Today we’d like to introduce you to Pragathi Guruprasad.
Hi Pragathi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been singing my whole life! I grew up in a family of singers and musicians but most of my family did it as a hobby. I grew up training in South and North Indian Classical music and when I had the opportunity to perform on a much larger platform, I moved to India for a year with my mom to compete on South India’s leading reality music show, Super Singer Junior in 2012. I think that was a big break for me and the show not only introduced me to the world of music but also opened up so many doors into other creative paths. I moved back to the US to finish high school while touring the world and making frequent trips to India for music and modeling projects. I was also able to release a lot of my own music and work with musicians from all over the world.
When I decided to go to college in LA, I wanted to explore the entertainment industry on this side of the world. I had received numerous acting offers in India but never felt confident in my abilities to act and therefore, never agreed to any projects. During college, I enrolled in acting lessons in LA, met my current agents and managers, and was introduced to the world of Hollywood a few years ago. It has truly been such an incredible journey and I am so thankful for every door that was opened and every person I met along the way. I made my on screen debut on the Netflix Show “Never Have I Ever” and just wrapped up shooting a new feature film. There is so much more in store for 2021 and I can’t wait to talk about it.
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?
Haha, absolutely not. There have been numerous obstacles along the way, just as any other field has. Being introduced to the world of entertainment at such a young age comes with a lot of pros and cons. Although I have had some very memorable moments along the way, being in the spotlight all the time is always tough when you’re growing up and trying to be a “normal teenager.” I loved touring and traveling the world but it came with a lot of compromises. I didn’t have the normal high school or college life as I was trying to keep up with a full-fledged career. Similarly, being a South Asian in Hollywood is not all fun and games as I believe we are still carving a niche for ourselves and Hollywood itself is slowly learning about our culture, language, and practices.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love identifying as a creative because I’ve had the opportunity to do so many cool things within the field! I started off as just being a singer and have sung in numerous South Indian films, released a lot of independent music in South Indian languages all over the world, and toured numerous countries. Music and TV opened up a lot of opportunities for me to model as well. I’ve worked with some amazing brands like NYX Cosmetics and Colourpop Cosmetics as one of the first few South Asian faces to represent the brand. The exposure has also given me an amazing following on social media, leading to brand deals and endorsements. I recently started acting, with my debut being on Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever” and recently finished filming a feature film. I’ve been working on a ton of new music and hope to have my debut EP out this year. I’m most proud of how many things I’ve been able to balance doing over the years. It is so easy to get boxed in to one thing and many people tell you to stay away from being too scattered, but I truly believe that it is a gift to be able to do many things at once and do them well.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always a performer. I loved being on stage and the thought and idea of it never scared me. I competed in music competitions from a very young age and my parents always knew I was great in front of a crowd. I played professional table tennis for many years and was actually training to compete in the Junior Olympics when I was offered a chance to be on a reality show in India. I stopped playing afterwards as music became a more serious part of my life, but I really enjoyed playing sports as well.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @pragathiguru
- Facebook: Pragathi Guruprasad Official
- Twitter: @pragathiguru
