Today we’d like to introduce you to Chandni Parekh.
Hi Chandni, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Well, I’m Gujarati Indian, but I was born in Italy to parents with thick Indian accents and a father in the U.S. military. While Venice, Italy was my first home, my parents were firmly committed that my brother and I understood where we truly came from. Growing up, we spent summers in India, grounding ourselves in our rich culture, surrounded by the love of family. Spending my formative years between different cultures, I often felt a little, ‘lost in translation’ so to speak. My life has always felt like a tapestry woven from diverse cultural threads.
As my dad was in the military, I was what you call an “army brat” I bounced between different countries in Europe, and then moved to the U.S. living in New Jersey, Columbus, Phoenix and San Diego to name a few. Identity and “What are you?” was a query that resonated deeply throughout my formative years. To be honest, it wasn’t easy re-establishing myself with new friends in each new city and I was a bit shy as a result. Some years later I finally found my voice.
In college, I was drawn to volunteer in schools and libraries, reading to children. This was likely because my mother was a schoolteacher back in Mumbai and this had a lasting impact on me. When I realized how much I enjoy using my voice and the magic of storytelling, I decided to take a bit of a gamble and to moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting.
Once I arrived, it was a bit of a whirlwind as I did explore writing, but quickly found myself taking courses to challenge myself more and decided to enter the world of acting. Almost immediately, I signed with a commercial agent. Shortly after, I joined my current team at Kass Management, who have been opening doors to quality roles ever since. I still remember landing my first major on-camera role on, ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ and the thrill of finding myself on set truly bringing a script to life. Soon after, my team upgraded me to CESD Talent Agency, marking another step forward in my creative path. I knew that I was in my life’s purpose.
Since then, I’ve been working hard to hone my craft while immersing myself in a community I am inspired by everyday. Today, I’m actively involved in the South Asian community, ASIFA, and the Television Academy, where I have the honor of serving as a judge for this year’s Emmys.
I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in a short amount of time, but I know there’s so much more to aspire to. Call me an optimist, but I feel like I’m just getting started.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While I like to focus on the positives, this journey has certainly had its bumps along the way.
Like many who embark on this path, I initially felt intimidated and struggled with impostor syndrome. Walking into audition rooms filled with 20 other women who looked and dressed like me, or in voice acting, auditioning for the role of a 5-year-old boy while an actual 5-year-old boy emerged from the room, made me second-guess my skills. But rather than let that deter me, I became determined to sharpen my craft and quiet my inner critic. Mastering my skills became an exciting obsession – a fun and fulfilling challenge that still drives me today.
A major hurdle I faced was overcoming my shyness. Growing up, I was taught that being well-mannered and “nice” were the most important traits, which unfortunately led to my authentic voice being silenced. Constantly moving as a child, and having strict Indian parents who had their own fears, made me feel like an outsider. I naturally gravitated toward imagination and fantasy. The stories that helped me find my voice were a true gift, and I discovered a treasure trove of laughter through Hanna-Barbera cartoons and the whimsical worlds of cartoon networks. Animation became my refuge, especially as we transitioned to America and navigated another new culture.
Today, those early challenges inspire me every day. My parents worked tirelessly to build a new life, and I strive to make them proud. Though they are no longer with me, I carry their legacy forward, determined to prove that their courage and sacrifices were worthwhile. My mission is to bring joy to children all around the world, just as those beloved characters and cartoons brought laughter and magic to my life as a kid. I want every child to know that their stories matter and that their unique voices can light up the world.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today, I am honored to bring legacy characters like Looney Tunes ‘Lola Bunny’ on ‘Bugs Bunny Builders’ and Batman’s ‘Harley Quinn’ in ‘Batwheels’ to life, celebrating each character’s journeys of empowerment while adding my own chapter to the rich legacies of animation. In addition to voicing some of Warner Bros legacy roles, I voice several roles on Nickelodeon; characters on ‘The Loud House’ and ‘Big Nate’ – a show we started recording over the pandemic where I voice about 10 characters, each wildly different from the last. I currently provide walla work on ‘The Simpsons’, as well as voice the playable character ‘Faruzan’ on the video game ‘Genshin Impact.’
I champion myself to leave a mark in the voice over industry. This year, Warner Bros and Nickelodeon studios have submitted my voice work for nomination consideration in the upcoming Children’s and Family Emmy awards. As the first Indian actress to voice such legacy characters, I feel proud to connect my success with my South Asian community and celebrate our representation in the animation industry.
As I continue to grow in this industry, I aim to inspire children from diverse backgrounds and encourage them to follow their passions wherever it may lead them; trusting themselves to share the unique gifts that they can offer the world. Authenticity is the key in healing the world, and I’m dedicated to using my voice to help children find theirs.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The industry is undergoing significant changes, and there’s understandable apprehension about the uses of AI. The integration of this technology presents the biggest challenge to our profession. I firmly believe that nothing can compete with the authenticity of our talented voice community. As creators, our craft is about expressing our truth through storytelling and making genuine connections with the audience. It’s the creative soul who can capture emotions that resonates with viewers. In the coming months and years we will hopefully achieve a symbiotic relationship with emerging technologies that will help to enhance what we as voice actors provide to the creative community, rather than replace it.
I also find joy in witnessing diversity becoming normalized and hope for this trend continue. With increased awareness, we can harness the power of our unique voices to inspire and uplift one another, creating stories that reflect the richness of our diverse experiences.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chandniparekh.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chandniparekh_/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://x.com/chandniparekh_?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChandniParekh_
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm9548844/
Image Credits
Photographers: David Muller, Adam Hendershott. Warner Bros Media for WB event.
