Today we’d like to introduce you to Shivani Desai.
Hi Shivani, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It feels like every day, we wake up to news that is painful to read. That is why I believe that art is so crucial in reminding us of the beauty that also exists in this world. I feel so connected to my purpose when I bring people hope, and comfort, and a smile through my work. That is why I’m an actor.
Originally from India, I’m currently living in Singapore and harbor ambitions of moving to LA real soon! Having grown up watching Bollywood cinema, my interest in the arts was sparked at a young age, but I only realized at 16 that I wanted to be an actor. The pushback for making an “impractical” career choice at a young age from family and friends was palpable, but I have nonetheless relentlessly pursued the path of making art for a living ever since.
Now a full-time actor, I’ve starred in TV series, short films, music videos, plays, documentaries, and commercials while also working as a model for local magazines, runway shows, and stock images as well as making guest appearances on reality shows and podcasts. To me, film and theatre signify the desire to affect change, a means to living truthfully, and an unwavering commitment to the process.
Two years into being a full-time working actor, I began feeling an undeniable calling to help fellow actors. When I first entered the world of acting, I found myself feeling utterly confused and overwhelmed. Living in a “dead”, non-major market with scant opportunities, no agent/manager system, no union, and a dismal lack of protection for the rights of actors, I faced a unique set of challenges that actors in LA or NYC wouldn’t. The ramifications of such a landscape meant that actors in my market could easily go weeks without an audition, months without a booking, and did not make a living wage as an actor. When I found out that actors in the US would get paid over $1,000 for a co-star – the same sort of role that we here in Singapore fight to get paid even $200 for, I knew I had to figure out a way to change this and build a solid working actor life for myself, as well as for other actors.
I know that what I’m doing is different from what any other coach in this business is doing. That’s not to say that they’re not doing a fantastic job – they absolutely are and I admire them for going out of their way to support actors in their journeys. But I think back to the time when I was brand new to all of this…and I felt a severe lack of tailor-made, customized support that an actor in my unique situation needed, which wasn’t being fulfilled by any class, program or workshop I took.
So I decided to do it myself.
I’ve created The Abundant Actor Blueprint, a program that makes use of my unique process, The STAR System. This is something that actors anywhere in the world, no matter how “dead” their market is, can be a part of and come out of it with a solid action plan to implement to see results in their acting careers. By equipping them with an unmatched mastery of the business, these actors thrive – not just survive – in the world of entertainment in every aspect: emotionally, mentally, financially, and professionally!
My hope behind this initiative is also to quash the culture of gatekeeping information in this industry – too many talented artists end up calling it quits before their time because they don’t have access to proper resources that support them. As a result, they end up feeling victimized by the system. And that’s just such a shame. Their raw talent and commitment to their craft deserve to be seen and appreciated by the world, and I want to help them do just that.
When I’m not in front of the camera or in a coaching call with actors, you’ll generally find me cooking up a storm in the kitchen! Food is my first love and I find a lot of joy in the simpler things in life – like making myself a beautiful breakfast every morning before I get to work.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Definitely not smooth. Like I mentioned earlier, just the sheer judgment at my decision to pursue acting professionally was the very first challenge I had to overcome. I’m afraid even in 2022, we live in a world where the idea of acting as a career rather than as a hobby is still seen as a ludicrous choice. It’s been nearly seven years since I first expressed my desire to be an actor to my parents – and I’m happy to report that they’ve gone from being the biggest skeptics to my strongest supporters.
The challenges that came with being a business mentor to actors, though, were a little more complex. If I had a nickel for every time I was asked, “how can you be a coach when you’re only 25?” or “what makes you think you can teach actors with only two years of a full-time acting career?”, I’d have enough money to never have to work again.
I don’t think this skepticism is completely invalid – I can give them that. But I do believe it’s about time we left our preconceived judgments and assumptions about what an “expert” looks like and were more open to trying new things. This might be controversial, but a man who survived on a deserted island with no food or clean water for a whole month has far stronger survival skills than someone who’s been camping out on the Copacabana for years. In the same vein, having built a solid working actor life whereby I audition for international projects with no agent, book regularly, and make more than a living wage despite being in a dead market, I believe that I have just as much expertise as an actor or coach who’s been living in LA or NYC for years.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Shivani Desai Coaching, I gather all my learnings as a working actor – specifically, how to thrive in the entertainment industry – and share it with fellow actors through a structured coaching program called “The Abundant Actor Blueprint”. This 10-week, live coaching program equips actors with industry knowledge and skills and takes their acting careers to a whole new level. With my guidance and mentorship, actors undergo career transformations as they learn how to audition more, network with industry professionals, become financially stable as artists and become unstuck in their current markets.
This program is dear to me because it’s what I wish I would’ve had when I was first starting out in the acting business. It would’ve made my journey less fraught with thorns and challenges – and admittedly, it would’ve allowed me to just experience the sheer joy of being an artist without having to worry so much about the business side of things. Nevertheless, I’m incredibly proud and happy that I get to provide that for other actors now. To know more details about the program, my DMs on my Instagram page, @itsshivanidesai, are always open!
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
My parting words of wisdom: if you feel like you’ve tried everything and still nothing’s working, you haven’t tried everything yet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shivanidesai121019.wixsite.com/shivani-desai
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsshivanidesai/
Image Credits
Leah Huebner
