Stereotypes are being shattered in the West, feels Sweta

As an Indian actor who works in the West, Sweta Keswani says she does come across stereotypical roles. However, she says she also sees changes in the way roles are written for South Asian actors in the West these days.

“There’s a lot of stereotypes, and they aren’t going away anytime soon. But there’s also a lot of new breed of creative writers, producers and directors globally, who are pushing the envelope and trying to create a different landscape for people of colour,” Keswani tells us.

There are so many Indianorigin actors producing content in the West, like Mindy Kaling and Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Does she think that has changed the way Indian characters are written? “Absolutely. Mindy Kaling is a torchbearer when it comes to breaking the mould, where screenplays are concerned. Writing and producing content that shows us Indians as we are — multifaceted and integrated in the West and having our own American stories, and it’s definitely paved the way for others,” she adds.

Keswani stars in the recent comedy film As They Made Us, and series Roar with actor Nicole Kidman. Talking about the kind of roles she looks for in Hollywood, she says, “I’d love to do a sci-fi show! I’m just blown over by the diversity in that genre here. I’ve played a hip, savvy web designer in New Amsterdam, a neurologist in As They Made Us, a matriarchal, bossy Indian auntie in Roar, among others. Let’s see what else Hollywood has to offer. I’m growing and learning so much with every role here, that being open to all kinds of characters has served me exponentially,” she ends.

Sweta Keswani