VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 20, 2021 / With over two decades of experience on stage and screen, Anjali Bhimani has learned a thing or two about riding the waves of the industry. Today, boasting a body of work filled with big-screen successes, she shares 6 tips to help others in the acting industry enjoy the wild ride filled with highs and lows.
Photo: Kelly Balch
In a study from Queen Mary University, they found that only 2% of actors make a living in their profession. When we consider how many people want to become actors and how many roles actually exist, this percentage is not surprising. The stereotype of the desperate actor working extra shifts is pervasive in the media because it's true for many.
With COVID-19, the television and film industry has faced a serious struggle. Hollywood is still trying to bounce back. The number of productions impacted by the pandemic is a long one and is sure to grow in the coming months. Still, some cities like Vancouver are booming after production started up again last summer.
For those looking to get their foot in the door in the film industry, it's hard to find good advice. Most of it is full of frivolous and generic tips, but Anjali Bhimani is changing that.
As a seasoned performer in the world of Hollywood, Anjali Bhimani holds an impressive number of production successes, but she'll be the first to admit they were accompanied by an even higher number of missed opportunities. When asked about how many roles she does get, she'll tell you it's much much less than you might think.
"Sure, you have to hear no a lot. That's why you have to continue to put yourself out there," admitted Anjali. Her honesty pulls back the curtain on the realities of full-time work in the show biz.
With over 20 years of experience, Anjali boasts an impressive resumé that few can rival. Most actors only last one year due to high rates of burnout and rejection. But Anjali is not like most actors.
To date, she has recurred in many series such as Modern Family, given a voice to one of the original heroes in Overwatch and another in Apex Legends. Anjali acted alongside stars including Gary Sinise in Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, Shemar Moore in S.W.A.T., and Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin in Grace & Frankie.
That's just a portion of her 70+ appearances and credits. And those don't even include her extensive work on stage, including leading roles in Metamorphoses and Bombay Dreams on Broadway.
Anjali alongside Julie Bowen in Modern Family
Recently, the multifaceted performer landed a recurring role in Season 2 of Netflix's Special, a small but mighty series committed to sharing inclusivity through a beautifully creative storyline.
She is also championing a new script and show concept from fellow South Asian writer Sabrina Besla called The B Word, a show about five 30-something South Asian American women navigating the travails of womanhood. The show deals with complex themes such as mental illness, addiction, cultural identity, and more.
Anjali's industry experience has been nothing short of extraordinary, and today she shares 6 pieces of advice for other artists, performers, and creatives in the space to help them push past the challenges and embrace the ride.
1. Diversify Your Creativity
"You don't have to choose one outlet to express yourself artistically. I learned this lesson from my parents. They were both surgeons, but they still led very creative lives.
"Often, we think our career has to be our main outlet of expression. That puts too much pressure on your job and stops you from being able to create.
"From my mother I learned that cooking a meal was art, throwing a party was art, treating her patients was art. When you understand that, there isn't as much pressure as an actor to perform. Your creative juices are flowing all the time.
"By doing this, you are also always flexing your creative muscles. Then when you have to work, you're primed and ready to go. All people have creativity in them-the expression of it, and what someone's creative ‘weapon of choice' just differs from person to person." -Anjali Bhimani
2. Re-frame Rejection
"This is something that has been told to me in many ways. Michael Kostroff, a fellow actor in the industry, has great advice on dealing with constant rejection. He shares that we must look at it from a mathematical perspective. If 20 people apply and 1 person gets the job, that doesn't mean the other 19 people were rejected. It simply means that 1 person was chosen.
"Try to think, ‘I wasn't rejected, I just wasn't chosen.' It doesn't mean no it means, ‘Not right now' or ‘Not this one.' Let the disappointment of not being chosen live within itself, but don't say or think it's because there's something wrong with you.
"Another huge component of this is to remember that it's much more important to book the room than the job. There are so many opportunities other than the one you're looking for. While you might not get the role you auditioned for, you might be kept in mind for something else. Sometimes, if you really nail the audition, the people in the room will create a new role for you.
"I also think it's crucial that you never count yourself out. Plenty of other people will say no to you...don't beat them to it. Say yes to the audition, even if it seems a little out of your wheelhouse - you never know what might happen!" -Anjali Bhimani
3. Come from a Place of Service
"As an actor, it's easy to be focused on yourself. You want to do your best and give your best. This constant need to please can sometimes come off as desperate. Instead, try walking into a room and saying, ‘I've got you.'
"Leading with this confidence shows that you are there to help them. Worst case scenario, they will be entertained! Drop your needs and start thinking about their needs. By providing value, you feel valued and can ultimately give more.
"When I made the jump to move to LA I asked myself, ‘What does Los Angeles need from me?' and I've been filling the gaps ever since. By doing this, you can accept people, places, and circumstances for what they are rather than what you want them to be." -Anjali Bhimani
4. Remember-Your Career is Not Your Purpose
"Often we're taught to follow our passion in our career. But that's not always the perfect fit. Your passion and your career don't have to be the same thing. My father wanted to be an actor, but that wasn't the career he chose, so he continued to use his creativity in both his work and in how he lived his life, and the same for my mom. To this day, she's one of the most creative people I know.
"As artists, we are taught that our passion and our job need to be the same thing, but we have to remember that purpose is bigger than any one job. Your career can be a vehicle to funnel your purpose into, it doesn't have to be your sole reason for being.
"Try to separate your career and purpose; peel them apart. Ask WHY am I an actor. Is it fame and money? Well, those are not your purpose-they are means to your purpose. Dig deeper and find what it really is.
"Will it give you peace, more agency, or help you feel valued? Know that, then you can look at ways to do that simultaneously. Sometimes there are other ways to serve that purpose too." -Anjali Bhimani
5. Don't Wait Around for Your Big Break
"I'll tell you right now-it does not exist! At least not the way we tend to think of it. If we only had one big break, one shining moment, in our lives... how sad would that be? We often think, ‘When I get the big job… When I get the big moment…' Don't wait for that! Don't assume there will only be one chance.
"The world can offer things that you don't even know. My first Broadway show, Metamorphoses, started as a small production in Chicago and it completely changed my life. At the time, we were creating it as it was simply something we loved. We had no idea it would turn into the success it became or impact so many people. To this day, people still come up to me on the street saying how much that show meant to them.
"My advice to novice actors is to just say yes to things that excite you because you never know what could happen. I've said yes to all kinds of opportunities because I love storytelling in every form… not because I think ‘THIS will be the one that gets me a seat at the table.'
"I love the live connection of theatre, the intimacy of TV, the fantastic world of animation, and the heroes we identify within video games. Every medium has its unique challenges and that helps you constantly learn." -Anjali Bhimani
6. Paying Your Bills is Not "Selling Out"
"I think there is a huge myth of the starving artist being the noble artist. Don't let anyone think that if you are making money in any legal and ethical way that you are selling out. Don't let them shame you if you have rich parents or if you have a "day job" that you actually love, too None of these things make you less of an artist.
"Make your money however you make your money-everyone nowadays has a side hustle.
"Being a responsible artist involves taking care of yourself and your basic needs, not romancing the struggle. Don't let people shame you for paying your bills in whatever taking care of yourself. You are your vessel and instrument so you need to take care of yourself in every way you can.
"Also, when you're desperate for the next acting gig to pay your bills, it puts so much pressure on the work that you can stifle your own creativity. The goal is to support yourself and your art however you can so that you are free to create. That's where the magic happens." -Anjali Bhimani
Anjali performing on stage at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago
Whether you're an aspiring actor, an artist, or a creator of any kind, the mindset strategies shared by Anjali can help you to pursue your career without burning out from rejection in the process.
Her words of wisdom offer tips akin to the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai, a concept that focuses on finding your meaning in life and means, "Reason for Being."
For more stellar advice, follow Anjali's web series I Am Fun Size on YouTube. There she shares her experiences and interviews fellow established performers to help others live their fullest and most meaningful lives.
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