain, BorderCross, Tournament, and The Recall. I have also had supporting and guest appearances in Hindi and Telugu language films such as Wake Up India, Zanjeer, and Toofan.

In 2021, I hosted the pre-Oscar celebration show titled Hollywood Unlimited for Disney India’s StarWorld TV platform. In that show, I took the viewers to some of the most iconic locations in Hollywood.

In 2022, our internationally acclaimed and multiple award-winning film Highway Nights qualified for Oscars 2023. It was a short -film inspired by the lives of Indian tribal sex workers starring Prakash Jha and directed by Shubham Singh. I was a producer on it.

I consider myself an artist and an inspired storyteller. With all my travels around the globe and having met such eminent personalities, I have some incredible stories I want to share with the world. I always feel the responsibility to create entertainment that inspires my viewers. Be it as an actor or a writer/director/producer. Be it in any /all formats, feature films, short films, or documentaries. Be it any medium Standard, VR, AR, or XR. I am here to make it happen.

I feel I am just getting started and there is so much that I have to offer.

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?
When I moved from my small town Vadodara to Mumbai, every single day was a challenge. Alone in this big city, I had to navigate my life all alone and I wanted to thrive, not just survive. I wanted to make it on my own without pestering my parents. I finished my BBA at MSU and later somehow convinced my mother to let me pursue a career in TV and Film. She graciously agreed to let me test the waters. With her approval, I left for Mumbai to pursue a diploma course in acting and filmmaking at one of India’s best filmmaking schools, Barry John Film Academy. I didn’t know anyone or anything about Mumbai. Buses were my regular way to commute but being in a rickshaw was a treat! I even remember walking a lot to save money.  It was never easy but I kept moving forward without complaining because I knew these were the stepping stones to all my dreams and aspirations. Becoming a travel t.v host brought me to the next level.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an actor and writer-producer and I am also the founder of Enteraktive which is a production studio dedicated to inspirational films, documentaries, and shorts. We deliver with standard as well as VR, AR, XR assets to bring our stories to life. We are currently working on a biopic of one of India’s biggest humanitarians, Sindhutai Sapkal, well-known as the Mother of 1400 Orphans. We have other inspirational films and documentaries in the works.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Some life lessons I have deeply understood and embraced are:
There are no good or bad experiences; there are experiences that are inherently important for growth.
There are no good or bad people; there are just happy people and unhappy people.
Judge less, accept more, and run your own race.
Consistency trumps talent, beauty, and connections.
Moreover, as I understand my life more I have realized success is not about wealth or beauty it’s about living in grace, with dignity and health amongst people you love.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.enteraktive.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elishakriis/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kriiselisha/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kriiselisha

Image Credits
Kevin Scanlon