Poorna Jagannathan shares how South Asian Hollywood roles have evolved
What's the story
Indian-American actor Poorna Jagannathan has been a mainstay in international television, courtesy of her roles in projects like Big Little Lies and Never Have I Ever. Her latest is the comedy series Deli Boys, which premiered on JioHotstar on Thursday. During an exclusive interview with ETimes, she opened up about her career trajectory and how South Asian representation has evolved in global entertainment.
Career reflection
Jagannathan's career reflects a change in South Asian representation
Jagannathan also shared her experiences with typecasting in the American film industry. She said, "In the States, I would only get very typecast as a doctor or a nurse." However, she added that the trend has been changing over time. "Slowly and surely, there were more South Asian writers and more South Asian people in entertainment... And the way that South Asian female roles got written became meatier and meatier over the years."
Narrative credit
Jagannathan credited Mindy Kaling-Abdullah Saeed for relatable narratives
Jagannathan credited the change in South Asian representation to creators such as Mindy Kaling and Abdullah Saeed. She said, "Deli Boys is a testament to they have decided to create worlds that they come from and portray those specific stories to a universal audience." This has opened up the opportunity for narratives that are specific to South Asian experiences but also universally relatable.
Industry comparison
Jagannathan highlighted differences between Hollywood films and web series
Jagannathan also spoke about the disparity in the South Asian presence in Hollywood films and web series. She feels television provides more space for depth and nuance, while Hollywood still has to catch up. "I think the mainstream streamers are much more open to having different stories on their platform," she said, adding that movies need to be mass-oriented because of theater economics, but streaming platforms can target a niche.
Amplifying diversity
'Deli Boys' and Onyx Collective's role in amplifying diverse voices
Jagannathan also praised Onyx Collective, the studio behind Deli Boys, for its commitment to amplifying the voices of people of color. The Delhi Belly actor said she loved their roster and the opportunities it gives her as an actor. "As an actor, I get to play much more nuanced, interesting, and funnier characters on TV than I would in films."