Mumbai-born actor Prahaan Padhiar chats to Film News about studying in London, working in Los Angeles and his award-winning comedy film “Stop Di Cap” that’s generating a lot of buzz.
Hey! Can you introduce yourself for our readers please? Hi! I am Prahaan Padhiar an actor based in Los Angeles. I was born in Mumbai but have spent two summers in London, studying at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, where I further honed my craft. To continue my acting journey, I relocated to Los Angeles to study acting full-time at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. I am fluent in English, Hindi, and Urdu, and proficient in various dialects and accents, including British, American, Middle eastern, and Indian.
What prompted you to be an actor? I’ve always loved performing and seeing the reactions it evokes from others. In a way, I’ve always known that the performing arts—especially acting—would be my path in life. The moment I first stepped onto the stage at age four, I realized just how exhilarating this profession could be. Yet, it was only after two years of full-time training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts that I genuinely fell in love with acting, gaining a deeper understanding and appreciation for the craft. Around this time, I stopped seeing myself merely as an aspiring actor and started embracing myself fully as an actor.
What do you think sets you apart from other actors? I believe what sets me apart from other actors is my childlike fascination with the characters I portray and my comedic timing. Having discovered acting at such a young age, I've retained the curiosity, and sense of playfulness that make children so entertaining to watch. Additionally, I’ve spent time honing my skills in improv, dance, debate, and voice, ensuring I have a keen sense of rhetoric, the ability to think on my feet, and the physical endurance and vocal clarity necessary to effectively convey my character’s perspective.
From London to Los Angeles, can you tell us about your project “Stop Di Cap”? Yes so, “Stop Di Cap” is a comedy that follows Edgar and Gilbert, who are waiters at an upscale Hollywood nightclub, and they are captivated by celebrity culture. One night, their fascination reaches new heights when they believe they've spotted Leonardo DiCaprio, but is it really him?
I wrote the film, alongside my co-writers Dominic Summers and Juan Jose Echeverria. It has had some amazing response so far on the film festival circuit. Tyler Townsend won “Best Director” at the Couch Film Festival, we won “Best Cast” at the Alternative Film Festival, and I was nominated for “Best Actor” at the Couch Film Festival.
What character do you play? I play the role of Edgar, who, despite recently being fired, returns and reunites with fellow waiter Gilbert. Both characters are fascinated by the celebrities around them, but tensions rise when they spot Leonardo DiCaprio, Gilbert being an enthusiastic fan, while Edgar strongly dislikes him due to a previous grudge involving the actor filing a restraining order against him.
Throughout their humorous and heated exchange, the two remain uncertain if it's really Leo or not. Portraying Edgar was immensely enjoyable, especially since I was able to perform many comedic moments, improvise freely, and act out my own words, all of which allowed me to sharpen my comedic timing and abilities.
Sounds hilarious! Can you share any fun things that happened during filming? In one scene, I improvised by eating some shrimp that another character was holding. The director loved this choice and decided to keep it in the film. However, the shrimp turned out to be frozen, and I had to eat my way through an entire box as we went through multiple takes. Looking back now, it definitely adds humor to the scene, but at the time, I wasn't exactly thrilled about the experience!
I thoroughly enjoyed writing the film and have penned a few more scripts that I will be producing throughout this year.
In today’s Hollywood, there is a significant push for greater inclusivity and representation. How do you see your work contributing to this movement, and what changes do you still hope to see in the industry? In today's Hollywood, the movement toward greater inclusivity and representation for diversity is both essential and exciting. I'm proud that the play I'm currently working on, Eric Bogosian’s SubUrbia, actively contributes to this effort by having more women than men involved across both cast and crew. Our talented director, producer, costume designer, stage manager, social media managers, and half of our cast are women, bringing unique perspectives and authentic voices to the production.
Working within this environment has highlighted the incredible creativity, leadership, and storytelling strength women bring to the table. Moving forward, I hope the industry continues to embrace this kind of intentional representation, making inclusive spaces like ours the norm rather than the exception.
What would your dream job be? My dream job would be to be a lead in a Martin Scorsese film.
What’s up next for you? Right now, I am currently on stage in the play “SubUrbia” as Norman Chaudry. He is a Pakistani immigrant who owns and operates the convenience store where the main characters congregate nightly. As an outsider, Norman embodies the immigrant experience, representing both ambition and resilience in stark contrast to the aimlessness of the play's central characters. He is often frustrated by the group's loitering and the chaos they bring to his store, highlighting the cultural tensions and misunderstandings between immigrant business owners and disaffected suburban youth. Norman's character serves as a voice of reason and practicality amidst the restlessness and irresponsibility that surround him. His persistent work ethic and straightforward demeanor underscore the central themes of cultural divide, privilege, and the clash between youthful apathy and immigrant determination. Norman also exposes the characters’ unconscious biases and prejudices, provoking uncomfortable yet critical conversations about race, belonging, and identity within contemporary American suburbia.
Our schedule is insane, but it’s been a brilliant play to work on!
Thank you, Prahaan. How can people keep up with you? My work is on
IMDb and I share content to
Instagram
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