Today we’d like to introduce you to Akshat Jha
Hi Akshat, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The start of my story is the very beginning, I do not know a childhood version of myself that didn’t love dancing around. Wanting to perform has been instilled in me since day 1, and it only grew stronger, thanks to the positive and encouraging environment my family created for me. Cut to – I’m 23 years old, pursuing a career in acting / modelling / dancing in New York City. It’s still my baby self and support systems that continue to carry me with the confidence and love I have for performing arts.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Looking back, it feels like its been a smooth road because I throughly enjoyed myself through the speed breakers too. They are the ones that brought the most learning, and introduced this inner dialogue… I have transformed in many ways, and my younger self would be hella proud seeing how far I’ve come – not just with my achievements, but with who I am, and what I care to put out to this world.
I want to put myself out there in the purest form so people can connect, identify, relate and most of all, give themselves permission – to be vulnerable, to be crazy, to be imperfect. I have struggled with giving myself complete permission, and this growth is not linear. There will be days when I will feel like I’ve gone backward in terms of having the right mindset for myself, and that’s okay. It’s been a beautiful uphill trek to reaching a checkpoint of self-love I am not going to look back from.
My compassion has increased in equal folds for both the world, and myself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a performing artist – I act, dance, and model for the most part. I also am a choreographer and director, which brings me to speak about my most recent project. I made a dance music video on Camila Cabello’s “I LUV IT”. What went from wanting to make a filmed choreography transitioned into having a whole story to tell. I am very proud of this one because this video is me sharing my evolved confidence and identity as a human and artist. I am channelising the fearless, the fast-pace, and the fuckery haha. I have come to realise my “style” of storytelling – it has got to be intense, and end in a party.
This whole project was about making myself proud, the artist I love and admire proud, and believe that I can do anything, by doing it all. This is about getting every kind of confidence back, and finding new ones. Camila’s inspiration behind her latest album “C, XOXO” was to let herself be the only one in the room, trusting, and creating… It only made sense for me to do the same with her song! Excited for you to see it <3
Apart from this passion project, I recently did commercials for Subway and NBC, which have been big highlights of the year so far. To be sent pictures of my screaming face at Times Square has been fun! I also played the lead in an Emmy nominated director, Jennifer Fox’s theatre debut in New York. I am so grateful for having met immensely inspiring and humble artists like Jennifer along the way.
What does success mean to you?
If it leaves you feeling proud and happy, that’s success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.akshat-jha.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akshatjha_/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr6cZ_iR7noZAZ4uCzfnN2Q
Image Credits
TJ Cerasi, Cary Patrick, Nicholas Stennet, Nicholas Cordeiro, Nicole Pena