Maitreyi Ramakrishnan on South Asian representation in the West: 'It's personality first'
Dubai: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan was 18 when Never Have I Ever landed her in front of millions of people, and 24 by the time she got to lead a film about competitive Bollywood dance on the same platform. Speaking about her new Netflix release Best of the Best, the actor set out how much she thinks has shifted in South Asian representation since she started, and where she thinks it has not shifted…
When the Netflix series Never Have I Ever introduced Maitreyi Ramakrishnan to a global audience at the tender age of 18, it marked only the beginning of her journey. By the time she took the lead in a film about competitive Bollywood dance, she had reached the age of 24. Ramakrishnan observed that South Asian representation in the West has evolved significantly since she first gained prominence, with a greater emphasis on personality and individuality rather than cultural background.
She emphasized that while earlier representations may not have resonated with her personally, they still contributed to moving the needle in terms of visibility. Ramakrishnan highlighted that projects like her own build upon the foundation laid by previous works, paving the way for more substantial roles in the future. The film Best of the Best, through its choreography, showcases various Indian dance forms, including classical styles like Bharatanatyam, in a nuanced and respectful manner.
She stressed that the dance styles are deeply rooted in rich cultural histories and that the choreographers ensured authenticity rather than resorting to superficial portrayals. Ramakrishnan's career took an unexpected turn when she decided to pursue acting over her initial interest in animation during the COVID-19 lockdown. She found herself cast in the role of Maya in Never Have I Ever due to her audition at an open call that received around 15,000 applicants.
Her co-star, Mindy Kaling, played a pivotal role in supporting her throughout her acting career, providing guidance and encouragement despite her lack of prior experience in the entertainment industry. Best of the Best, directed by Lena Khan and written by Hasan Minhaj, follows Maya and her childhood friend Anjali as they join UCLA's competitive Bollywood-fusion dance team and navigate the challenges of competing for the US championship.
The film, which stars Ramakrishnan alongside Lilly Singh, Janina Gavankar, and others, premiered on Netflix on September 18.
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