Praneet Akilla Stands For Equality
Praneet Akilla, known for his work on Netflix original series October Faction has had a steady ascension into the spotlight. Born in Mumbai, India and raised in Calgary, Alberta Canada, Praneet developed his taste for performance art and storytelling. His acting specialization originated in the theatre with his earliest role as Aladdin in his middle school play. During his college years, Praneet participated in community theatre productions including Iceland (Theatre Calgary), Coriolanus (Bard on The Beach), The Orchard (Arts Club), and many more.
Praneet’s ambitions extend to local and international scale social issues. Praneet is an avid supporter of his local food banks and Plan International’s Because I am a Girl program, a campaign designed to remedy the issue of gender discrimination around the world and bring them out of poverty. Please read more to learn about Praneet and his work.
Where are you based?
Vancouver, Toronto.
Having displayed curiosity towards the arts at an early age - you are trained in Indian classical music and made short films during your childhood. What sparked your interest in creative outlets such as acting and film?
I think it was the exposure to various art forms by my parents. In addition to this, because we went to so many public performances, whether it was Indian classical music or a movie on the big screen, I could directly see the impact art had on people. I fell in love with the ability to impact people with my words and actions on stage or via the screen. I haven't stopped since.
You received your degree in Chemical Engineering. What made you decide to return to acting?
Acting was always my passion, but growing up in a South Asian immigrant household, the arts were never seen as a stable career choice. I think I also never truly believed that I could be a full-time actor because of the way my parents raised me to see the world. Still, I performed in plays and musicals throughout university. It wasn't until I made a feature film while I was interning at an engineering company that I felt I was living on autopilot and that I needed to pursue my passion while I was young and hungry. After I graduated, I quit my job and started auditioning for regional theatre companies in Canada. One thing led to another and now I'm here!
Theater, television, and film are very different - each has its own nuance and production scale. Do you have a preference between the three? If so, why?
I don't have a preference, but for sure Film and Television are my first love — that's how I started to fall in love with acting and storytelling. I love the range of film and television because of its ability to tell stories with a tight narrative that can literally transport you to another dimension or world. I love the intimacy of the camera and the feeling of really internalizing the emotions of the characters. Now all that being said, there is nothing like live theatre. Performing on stage in front of 700-800 people a night with the ability to hold them in the palm of your hands is exhilarating. Also, the ability to redo scenes every night and try something different is something you don't get to do on a film set.
Congratulations on your role starring as Phillip Mishra in the new highly anticipated Netflix series October Faction. Can you tell us a bit about your character, and the show?
Playing Phillip Mishra is my first big break playing a major recurring role on a Netflix Original Series. From being a chemical engineer to this feels surreal and hasn't sunk in yet. I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this show. Phillip Mishra is the alpha and star athlete in the high school the Allen Family kids attend. He's also the son of a prominent towns-person. He carries a heavy burden of high expectations from both his family and the society around him. On the surface, he very much tries to hide this stress and compensates by pushing his male bravado out to assert his dominance. Through the series however, after meeting Geoff Allen, tensions arise and the rest I can't give away because (SPOILERS!!)
In addition to acting, you also enjoy producing. Can you talk about your experience as a producer with Rendering Glint Films and Kalpana Films?
I love project management and producing my own content. Luckily, I have many friends who are writers and filmmakers so it was a natural course of events to team up and create short films, digital web series, and now features with them. A lot of my work is dealing with acquiring financing for our independent projects, writing grants, bringing together the right creative crew to serve the story. I also deal with location logistics, budgeting, and provide big picture input of the stories we are trying to tell. In 2020, we are working on a web-series and a feature film, to be produced in 2021.
Jejune loves that you work with Plan International's "Because I am a Girl” program. Can you tell us a little bit about this organization and what they do?
This year I will be doing some work with Plan International's "Because I am a Girl" program. I heard about this via my friend who works for a non-profit organization in Toronto a year ago. I also know many children in the South-Asian diaspora who are being denied the opportunity to reach their full potential and pursue their dreams. It keeps them stuck in an endless cycle of poverty. On top of that, every day millions of girls around the world are denied education — simply because they're girls. Feel free to visit https://plancanada.ca/because-i-am-a-girl for more information on how you can get involved. I will also be putting up information on my instagram page https://www.instagram.com/p_akilla/.
It is really refreshing to have a man rooting for women’s rights. How did you get involved with Plan International’s "Because I am a Girl” program? What change do you think it would make if more men supported organizations that fight gender discrimination?
Traveling to India and other South Asian countries over the years and being from there, I've noticed extreme poverty and a toxic mindset particularly in remote, impoverished villages. The mindset being that sons are more valuable than daughters. It feels like a daughter's duty in these areas are just to serve the home and get married to bear children. It broke my heart that more wasn't being done to fix this systemic issue. In situations like these, I think education is the best course of action. The more educated people are, the more it gives them the freedom to evolve, make choices, and get out of their situation. Of course this is easier said than done, which is why donating and volunteering with organizations like Plan International's "Because I am a Girl” program is important. Men have to be women's allies in this fight. Men and outdated traditional tropes of what the role of a woman in society should be are by far the greatest threat to women's rights in these countries. If men can stand by women and improve education for girls, it would send a message to the men who caused these problems in the first place. Perhaps it will even inspire the new generation of boys to fight against gender discrimination in their own communities.
You are also active with local food banks. Was it your connection with Plan International’s "Because I am a Girl” program that got you involved in food banks? Can you tell us a little bit about your experiences with them?
I have been volunteering at my local food bank in Calgary, Canada since I was in junior high/high school. My parents did a lot of volunteering for soup kitchens and food banks while I was growing up and so I followed them. The value of giving back and helping put food in the stomachs of those who are struggling financially was instilled in me in those moments. The benefit/donation ratio for food banks in local communities is extremely high and it honestly doesn't take a lot out of you. Those of us who are fortunate tend to waste so much food every year. Why not give it to those who really need it?
What is your motto in life?
Work smart and control what you can control.
To learn more about Praneet Akilla please follow him via the following platforms:
Instagram: p_akilla
Twitter: p_akilla
Photography by Noah Asanias.
