We were lucky to catch up with Shivneel Singh recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shivneel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

By saving up and getting my ass into class! I learnt the Meisner technique abroad in LA, California for just under a year starting end of 2014.
Apart from just starting earlier, I think the speed and timing of my progress was very much on point. Learning my craft does take time and practice – especially to really get a grasp of what that looks like in you and for you. So in saying that, I wouldn’t ‘speed up’ my learning process apart from perhaps starting earlier.
The most essential skill or the three most essential skills for me were to become more vulnerable, be affected more in the work and getting out of my head. These were probably the three aspects that were constantly letting me down so I had to really work hard.

Shivneel, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Apart from being an analyst and sports enthusiast, I am an aspiring actor! I have been acting since high school and more seriously for the last 12 years.
I got into acting at high school through a production of Aladdin where I played the villain. Somewhere along the rehearsal period I realised I wanted more. I loved being part of a story and telling stories through the medium of stage and screen.
I studied the Meisner Technique and Chekhov at an acting studio for just under a year in Los Angeles. Met amazing people and fellow creatives. Learnt so much about myself because if you don’t know yourself, how do you expect to embody someone else?
Since going abroad to study the craft of acting, I have gotten to work on some pretty awesome projects, both from an artist perspective and also from a production point of view with a purpose larger than myself. I understand, I have an interest and a little bit of talent to share stories and experiences in ways others can not.
I work like I’m getting paid a million bucks a day to be in the rehearsal room or on set, I set high expectations of myself and don’t take any opportunity for granted because the acting industry is one of the most cutthroat industries I have ever come across. I am very lucky to have the opportunities that have been laid before me and I understand it is a privilege to be in those situations.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of many aspects I enjoy as through my acting is the ability to affect people through my performance. Giving audiences a chance to be moved and lost in the story. For that 90 minutes or 2 hours, nothing outside what they’re watching matters.
Another aspect, is getting into character. What drives a person to do what they do. What drives a person to behave like they do in a certain situation. It’s exploring a side of you that ordinarily you wouldn’t be able to.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

In the middle of 2024, my fiancé passed away. She was also a budding actor. I remember a year or so earlier, I was about to give up acting and I went to her to tell her the news. She was very understanding but truth be told, she was a bit disheartened. It was evident in her eyes. I thought I’d wrap up my current projects and call it a day. Upon one of my “last” projects, I got to work with a dear friend and my love came back for it all. Sadly, 10 months later tragedy struck and amongst many things, I know I couldn’t give up on acting, not now, I have so many stories to tell!
Three months later, booked a lead role in a theatre show and some other little projects and now I’m back at it full swing!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4642448/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shivyyy16