April 22 | On Zoom | 6:30pm - 8:00pm PST
In an era where the boundaries between mediums are increasingly fluid, today’s actors are redefining what it means to build a career across theater, film, and television. For performers navigating this evolving landscape, the craft demands not only emotional depth, but technical agility—an ability to shift scale, tone, and presence from the intimacy of the camera to the expansiveness of the stage.
In this edition of Actors on Acting, Sonal Shah, Pej Vahdat, Sunikrish Balakrishnan, and Priyanka Shetty come together for a candid and insightful conversation about their journeys across mediums—and the artistry required to thrive within each.
Drawing from rich backgrounds in theater, independent film, and television, the actors explore how foundational stage training informs their on-screen performances, grounding them in discipline, presence, and character development. At the same time, we reflect on the nuanced adjustments required for film and television.
The conversation also delves into the realities of transitioning between mediums: the challenges of being “typecast” within one space, the opportunities presented by streaming platforms, and the increasing demand for globally resonant, culturally specific storytelling. For these artists, the shift is not just technical—it is deeply personal, requiring constant reinvention and a commitment to authenticity.
The Panel
Sonal Shah
Sonal Shah is an award-winning actress known for her dynamic range, sharp comedic timing, and emotionally grounded performances.
She first broke through as one of the first Indian American women in a major role on a network comedy (Scrubs), and has since built a diverse body of work across film, television, and theatre. Her feature Four Samosas received critical acclaim, and her performance in Definition Please was highlighted by The Hollywood Reporter as one that “stands out.”
On stage, Shah has delivered what critics have called a “dazzlingly multi-faceted… tour-de-force” in Untitled Baby Play, solidifying her reputation as a bold and versatile performer.
Her television credits include Superstore, New Girl, and Better Things, and she has voiced characters in Mira, Royal Detective, The Powerpuff Girls, and Costume Quest. She is a member of IAMA Theatre Company, an alum of the NBC Diversity Showcase and The Second City Conservatory, and has previously held a development deal with Disney+.
Shah is a respected acting teacher at John Rosenfeld Studios and Masterclass instructor and director at the Art of Acting Studio, where she is known for guiding actors toward authentic, truthful performances.
A comedian and advocate for humanity, Sonal co-hosted the Asian American Institute for Congressional Studies Gala in DC attended by President Obama as well as galas for Comcast, NBC Universal, South Asian Network, Aiden’s Red Envelope Benefit, and the American India Foundation on Wall Street, where she helped raise 2.1 million dollars for education in India. She’s been a guest speaker at Harvard University, the Alpha Gamma Sigma Scholastic Honor Society, The Chicago Foundation for Women, and the Indo-American Community Services Organization who praised her “Outstanding Dedication and Support for the Community.”
Pej Vahdat
Pej was born in Tehran, Iran. As a child, his family moved to the United States to escape the revolution and landed in San Jose, California. Pej went on to attend SDSU where he played Division 1 Tennis. Growing up, Pej loved film, television, and theater so on a whim during his Junior year, he signed up for a Theatre Class and was immediately hooked. The very next day, he quit tennis and turned his focus to acting.
His impressive career proves he made the right decision. His extensive resume includes a co-starring role in THE OLD MAN, alongside Jeff Bridges for FX/Hulu as well as a pivotal role opposite Kevin Bacon on the Ben Affleck/Matt Damon produced CITY ON A HILL for Showtime. He also worked for 8 seasons on Fox’s hit series, BONES, Showtime’s long running hit series, SHAMELESS, alongside William H. Macy; and Amazon’s SNEAKY PETE opposite Bryan Cranston. On stage, he starred in Lincoln Center’s production of BLOOD AND GIFTS directed by Bartlett Sher
Sunikrish Balakrishnan
Sunkrish Bala is an actor, producer, and voiceover artist whose twenty-year career spans television, film, theater, animation, and video games. A graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, Sunkrish’s notable credits include recurring roles on Castle, The Walking Dead, and Good Trouble. He produced and starred a multi-festival award-winning feature, Chee and T. Most recently, Sunkrish’s voice can be heard in the latest seasons of Beavis and Butthead, as well as the long-awaited sequel to the cult-classic animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Priyanka Shetty
Priyanka Shetty is an award-winning actor, playwright, and director based in Philadelphia. As a creator of original works, Priyanka is focused on making art that is a reflection of our times. With humor, insight, and raw energy, her plays pose critical questions about contemporary issues, engender dialogue, and call for solidarity and collective action. Her critically acclaimed one-woman show The Elephant in the Room has toured extensively across the U.S. and internationally, with performances at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Yale Schwarzman Center, and the 2022 Edinburgh Festival Fringe which led to a subsequent tour across Scotland. Priyanka recently premiered her second solo show, #CHARLOTTESVILLE, at The Keegan Theatre in Washington, D.C. The production went on to achieve a completely sold-out run at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where she received the prestigious Scotsman Fringe First Award for Outstanding New Writing presented to her by the iconic British national treasure, Miriam Margolyes. The production continues to expand globally under the helm of Olivier, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning producer Richard Jordan. Priyanka’s work has been featured on BBC Radio’s Front Row, The Guardian, The Scotsman, The Washington Post, TimeOut, Vogue, and The New York Times. She has been commissioned by The Keegan Theatre and awarded a National Endowment for the Arts grant to write The Wall, the third and final play in her Triptych of Solos. Priyanka is an alumna of the prestigious Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive. She has served on the jury of Open Screenplay’s MFilm Lab in Canada and as a mentor for emerging screenwriters of South Asian descent, and most recently on the jury for the Atlanta Indian Film Festival. Priyanka earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the University of Virginia and has served on the faculty of the University of Virginia’s Department of Drama. www.priyankashetty.com