Renegades, Issue 12: Nik Dodani (Actor)

Spicing up our communities from acting to production

Nik Dodani

Actor, Writer, Producer
Co-Founder, The Salon & Cosmic Pomegranate

Welcome to Renegades, a series spotlighting Asian Pacific leaders and creatives who are carving their own paths and defying stereotypes along the way.

This week, we're featuring Nik Dodani, an actor, writer, and producer. Nik shares with us how playing Zahid on the Netflix series, “Atypical,” influenced him, his wishes for the entertainment industry to overrepresent Asian Pacific and LGBTQ+ communities, and what his production company, Cosmic Pomegranate, is working on.

What did you want to be when you were growing up, and how does that compare to what you do today? 

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with the idea of becoming a neurologist, so I could invent a machine that let people communicate while dreaming. I used to draw neurons for fun. But once I found out that I'd have to be in school until I was at least 30, I abandoned that ambition. How does that compare with being an actor/writer/whatever-the-hell I'm doing now? It's different...

You majored in politics in college and also worked on several political campaigns. What was the transition like for you from politics to acting?

Transitioning from politics to acting felt pretty natural. Both fields require a deep understanding of people, their motivations, and their stories. My experience in politics, particularly working on issue-based campaigns, taught me a lot about empathy and communication, which are both crucial skills in acting.

Your breakout role was playing Zahid in the popular Netflix series “Atypical.” How did you prepare for the character of Zahid, and did it influence your perspective on neurodiversity?

This sounds cheesy, but playing Zahid made me a better person. He loves Sam unconditionally and doesn't treat him any less for having autism. In fact, he celebrates his friend for being neurospicy. Playing someone like that for five years rubbed off on me and genuinely made me a sweeter and softer person. Being on that show absolutely deepened my understanding, appreciation, and love for people who are different. The weirder the better.

What was your experience like as a co-producer of Broadway's adaptation of Life of Pi? Were there any significant aspects or elements from the book that you felt were crucial but couldn't be included in the stage production?

Being a co-producer on Life of Pi has been a singular experience—[a] brand new world for me to navigate. I think Lolita Chakrabarti, our playwright, did an incredible job adapting the novel for the stage, and this very big and beautiful Asian cast brings it to life every night with pure magic. Go see it!

With a background in improv and comedy, how has improv shaped your acting style?

Stand-up and improv have been huge in helping me grow as an actor. I feel as though I'm better at being present in the moment, listening and responding authentically, and finding humor in unexpected places. Plus, it's really helpful to be able to quickly crack a stupid joke when things get tense on a set...

As a South Asian and openly LGBTQIA+ actor, what changes would you like to see moving forward in representation, diversity, and inclusion for the E&M industry?

Over 40% of Americans are people of color, and somewhere between 10 to 40 percent are fruity depending on which survey you look at. I not only want to see those numbers reflected on screen, but I also want to see them surpassed. I know this makes some people squirm, but I want overrepresentation—at least for a little while until we balance out the last 100 years. That includes behind the camera and in the C-suites. I also would really love it if white people in Hollywood and Broadway could get off their public pedestals about diversity and inclusion and actually start changing their own behaviors on a day-to-day basis in their own productions. You not being racist doesn't need to be accompanied by a press release...

How did your experience as a gay Asian-American growing up in Arizona, contribute to your understanding about the intersection of identity, culture, and sexuality?

I don't know if I have it in me to pontificate on intersectionality after answering that last question. I tire easily.

What do you wish your younger self knew?

I wish my younger self knew that it's okay to be different and that those differences are a strength, not a weakness. I would tell him to embrace his identity and to use his unique perspective to make his own place in the world, his own art, [and] his own communities. I would also encourage him to drink more water. And work out. And that he's not bi, just fully gay.

What are you currently working on that’s exciting you the most?

I'm super excited about the work with my production company, Cosmic Pomegranate. We're developing our own film and television projects, and we're dedicated to creating a vibrant and colorful community, as well as the resources to serve that community. I'm also thrilled about all the upcoming partnerships that The Salon, an org[anization] I co-founded for South Asian artists and execs in entertainment, has with Gold House.

Lightning Round

Daily Habit
Morning meditation + latte

Most Productive Time of Day
Whenever the ADHD meds kick in

Favorite City to Visit
New Orleans

Favorite Tex-Mex Food or Comedian Who Has Influenced You the Most
This is a weird "or" question.

Favorite Genre to Binge Watch 
Comedy or sci-fi