We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jay Parikh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

The biggest risk I have ever taking in my life was following my passion in an industry where the odds of success are very low. To do this, I gave up the typical , everyday life. I started my filmmaking journey while I was still studying engineering and eventually I left my engineering career behind to fully chase my filmmaking dreams. Along the way, I had to work many odd jobs and had very little time for my personal life.

After dedicating many years to filmmaking, I decided to switch to acting that brought even more unexpected challenges. But I continue to take risks to build my career because I am determined to make it in the industry.

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?

up Until 2021 I used to describe myself as a filmmaker. However, starting in 2021 there is new addition to my identity : I am now an actor My journey as an actor began with my first film, but producing and direction fascinated me, so I continued making films and put acting on hold. In 2021, I felt the time was right to dive into acting because I believe i was ready to start the journey.
I have had the opportunity to work on various exciting projects, including a commercial with Kevin Hart, reenactments for Discovery and History channels, as well as numerous print and video commercials. I also had opportunity to be a part of the play ‘ The Seagull ‘ .
Transitioning from behind the camera to in front of it has been an exciting new chapter in my acting journey I strive to excel in what I do , drawing upon my filmmaking experience , which proven to be a signification advantage.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Non-creative people often struggle to understand artists or creative individuals because they are complex. Creatives don’t have 9-to-5 jobs; their lives revolve around art, and it requires absolute dedication and passion. They don’t have any fixed schedules. This can lead to psychological and financial challenges that are difficult to explain to non-creative folks.

As a creative, I’ve faced difficulties explaining my choices and path to non-creative people. They may never grasp that one thing can have multiple perspectives, but unwavering devotion is crucial, something rare to find in others. So, I’ve stopped trying to explain my creative life.

Artists don’t have fixed schedules or normal lifestyle; their minds work 24/7. There’s no stability, making it stressful to be around them. Artists often struggle financially until they find success, which can be hard for non-creatives to comprehend.

I live and breathe art, constantly working to create art and continue finding myself…

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media is a powerful tool. It can make you famous overnight, and people like us can share our journeys and build communities of like-minded individuals who understand and draw inspiration from our experiences.

Recently, I shared my 10-year journey in America on instagram as I tend to post life events on social media just to have it as memory. It was just another post butAfter posting it, my real story went viral in just 15 days. I received messages from many individuals who shared the same emotions and feelings.

My story impacted many people’s lives because sometimes, all it takes is a small nudge to bring about change or make a decision. Social media, when used correctly, can have a positive impact on many lives. People reached out to me, saying they woke up feeling low, depressed, or with a negative mindset. Seeing my story on Instagram brightened their day and possibly changed their lives.

I use social media for various purposes. I enjoy sharing humorous stories, but it all revolves around my life and experiences. I keep it authentic; I don’t fake my struggles, my choices, or my life.
To the people who are less active or starting up, the only advise I would give is to keep it real. Don’t over share but don’t fake share. It is very powerful tool and has potential to create impacts on many.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejayparikh/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheJayParikh
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/vRvSERIES

Image Credits
HEADSHOT BY: JOHN COLE NOT SURE ABOUT BTS IMAGES SO its ok with no credit