Meet Jahanvi Kuppili of The Valley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jahanvi Kuppili.

Hi Jahanvi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was 15, I started writing a collection of short stories and prose that I would eventually get published 4 years later. Although the writing style in my book was not very representative of my true voice, it did open a few doors down the road. It also made me realize I wanted more; I wanted to see my writing brought to life. I’d spent my middle school in Kampala making sketches and filming videos with friends, as well as obsessively watching iCarly. I missed the collaborative aspect of filming things with others and bouncing ideas off them. When my uncle gave me a screenwriting book one day, the horizon suddenly seemed to open up. At that point I was going to college for engineering in the outskirts of Delhi in India, I wasn’t exactly a very creative environment. I didn’t know what I would do next to go where I wanted — Film and TV aren’t popular career paths in India, I also didn’t really know anyone who worked in the industry — there wasn’t a blueprint. It just seemed like a distant universe to me. After I made my first short film right before the pandemic — a rough around the edges but fun mockumentary with my friends — I eventually decided to go to school for film. I applied to one school in the West Coast and got in. It was the cheapest option available and also, the center of Film and TV — Hollywood, was right there. It seemed like the obvious choice, and here I am in LA now, 4 years later.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s been very far from smooth. I was sat down a dozen times by family and friends who told me it was impractical, when they found out I was planning to pursue screenwriting. Which was great for my self esteem. Thankfully my Dad was very supportive, he even financially helped me through college. He is my biggest cheerleader and I am very very grateful for that everyday.

Graduating into the writers strike was great too. I count my lucky stars. Not. It wasn’t like I had Shonda Rimes, Lorne Micheals or Mike White banging on my door asking me to work for them, but the strike definitely did limit my options (Mike White if you’re reading this get me on White Lotus S4 I will be the assistant gaffer). I do think these blockades led me to stand up and improv though, both of which gave me a lot of clarity. I realize comedy is what I want to do. I spent most of my MFA trying to write chilling dramas a la Peyton Place so I could be taken more seriously — I was the youngest student in my cohort, I felt like I had to prove I deserved to be there with the rest. When I should’ve just been more real with myself, I might have found stand up and UCB earlier on.

Then of course, there are the restrictions with my visa, I’m on a student visa, meaning I don’t get the same opportunities that others do. There are lots of fellowships, grants and jobs that you can’t apply for when you’re not a citizen.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am primarily a writer. I mostly write comedy; screenplays, sketches and essays. As a writer in LA that means I am also by default a stand up comedian. A lot of my stand up sets and writings are biographical and self deprecating — I draw a lot of inspiration from my life as I seem to experience bad luck a lot more than the average person — people love it. I once saw a guy wearing a diaper while holding a gigantic watermelon pull out a knife on someone three feet away from me on the G-Line. You can’t make this up. I was obviously traumatized and didn’t leave my house for days, but with hindsight that was hilarious. Not the knife part. Also yeah, it sucked for the guy who had the knife pulled on him too – he was fine, not a scratch. You know what actually? That wasn’t very funny at all.

I know this doesn’t seem like much but my greatest accomplishment has been just getting on stage. I have horrible stage fright, and I can’t believe I was able to get on stage. Much less over and over again. I have done a few shows so far and they’ve been delightful experiences. I love the audience, I love the people in LA, everyone is so nice. (except maybe the guy who pulled out the knife)

I think what sets me apart is I don’t talk about drugs or sex very much; marketing myself as a loser has surprisingly had its benefits. But then again Vince Staples is straight edge too and he is FAR from a loser.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I wish I took the time to explore the city on my own and did things by myself when I moved to LA. There is this pressure to socialize and make friends immediately when you move to a new place and before you know it, you’re spending so much time doing things you don’t like with people you probably won’t talk to in a few months. Being alone is really important to figure yourself out. I also wish I started stand up earlier, like, the day I landed in LA. It’s such a great community. Although I’ve gotten to work and be around people in the Film and TV industry, I found the stand up community a lot more genuine and friendly. They’re so real. I also really really wish I transferred to community college. People look down at community college but they surprisingly have way better resources than university and I would’ve lived closer to Hollywood. The commute from the Valley is insane. Also, I am pretty sure my dorm had mold in it. I blame all of my bad decisions my first three years here on mold induced psychosis.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://readymag.website/u2444947716/5778917/