With an advertising background and a slew of international commercials under his belt, Mahesh Sriram slowly made his way into Hollywood. He landed a small role in a major production like Barbie and a full-fledged role in Disney’s Haunted Mansion. Now, the actor, who is about to wrap up his latest Hollywood project Cowboy and Indian, is making his debut in Telugu cinema with VN Aditya’s horror-thriller Phani. In an exclusive conversation with CE, he chats candidly about his journey, from growing up in the streets of Hyderabad to working in Hollywood, and now, stepping into Telugu cinema with Phani.
“I am originally from Hyderabad. I studied at Nizam College, Osmania University, and lived in Europe for a while. My modelling and acting journey started from Hyderabad with fashion shows as well as some commercials and photoshoots,” Mahesh shares. “Then, once I was in the US, I started exploring modelling options. Luckily, I got good opportunities with many international brands like Ford, Toyota, and United Airlines. Doing commercials with ease gave me a great experience working with the camera crew and understanding the technicalities.”
His transition to acting was not an overnight process. “The transition happened just a couple of years ago. I was cast in Barbie. It’s a small part, but the process actually took so much time,” he says. “I shared the screen with Ryan Gosling in that shot. It’s a tiny one, but working with Warner Bros and director Greta Gerwig gave me another opportunity with Haunted Mansion for Disney. I had a role where I got to work with Jamie Lee Curtis, Danny DeVito, and Tiffany Haddish, those great Hollywood actors whom I always looked up to while growing up here.”
After finishing those projects, Mahesh landed another lead role. “Currently, I’m working on a film called Cowboy and Indian. I’m playing the titular Indian character. Up to 90 per cent of the shoot is done. I just came here to dub for my role in Phani. I’ll be heading back again for Cowboy and Indian,” he reveals. “I live in Texas and travel to LA, Atlanta, Chicago, and so forth. It's not easy for Indian actors to break into Hollywood.”
Despite his growing Hollywood career, Indian cinema was always on his mind. “Indian cinema is always our passion, right? Growing up, seeing Telugu and Hindi films, all actors, it's amazing. We are dramatic, and, you know, if you don’t like movies, you don’t have a life,” he says with a laugh. “In India, movies and cricket are our life. I had quite a few calls and offers before, but I was not ready to come back at that point in time because I was focused on Hollywood. Now, since I have done quite a few projects there, I felt it is the right time. Phani happened at a very good time for me.”
His entry into Phani was unexpected. “One of my friends was visiting the US, and he met with the production team for Phani. They called me and said there is a role for a Telugu movie,” Mahesh recalls. “Usually, you hear about these things, but after two months, the production team actually called me. They auditioned me, we had a few meetings, and then I got to know it was VN Aditya gaaru’s film. I was thrilled because he has done so many successful films, like Manasantha Nuvve. In Phani, I play a simple, everyday-life role, the husband opposite Catherine Tresa. She is an amazing actor. Working with VN Aditya gaaru was a great learning experience. I was one of the people to always be on time on set. I couldn’t afford to miss a minute from spending time with him. So much to learn there.”
Having worked in both Hollywood and Telugu cinema, Mahesh noticed distinct differences in their working styles. “Both industries are different, with a different focus,” he explains. “For example, when I signed up for Hollywood, I already had much experience in commercials before I got into movies. That was a good platform to train myself into discipline. Auditions are a big thing there, you fail 50 times to get one role. If you see one logo of an advertisement on my website, it means I failed 50 auditions to get that part. But the good thing is, it gave me confidence. Failing and then getting into something builds confidence.”
Talking further about what it is like to work in a Hollywood project, the actor states, “On the technical side, the process is very professional. Once you sign a Hollywood project, everything is laid out on paper. There is so much paperwork involved. The timing, the commitments…everything is structured. A lot of people ask me, ‘You’re Indian, and you’re there, do you get respect?’ I do. When you are professional, you get a lot of respect in Hollywood,” he affirms. “Talking about Indian cinema, I am delighted that our movies are at the Oscars, and our stars are becoming global stars, which is a great thing. But in terms of structure, we still have a lot to improve in organising and commitments.”
Hollywood is opening up to diversity, but Mahesh believes it’s still a work in progress. “It’s in a transition phase. Our people are there more than before. We have taken important places in so many industries, doctors, politicians, IT CEOs, so many of them are Indians,” he notes. “There is definitely a better chance now than before. But coming to acting and films, is it easy? No, it is not easy. Their systems are very different. Even Priyanka Chopra, after doing so many movies with big stars, had to audition for everything in Hollywood. That’s the process we all go through. Even if you do a lead role in one film, for the next one, you have to audition again. It’s a very professional format.”
As for Phani, Mahesh is excited about its unique storyline. “It’s a simple plot. A couple moves into a new house in the US. I play a typical IT guy. There, we encounter a disturbing situation,” he shares. “A lot of psychological writing went into it. A snake also plays a major role in the film. It’s an internationally appealing story. Probably that’s why VN Aditya gaaru shot the film in America, it will connect with anyone. I am waiting for people to watch it.”