‘I want to see diverse faces get the same budgets’
The Canadian of Indian origin on mental health and being a person of colour in the entertainment industry in the West
1 What was the immediate inspiration for Be a Triangle? I decided to write this book because during the pandemic I realised that who I am as a person, what my values are, what I want to achieve out of life, what my moral compass is, all fluctuated a lot day-to-day. I concluded that I needed to build a strong foundation of who I am that doesn’t waver. I call this book, “the blueprint for making a safe space in your mind”.
2 Do you feel that you have faced added pressures as a woman of colour working in an industry that has a long way to go in terms of being inclusive?
I think great strides are being made for diversity in the entertainment industry, but a lot of work still needs to be done.
More often you will see a diverse face on screen, but I want to see diverse faces in the rooms where decisions are being made too. I want to see diverse faces getting the same budgets and resources as other people. So it’s not just a seat at the table, it’s having that seat be properly supported too.
Also, it’s about not being the only one at the table. Yes, strides are being made, but I would love it to not be so exceptional when we see a person of colour on screen. 3 Now, when “Anxiety Singh” makes an appearance, what are some of the immediate measures you take in order to get through the situation?
I try to meditate every day, although it usually does not happen every day. And when I feel a bit of anxiety, I do breath work.
I tend to always operate at 10, so when my nervous system tips over the top I definitely have to do some work to calm down. And I really do go back to the guiding principles I wrote about in the book: I start every meditation or every bit of breath work by saying, “There’s only four things that matter right now: it is your relationship with yourself, relationship to the universe, understanding distraction and implementing design.”
Usually, when I feel anxiety, the thing that I think about the most is the understanding distraction part. Anxiety distracts you from the place you want to be. So go through it, live it, it is a valid feeling, but know you can return to a place within you that is not this feeling. I use that a lot. 4 Tell us a bit about your upcoming projects?
I am in the animated movie Bad Guys, which is fun and I’m really proud to be a part of. The cast is amazing, the animation is so unique, and the message is so timely.
I also am a judge on Canada’s Got Talent, which is really cool, because I’m a proud Canadian obviously. I also just announced that I’ll be starring in a new Disney+ series, Muppets
Mayhem.