Street Fighter star Rayna Vallandingham wants to rewrite the rules for Indian women on screen
By the time Rayna Vallandingham was eight, she had become a taekwondo world champion. Yet when she looked to film and television, she struggled to find an Indian woman whose story reflected her own. The years she spent training and competing had given her a different idea of what she could become. Now, with her roles in Cobra Kai and Street Fighter , she wants young girls watching her to have…
Rayna Vallandingham, a taekwondo world champion by age eight, longed to see Indian women on screen portrayed in a way that mirrored her own experiences. Growing up, she noticed a lack of representation featuring Indian women, as they were often depicted in a stereotypical, nerdy manner. This prompted her to become an actress herself, aiming to inspire young girls through her roles in Cobra Kai and Street Fighter.
She hopes to break stereotypes and show girls that they have the potential to achieve anything they desire, without limitations. Her journey in martial arts began with her parents' desire to boost her confidence, which led to her becoming a 13-time world champion. Vallandingham's character, Zara Malik in Cobra Kai, allowed her to blend her martial arts background with her Indian heritage, drawing on her grandparents' speech patterns for authenticity.
Playing Zara in Street Fighter further solidified her desire to offer representation to young women in the form of strong, complex female characters. Director Kitao Sakurai appreciated the ensemble of women with distinct motivations and personalities, which Vallandingham found gratifying. The film also united actresses at different stages of their martial arts journey, from experienced competitors like Vallandingham to newcomers such as Callina Liang, who plays Chun-Li.
Liang credits the role for introducing her to weightlifting, stunt training, and martial arts, which have since become integral to her life. Vallandingham hopes that the film will empower young girls by demonstrating the possibilities that await them, and she has received countless messages from fans expressing how her work has impacted them.
One such fan is David Dastmalchian, who plays M Bison and is a parent, whose daughter was deeply moved by the film during a screening alongside Vallandingham and Liang.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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