Meet Shruti Tewari | Actor, Screenwriter, Filmmaker

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

Hi Shruti, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Venturing out to try anything new or unfamiliar brings with it an inordinate amount of risk. As an actor, screenwriter and filmmaker, every narrative that I espouse is a risky undertaking, both, externally and internally. And yet, I am drawn to the riskiest of roles and stories in which I can discern elements of our collective reality. Whether it was in etching a distraught Parisienne in a one-woman show based on Jean Cocteau’s Human Voice or in exploring the limitations borne out of prejudice in my first short film, I have pushed past the comfort of the known and familiar to connect with the human experience from diverse perspectives.

I believe that my inclination to engage with, and embody, the discomfort of the unfamiliar has resulted in my unique body of work that is filled with unexpected detours. Looking back at my years in the industry, I feel a sense of peace for having pursued my whimsy.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am an immigrant in the arts striving to bring authenticity to the portrayal of immigrant women in general and Indian American women in particular. In my previous incarnations, I have been an investment banker in New York, a startup executive in Silicon Valley and even a playwriting mentor in juvenile halls. All my experiences have strengthened my belief that diverse representation enhances acceptance and understanding in society and is the unquestionable need of the hour.

With over two dozen film projects under my belt as an actor, I was growing weary of reading scripts that superficially touched upon representation without actually incorporating the lived experiences of people from underrepresented communities. This prompted me to start writing scripts myself and I am proudest of my first feature script, “Flares,” which won the Alliance of Women Filmmakers Scriptwriting Competition, was a finalist at WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Lab as well as at Big Apple Film Festival Screenwriting Competition. It was also a finalist at the Austin Film Festival pitch fest. This project depicts the lives of five Indian American women, who had the same starting point during their childhood in Delhi, had completely different paths through adulthood, and who discover the commonality of gender-based abuse in each of their lives at a 25 year reunion in Silicon Valley. I was to shoot this film in 2020 with some recognizable names attached to the project but nothing could have prepared me for the challenges that year brought to our world. I am regrouping and restarting the process with a proof of concept short film, “Stain Resistant,” which I am developing through the Women of Color Filmmakers Lab. Acceptance to this lab was crucial to my holding on to this dream and I am eternally grateful to the amazing team at the lab, that is equipping us with the tools to elevate our projects to be compelling and cinematic narratives. Needless to say, my project passes all benchmarks of diversity including the Bechdel and DuVernay tests.

What I have learned through the highs and lows of the creative journey is that persistence trumps passion, talent and resources. If you set your heart at doing something and keep chipping away at it, you are bound to find allies who will uplift you and your project along the way. Sincerity of effort is recognized by most, especially those who are also doggedly pursuing their creative journeys. My effort lies in reclaiming the narrative space for Indian American immigrants and portraying our women as fully-fleshed out characters with a past and a future, be it fabulous or flawed.

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.
LA has so much of everything to offer and my favorite spots are the ones filled with art. If I were to plan a trip for a friend, I would prioritize The Getty and LACMA over all else. Between art immersion experiences, I would get a bite to eat at my favorite vegan restaurant, Gracias Madre, and reserve tables at other vegan or vegetable-forward eateries. A day of laughter and rides at the Santa Monica Pier interspersed with a Pani Puri break at Tumbi or a sandwich and smoothie at Urth Cafe would make for a perfect and leisurely day. No matter how old one gets, a couple of days at Disneyland are de rigeur and so is a hike near the Hollywood sign, and a coffee with pastry at Laduree in Beverly Hills. Given the large Indian American population in LA, snag an invitation to a party at one of their homes and dance the night away to Bhangra beats under the stars.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am fortunate to have had innumerable mentors and supporters throughout my journey. I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my biggest champions – my kids and my parents. They are brutally honest to keep me grounded and effusively complimentary to help me persist. Besides them, every director I have worked with merits a shoutout for shaping my approach to storytelling. Specific shoutout to Indian film director, Imtiaz Ali, who gave me my first film role in what went on to be a big Bollywood blockbuster. In addition, I would like to recognize the writers and directors who welcomed me into their stories without knowing much about me; they ended up becoming dear friends with whom I discuss my love for the art of filmmaking and ponder over our mutual struggles in the process. Rahul Nath, Director – Khazana, and Sikandar Sidhu, Director – Chindia, both saw in me what I did not in myself and gave me a couple of my favorite character roles that defy stereotypes about Indian women.

Website: https://www.shrutitewari.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shruti_tewari/

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ShrutiTewari

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shrutistewari/, https://www.facebook.com/ShrutiTewariOfficial/

Image Credits
Richard Balison Irisartist.com Cynthia Smalley Foreign Movie Where We Go From Here Movie