Life & Work with Akmal Rakhimov of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Akmal Rakhimov.

Hi Akmal, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
One of my deepest values is freedom and I have never felt more free, alive or in my truest self-expression as when I’m acting.

Born and raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, I always felt called to follow my instincts in a very traditional culture. I had a very supportive acting teacher in college who suggested I audition for the prestigious Ilkhom Theatre of Mark Weil School of Drama when I didn’t get into the acting university that’s required by the majority of Uzbek actors to make it in the business. But the Universe had a bigger plan. Not only did I get into the Ilkhom Theatre, meet and fall in love with the American exchange student in our class while doing a scene, but I became a principal actor of the theatre, performing in 10 mainstage shows rotating in the Ilkhom’s repertory in Uzbek and Russian. I also began to get cast in movies, commercials, TV and radio upon my graduation. But theatre was always my first home and love.

The opportunity to follow my at-the-time girlfriend (now my wife) to America was one of the most challenging decisions of my life. To leave my family, my friends, my culture, my identity, my languages, my thriving acting career that was only just beginning for love and a calling of something greater, was overwhelming.

But I followed my impulse to NYC, expanding my craft on-screen in short films and a TV series, modeling at New York Fashion Week and developing experimental theatre off-Broadway. I also became SAG and studied with amazing film teachers too.

After the pandemic, we decided to move to LA. I landed the lead role in a short film that thrived on the festival circuit and I won Best Actor at The Black Magic Film Collective Festival, which was very surprising and exciting.

Now, I am expanding into a deeper understanding of myself, finding my community and expanding onto bigger stages and screens.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Well, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth ride since I moved to America. Growing up in a developing country, I had a particular idea of America which was portrayed on TV, but when I arrived here, it was drastically different from what I was told by the movies or media. And that was a big shock for me.

I went from having everything — a thriving career, friends, family, my culture, my languages, my identity — to literally starting from zero. In a language I didn’t know how to speak and in a world I had no idea how to exist in.

I was totally lost, shut-down, and felt broken. It was a major identity crisis while transitioning to a new culture, learning a new language and working jobs just to pay the bills.

This developed into depression, anxiety and panic attacks. I’d never experienced any of these emotions before! During the pandemic, my wife began to explore spirituality which really helped me process this trauma and pain. I had become so resistant and shut down to life, which is not who I am at my core. I simply wasn’t expressing myself and that’s what’s been hardest of all.

Moving to LA and shifting into understanding how all these struggles in fact weren’t a waste of time, but instead an opportunity for me to not only build my inner strength as a human, but also an artist. I now feel more empowered as a person which is what I get to give to my acting. And I’m so excited to add these layers of my own personal evolution to the craft that I love.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well, I’m an actor and honestly, that’s all I do. I wish I had more skills because a lot of the people I meet in L.A. are usually actors/writers/directors/ entrepreneurs, but I’m just me, Akmal the actor.

I think what I’m most proud of is finding my way in this very unknown, unpredictable path. It takes a lot of inner strength, self work and discipline to be an actor. There isn’t an exact blueprint for you to follow. It’s as much a spiritual journey as an artistic one. You have to work on yourself constantly. You have to keep yourself warm and ready.

I don’t know what sets me apart from other people because I believe that every dedicated person who’s on the same path as me has resilience and self-belief, hard work, and a strong mindset. All the good qualities that one can have to achieve their goals.

So.. the only thing that maybe sets me apart is, I don’t know, my look? No one can really place where I’m from, which actually gives me the opportunity to play many different roles, which is awesome.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
My dedication to finding the truth in myself, in my life, and in my craft.

Being bold and confident enough to face my fears. To overcome my own disbelief, or a pre-set mindset about certain things. Finding the balance between taking action, rest, pleasure and joy. Finding a community that supports and understands me.

Healing myself to the point that I can share the wisdom I’ve gained with other people and the characters I play. To share my inner light and wisdom from a place of fulfillment, happiness and creativity. Hopefully, that’s a place I wish we can all create from.