Meet Rohini Chandra | Actor, Singer-Songwriter, & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rohini Chandra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rohini, what role has risk played in your life or career?

Risks have played a very important role in my career and on my personal path! Risks, philosophically speaking, are needed in life when sometimes darkness and doubt are dominant influences as was the case during this pandemic. Every project I have created and every set I have stepped on has been a risk in hindsight. It started from that question or fear as an impulse or catalyst. The questions that arise are “Am I good enough?”, “Am I ready?”, or “Is now the right time?” I motivate myself to take on new challenges and I have never regretted any of my creative experiences. I believe a risk is when we take a leap of faith in the darkness and this was especially the case with how I made my crazy ideas a reality! Taking risks turns out to be a lot of fun and a big adventure! They help me to grow as an artist, enjoy the creative flow, be more grateful as a person, and to better appreciate my value and purpose in this world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

First off, I am both a queer and second-generation Asian-Indian-American (which is sometimes not easy!) and this has much to do with the art that I create or am involved in. Fortunately, I’ve found a middle road and a purpose in being a cool free spirit who is out to do Good while wearing a few different hats!

As a filmmaker, I create simple & refreshing content that makes us feel enlightened and awakened. This is a great reflection of the music and cinema that I grew up and still adore – storytelling that is classic, poignant, beautiful, or even edgy and cool. Having studied Political Science at Rutgers Newark (including Global Affairs and Human Rights), my goal is to also have my content reflect gratitude towards the human spirit. We are stronger than we think! My most recent project is a Desert Trilogy including 3 short films. They are slapstick comedies that find cinematic meaning in the mundane or local gems we come across that remind us how life is amazing!

In the music world, I grew up as a vocal student of Indian and Western music and now have an excellent grasp of sound. One can discover my singing style with soul-fusion & Indo-Western influence and a powerhouse and soulfully rich voice. I also share a special knack for writing lyrics & a melody. In the coming months, I will be releasing three singles that will bring a fresh wave of hip, romantic, and uplifting sound with an #OldSoul vibe. Stay tuned for these releases on my Facebook, Instagram, & Spotify profile.

My journey in storytelling started when I was a child. I found joy in classic cartoons like “The Adventures of TinTin” and the adventures in my green backyard in New Jersey. My family soon discovered my natural talent in singing and acting on stage. Skip 15 years, I found myself doing desk jobs, which made me invest in some gear including a DSLR, gimbal, and recording mics. This is when my risk-taking really started! I motivated myself to create short films and videos of me singing. Today, I am a working actor, singer-songwriter, and filmmaker who’s been involved in many projects! All of my work is displayed at “Rohini Works” on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

I want the world to know that there is hope, love, light, and goodness in the world of creativity. Art has the power to overcome obstacles and create understanding in the midst of change and chaos. My intent is to work with a team of producers, marketers, and creatives to boost this vision as I cannot walk this path alone. I appreciate the diversity of thought and also the sharing of the same values so that one day we can see our vision come true on the big screen and hear our music resound in an arena.

In addition to creating my own film and music, I act in commercials and am looking to act in more theatrical projects or in Film & TV shows. I also have some very original ideas or concepts for different roles I can play. My goal is to both perform in and help produce fresh, innovative, and immersive cinema and music that has a great message for society!

You can read more about my art including past projects at http://voyagela.com/interview/rising-stars-meet-rohini-chandra-dtla/

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

In between creating and performing, I am all about finding local gems or places to relax and unwind away from the hustle and bustle in the city and also with great company! Here are some unique, inspiring, & uplifting places I’ve come across so far in Los Angeles County:

1) The Fisherman’s Village in Marina Del Rey is tucked away at the sea’s edge. It is filled with restaurants with outdoor dining and shops in colorful wooden houses or buildings alongside the sailing boats at the dock and a view of the Pacific Ocean.
2) Westchester Parkway near LAX is a specific find. I watch the planes land just some feet above my head onto the airport runway. The planes whiz by loudly so it may be smart to bring earbuds! After plane-gazing, it’s worth waiting in line and indulging in Randy’s Donuts nearby.
3) Schabarum Skyline Trail in Rowland Heights is an easy walk with a clear trail and an almost 360-degree panoramic view of Eastern Los Angeles. I fill my stomach with $5 sushi at the local Asian supermarket just a mile away (these markets have incredibly large produce sections by the way!).
4) King Gillette Ranch in Santa Monica Mountains in Calabasas is such a scenic spot with a Disney spark! There is also a lot of green grass and trees to look at, which is such a healthy and refreshing treat for the eyes!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

Self-motivation and self-discipline are huge factors when it comes to leading and making projects happen in the journey of storytelling. However, no project can be created alone. I give a special shoutout to my talented collaborators displayed below:

• Akira Komatsu – a brilliant Japanese-born & LA-based producer, composer, & jazz guitarist who composed and produced my next single, “Lost Dream.” It is a song about rediscovering our dreams from high school. You can learn more about Akira at https://akirakomatsu.com/.
  • Michael Georgia – a versatile & super-talented producer and guitarist who co-wrote and produced my upcoming soul & rock fusion single, “Careless.” Please visit https://www.mikegeorgia.com/to learn more about him.
  • The Lucas Family including Jonah Lucas, a cool child actor recently starring in the Power Rangers series and his parents, Araceli & Wesley. We together created “Compadre,” a short film shot in the desert. This slapstick comedy is about two spies who don’t have work and who find an escape in having fun. Learn more about Jonah here https://www.instagram.com/jonahnlucas09/
  • Marcy & Michael Tittnich – a mother-son duo who are natural actors and who helped me to create “Frenemies.” This is a short film shot with the backdrop of the windmills in Palm Springs. Call it a spaghetti western about two friends going through the test of 120-degree summer heat and time slipping away in the desert. Michael is also a filmmaker and Marcy is a spiritual leader and shares her teachings at https://belovedmana.com/ . Here’s the link to our film https://youtu.be/QH0G43D_VDk

Website: https://rohiniworks.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/rohiniworks

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohiniworks/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/rohiniworks

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/rohiniworks

Other: https://www.flowcode.com/page/rohiniworks Follow me on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/artist/0QBWXGbYWFiJFWuepB1Ytb

Image Credits
Jeremy David Creative https://www.jeremydavidcreative.com/ Brandon Tabiolo Headshots