Suraj Sharma: Stereotyping isn’t coming from place of malice

Suraj Sharma. Pic/Getty Images

In some ways, the evolution of Suraj Sharma and Hollywood has been parallel. Where the Indian actor is trying to find his feet in the international circuit after Life of Pi (2012), Hollywood is shedding its prejudices and embracing inclusivity. The actor, who is headlining The Illegal that recently dropped on Amazon Prime Video, says there has been a sea change in the West over the past decade with regard to cultural representation.

"I came to the US seven to eight years ago, and since then, things have become much better. There is more scope for us now. It's no longer about how many Indian actors are [part of the industry]. It's about how many South Asians are producers or in the writers' room, or how many have got a chance to direct a film. What they show on screen has a huge impact. The more you see a person from a particular background on the screen, the more familiar you become with [the community]. It's nice to see more South Asian festivals; they push this movement forward," says Sharma.

A still from The Illegal

After playing the lead in Ang Lee's 2012 gem, the actor went on to feature in several American productions, including Burn Your Maps (2016), Homeland and God Friended Me. Even as he chose diverse stories from the lot, he remembers frequently being offered similar parts. "Stereotype is still [prevalent]. Initially, I used to be frustrated with it. But now, I realise the [practice of] stereotyping is not coming from a place of malice. It happens because they haven't seen [our lives], and so, find it hard to imagine [the universe]."

His recent offering sees him play an Indian filmmaking student in the US. Through his character's journey, the Danish Renzu-directed venture shows the flipside of the American Dream. "I am drawn to good stories that make the audience think about an issue," says Sharma, who also dabbled in Bollywood with
Phillauri (2017).