Today we’d like to introduce you to Ram Kanneganti.
Hi Ram, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Hyderabad, India and I actually started acting in a youth theatre group as a teenager. We used to put up Indian versions of iconic shows like the Lion King and the Crucible. I remember the first time I was on stage – I was just a background dancer, but my whole family showed up to support. My uncles, aunts, cousins, EVERYONE! It really showed me the power that storytelling had to bring people together.
I never let go of the theater bug and eventually applied to NYU Tisch. I got in which was a big deal for me. No one in my family was involved in the arts and here I am going to one of the premier acting institutions in the World. I wish I could tell you that moving to New York was a culture shock, but growing up in India, the noise, the smells, the large density of people felt like home. What was a culture shock was theater training. It taught me to be vulnerable, to take risks and most importantly that it’s okay to fail.
During my time in New York, I had the privilege of performing with legendary artists over the years. I performed in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Jersey and theater festivals all over the state. I fell in love with Shakespeare and started dabbling in screen acting through my NYU Film and TV Cohort. After spending five incredible years there, I decided to move back to India to reconnect with Art in my home country, I had an incredible opportunity to perform as one of the leads in a Television comedy and it opened my mind to the possibilities of Film. How so many people can come together to craft a story that’s set in stone.
It also helped me reckon with how America changed me as a person. My values had shifted in a positive way and I had a clear understanding of who I was. And it became important for me to reconcile my cultural roots as an Indian with my adult thoughts as an American. And oddly enough it reminded me of my childhood dream- to be a Batman Villain. After all these years of being an Artist I made the tough decision of moving back to the States to fight for this dream. It was particularly challenging when we were just getting over COVID but the travel restrictions were still in place. But through the community that I’d built in America, I had so many people willing to help me make that move.
I moved to Los Angeles almost three years ago and that’s what brings me here today. I came in with this sole purpose to tell as many stories as I can and bring my whole self to each project. I’ve been lucky enough to continue to perform in Theatre. I’ve worked more in film now than I ever have – recently shooting for a series for NBC Peacock. I’ve also started to build my own community of International actors where I offer them dialect coaching – specifically with an American Accent. I’ve made so many incredible friendships with people all over the country who are driven by the same purpose. There are always struggles and low points, but my journey thus far has prepared me for that. To take joy in little moments of beauty, and to get up again the next day.
Whenever I make something, my WHOLE family still reaches out to me and tells me how much they liked it or how I could’ve done better. It brings back the same feeling I had as a 13 year old kid in a deer costume dancing awkwardly in the background. That no matter how small or big the part, there are people who love you and care about you. People who want to see you succeed. So no matter how long it takes, I’ll fight for those people and I’ll fight for my dreams.
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?
Aahh I wish! Nothing has ever been smooth. But those moments are a gift for later. Nothing like struggle to prepare you for more struggle. And also to laugh about it later.
The biggest, overarching struggle for me is the real world. Let me expand on this. There’s a world where you’re making art and telling stories with people that you love and respect. This part is a joy and privilege. But for the most part, you’re usually living the real world. You have to earn money, pay rent, fix your car and do your chores. Being an artist teaches you to make great art, but isn’t always helpful in the real world.
Moving countries, getting an apartment and buying a car. Getting a job in a field that you’ve been trained for. And making enough money to survive and keep making art. That’s the struggle. Sometimes there are very real thoughts that pop in- What if I shift gears and get a regular 9-5. I wouldn’t have to worry about all these little things. It would be smooth sailing. But I always try to remind myself that I didn’t sign up to live fully in the real world. That I can build this world of art and eventually live in that one
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m an Actor primarily. I’ve worked in Theater, Film, Animation and TV across the United States and India. I’m also a professional dialect coach specializing in Standard America, RP, Indian and New York dialects.
I’m most known for my work in Theatre and hopefully soon, my work in Television as well.
My proudest moment would probably be in a rehearsal for a play I performed in. It was a ‘A view from the Bridge’ by Brave New World Rep in Brooklyn. I played ‘Marco’ who was an Italian immigrant coming over to Red Hook, Brooklyn to earn a living and provide for his sick children. In the story, people say he’s strong like a bull. He even demonstrates his physical strength in the play. I’m not a particularly big guy in real life and I felt like I wasn’t able to bring this character’s physicality to life.
I wanted to feel heavy. And big. So one day, I showed up to rehearsal and I didn’t tell anyone but I tied some ankle weights to my feet. And hid them under my pants. Every step I took felt powerful. I could feel my feet grounding my body with every action. It locked in my whole body, my voice dropped a couple of registers and I felt like Marco. It locked in. I was proud of this because for the first time, I did something for myself which wasn’t performative or wasn’t superficial. It was experiential. It reinforced the power of physically experiencing something to inform your character, but doing it for yourself and not for anyone else or their approval.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
This is a great question. If you’re an Actor or just a person looking to learn an accent, please reach out. I’d love to work with you
If you’re looking to direct and need an Actor, I’d love to audition for the project.
If you’re looking to tell a South Asian story and need inputs about my experience, please reach out!
If you’re an International student pursing the arts and want any kind of guidance, hit me up!
And the most important way to collaborate or support me, and other artists like me is to CREATE. Tell your stories, go out and create something authentic to you. The world needs your voice now more than ever. I will support you in every way that I can.
Pricing:
- Online Accent Coaching – $80 per hour
- In-Person Accent Coaching – $110 per hour
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramkanneganti/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sriram.kanneganti
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramkanneganti/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Language_Academia
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6334965/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
