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Puja Mohindra writes an expression of self or creates a story from personality believes the way you do anything is the way you do everything!
Puja’s writing practice is about creating original stories that have both comedy and heart, with the intention to help, inspire, and uplift others. Stories foster empathy and connection, and a great one can spark a revolution. She is most often recognized for her digital media work, including “Sh*t White Girls Say To Indian Girls” and “To Ashton Kutcher, Love Kimmy Patel.”
Leonard Cohen wrote,
“There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
“Geeta’s Guide To Moving On” is about accepting the cracks and finding the light.
Puja Reveals more about herself in an interview.
Tell us a little bit about yourself…..
My name is Puja Mohindra. I’m an actor, writer, producer, and more recently, a director. I live and create in Chicago. I love a good story.
How did you begin a career in acting?
I was a serious Bharata Natyam dancer and always loved abhinaya, or expressional Indian dance theater. I also acted in high school and college, but it was always a hobby. I had planned to be a journalist. After college, I quit my journalism path and decided to pursue acting professionally. I got my MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) in San Francisco and moved to Los Angeles, where I worked in film and television before moving to Chicago.
You are a writer as well …. What is the motto for the content?
“Help others.” I tried to dedicate myself to stories that can help others and that have an opportunity to be of service. I want to tell stories that uplift and inspire.
Tell us little bit about your recent project……
“Geeta’s Guide To Moving On” is a comedy web series. The show is a brown-girl take on getting dumped and moving on. Geeta Gidwani is an all-American brown girl who gets dumped on the day of her engagement party–after 10 years of dating. She’s totally devastated, moves in with her Indian parents and learns to move on with the help of her family and her best friend. You can watch the show at www.geetasguidetomovingon.com or on OTV.
If you were not an actress, writer, producer? You were…..
If I were not an actor, writer, or producer, I’d be a journalist.
What does a regular day looks like for you……
A regular day starts with me reaching for my phone, followed by coffee. I usually practice yoga. I spend time reading and making to-do lists; it helps for me to write things down. Living in Chicago, my creative work has been more centered around writing and producing, so there’s always a component to my day where I’m creating, whether it’s researching/brainstorming, writing, shooting a project or in post-production. But, I have plenty of moments where I’m just doing the most mundane things: riding the train, getting groceries, running errands, doing laundry, etc., and while they seem routine, those ordinary moments are what make up life. Sometimes they feel tedious, but acting and writing reveal what it is to be human. And you need to have a real life to do that, to make art and tell stories. During these moments, I make a conscious effort to observe human behavior and take mental notes on things I want to borrow from life and use in stories.
How is your career unfolding?
My career started with me following a traditional actor route. I graduated from drama school at A.C.T. and immediately moved to LA, where I auditioned for pilots, TV, film, and some theater. That was an incredible chapter of life that has had a huge impact on my work. Four years ago, I moved to my hometown of Chicago. I wanted to be closer to my family and to focus on producing my own projects.
My career is unfolding in that I’m more interested in telling stories than being in the story. I definitely love acting and will continue to act. But as an artist, I’m more interested in writing, producing, and directing because they offer the opportunity to bring to life stories that otherwise may not be born and to interpret material and share ideas in a way that I find deeply meaningful.
What has been your personal key to success?
My personal key to success is the following phrase, “THE WAY YOU DO ANYTHING, IS THE WAY YOU DO EVERYTHING.” I could be doing a dance routine in my basement for an audience of 3 people, and I’d still treat it like I was performing in an Oscar-winning film. I give my creative work my whole heart, whether it’s for an audience of 1 or 1,000,000. I also celebrate the baby steps of the journey. I try to hold a vision for the possibilities while appreciating the present moment and the work-in-progress.
What is the most challenging part of your career and why?
Rejection. Artists–especially actors–hear “no” far more than they hear “yes.” It takes a lot of resilience to believe in yourself and your work in the face of so much rejection. It helps to have friends who can pull you off a ledge, on the tough days. It also helps to have a balanced life, to keep things in perspective. And lastly, it helps to develop and deepen one’s practice of gratitude to endure the challenges that come with this career.
Few words for newcomers and fans…..
I’d like to send a heartfelt thank you to all who have followed along on the journey of “Geeta’s Guide to Moving On” and who continue to support the work that our team creates.
A story isn’t complete without an audience, so I want to thank those who have watched the show and connect with the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi74kIGZRBs
