We recently connected with Hitesh Kamra and have shared our conversation below.

Hitesh, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

It had been a few months since I graduated from the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and I had mostly spent my time doing unpaid student roles and working side jobs to keep me afloat. It was right around this time that I started getting auditions for paid roles and one of them was for a commercial. Not just any commercial but one that was based on cricket the sport I have grown up to love so immensely. I submit my audition and eventually receive a callback. And then came that dreaded radio silence. Until that email came through with the subject in bold: Remitly. I slowly opened it, managed to read the first word of it, half expecting a bad news. “Congratu–” is all I could read before that excitement kicked in. What made this experience extra special was the fact that I got a chance to work with an Indian director on this and months after it was filmed, I still get messages from people when they randomly see that commercial pop up on Youtube.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

With a background in biology and chemistry, like any other kid growing up in an average Indian household, dreaming of being an actor was perhaps the last thing on my bucket list. But like two lovers destined to find each other, acting kept coming back into my life. Finally, after finishing my bachelor’s degree, I found the strength to recognize this love and act on it. Through the help of some friends and fellow actors, I found a home for the next two years at the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts. My time at the conservatory shaped me into the actor I am today. It was never not scary to make a jump so big, travel from a city even the people in my state may not have heard of, to one of the biggest and most fast-paced city in the world. But that’s when you know it is true love when no obstacle is too big.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

As someone with an academic background, I was always taught that taking a day off is terrible. Even when reading a book for fun, take notes. The more time you spend away from the action, the rustier you will get. As I transitioned to an artist, I realized the value of taking time off. Just allowing yourself to switch off and do nothing, go on long, endless walks, looking at a flower for as long as it holds your attention, these things have a beautiful impact on you as an artist.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I have always been an introvert. I don’t find it easy to socialize. But I have always had stories to tell. Stories that a part of me wants to live and tell, but the face that I put up for the world isn’t the right person to tell that story. So, as long as I have a story to tell, I will be motivated and driven to keep sharing it with the world because my ‘normal’ and ‘everyday’ self is too awkward and shy to share it :)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hiteshkamra.com
• Instagram: @hittycat
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MidnightRainProd