We were lucky to catch up with Sanjini Bhakta recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Sanjini thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
Being a creative artist (an actress, writer, filmmaker), I was always misunderstood or mischaracterized by family, society, authority figures and government bureaucrats. As an artist, I never fit into a particular box or mold or what seems “normal” to society. I was always a free spirit, adventurous, an extrovert, expressive, progressive, rebellious but deep inside I’ve always been kind, I have a good heart and I am compassionate with people who are less fortunate than me and who need my help.
It has been very difficult being an “artist type” and being accepted by society. I have struggled and have had to face so many obstacles!
Sanjini , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I started acting and doing theatre after a serendipitous situation. I had to do community service and was given a choice of volunteering at either a performing arts theatre or an arts center. I chose the latter even though I later worked in the art world as well.
I realized much later that I had to create my own opportunities and be my own boss so I started to produce my own films and publish my own children’s books. My company is called Star Sapphire Media.
I have produced several films – “Eye of the Empress” series, “Cyber Romance 1 & 2”, “Motel Patel” and “Portrait of a Nude Art Model.” By producing my own films, not only do I create my own opportunities but I also create opportunities for others to work on my projects.
I provide actors opportunities to build their resumes and acting reels. They get credits in my films and on imdb. I obviously also provide meals on my movie sets. Actors who are struggling right now because of the SAG strikes, can easily find opportunities to express their creativity in my non union, independent film projects.
I also hire and pay crew members such as cinematographers, sound mixers, grips, gaffers, production assistants and editors. Since the WGA and SAG unions are on strike and the Hollywood productions are shut down, I encourage film crew members to reach out to me as I can provide job opportunities since my films are non union.
My contact e-mail is: [email protected]
I also publish my own children’s books on Amazon and Kindle. I have published 14 children’s books so far. I have 2 books left to publish, My children’s books are very creative, imaginative, very colorful and beautifully illustrated. The age range is from a parent’s read and up to 10 years old.
My children’s books encourage children to improve their grammar, spelling, improve their writing and comprehension and improve their literacy. I have noticed that the average American’s grammar, spelling and writing is very poor compared to other countries and that is because the kids do not read much and they also read very easy books for a long time and then suddenly they transition to chapter books.
I think that the teachers and parents underestimate how much children can learn, absorb and understand very quickly and at a very young age. My books challenge kids to improve their literacy rates and expand their imaginations. I started college at a very young age of sixteen years old and I graduated at 20 years old, That is because the standard of education in Zimbabwe (where I grew up) was extremely high so that when I started college in the U.S., I found it very easy and coped well.
My children’s books are as follows:
a) My Life as a Dollar Bill
Follow the adventures of a dollar bill, from the streets of New City, freezing in a coca cola machine, having fun at Disney World and on an exciting roller coaster ride. Every dollar counts and so does this dollar bill!
b) The Chocolate Pony
Follow the adventures a cute pony named “Chocolate” who gets lost one day. She loses sight of her Mom beyond the meadow and her adventures begin. She becomes the star of a pet zoo, the star of a circus where she performs pony tricks and lives a life of luxury with a little girl who adores her. Will she find her way back home to her Mom?
c) Matilda, the Most Expensive Pig in the World
Matilda is a big sow or pig who lives in Provence, France. She has a very big snout and is an expert at digging for truffle mushrooms which are the most expensive food in the world. This makes Matilda, the most valuable pig in the world!
d) Wobbles, the Jellyfish Goes to School
Jellyfish have no brains, eyes, ears and a heart so how is Wobbles going to pass his exams in a classroom with other fish and crustaceans?
e) Pedro, the Blue Frog
Pedro is a blue South American frog and is different from the other green frogs. He does not feel like a “real” frog or froglet because he cannot SKIP, FLIP and HOP like the other green frogs. He cannot even swim in the pond and join in the fun. Instead he sits on a rock alone. But he has unexpected special abilities that help save the green frogs.
f) Izzy and His Pet Snails
Izzy has two pet snails named Gary and Larry. Izzy enjoys playing with his snails and showing them to his friends. But one day they disappear and Izzy cannot find them.
g) The Inquisitive Bear
Brownie is a cinnamon-colored bear cub who lives in Russia. He is an inquisitive bear who likes to explore as well as eat a lot! While exploring, Brownie notices a small cottage and enters it. He eats all the honey, blueberry jam and blinis pancakes on his first visit. On his second visit he eats the soup that is not too hot or cold, he sits on the small chair that is the right size for him but it breaks into pieces because of his weight and he falls asleep in the bed that is not too hard or soft and is the perfect size for him.
Mushka, a little girl with golden locks and her parents come into their home. Mushka notices her soup has been eaten, her small chair has been broken into pieces and a brown bear is sleeping in her bed. This is a reverse “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” story.
h) The King Whose Beard Grew so Long
This fairytale is about an ancient Indian King who ruled his land with kindness and benevolence. But when his new appointed General advised him to conquer more lands for wealth and gold, he became consumed by greed. Because of a magic spell cast on the King, the greedier he became the longer his beard grew until it wrapped around the world blocking the ships from crossing the oceans.
i) Milly, the Lazy Goat
Milly is the laziest alpine goat in the whole of Austria. She has never ever climbed a mountain. She likes to graze the grass or sleep while the other goats Billy, Silly, Wolfgang and Ingrid play and have fun. One day, Milly notices a squirrel named Fluff. Milly is excited to chase Fluff and finds herself at the top of the mountain.
j) Shaka, the Timid Lion
Shaka is a timid lion who has a meek roar. The other cubs make fun of him. He is unlike the other cubs who like to play and have fun. He is too timid.
But one day, he makes friends with a little monkey and a little baboon who bring out his confidence and playfulness. When a clan of hyenas surround a cub, Shaka saves the day and finds his ROAR!
k) Poppy, the Pumpkin: An American Thanksgiving Story
A Thanksgiving story about a pumpkin finding a home.
l) The Mischievous Dress
Every time Maggie wears a pretty, polka dot dress, it makes her do some mischievous things and she eventually overcomes her shyness. This is a magic dress!
m) A Tale of Two Knights: A Magical Chess Story
Two siblings play a game of chess and when they go to sleep the chess pieces come to life and the kids participate in the medieval battle.
n) Walter, the Schnauzer
Walter is a stubborn schnauzer who does not like to celebrate Christmas. His owner, a boy named Jay, is also very stubborn and just as spoilt as Walter. Both of them like to watch television and eat popcorn for hours. One Christmas, grandmother, Oma Hedda arrives from Germany. She is really into celebrating the tradition of Christmas to the hilt. She trains Walter to be become more obedient, sing Christmas songs and to celebrate Christmas!
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sanjini&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I would like my own BIG, media company (just like Oprah) and it is called Star Sapphire Media! I have been taking small steps for many years towards this goal of producing my own films, publishing my own books and eventually, I would like to sell my own products such as have my own perfume line, mascara, lotion and hair products, have my own toy products, animated tv series and films and possibly video games based on my children’s books stories. I would like to own properties around the world. I would also like to win Oscars!!! But above all, I would like my family to be proud of me, especially my Dad.
Life is about the journey and not the destination so even though I still have so many challenges and obstacles to face in my creative journey, I continue to enjoy every moment of the journey now! My creative journey is my spiritual journey!
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson I had to unlearn is not be impulsive, not to be in a hurry and to not be impatient. Being impulsive and impatient, set me back further legally and in many other ways. By not being patient, I was forced to wait longer for everything in my life. I have had to wait patiently for sooooooooo long with every aspect of my life – relationships, career, money, success, fame, legal issues to be resolved, freedom, family unity and to reach the American dream!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sanjini-actor.com
- Instagram: @sanjiniactress
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/user/SANJINIACTRESS
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Sanjini-Bhakta/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ASanjini+Bhakta Threads: Sanjini Actress
Image Credits
Portrait photo credits by Dr. Brian King. Photo credits by Sanjini Bhakta.