Actress Dipti Mehta on Capturing Immigrant Experiences in ‘Far Away’

Dipti Mehta is one such individual. Mehta is an Indian-American actress popularly known for her portrayal of Reina in "Life, Camera, Action!"

Updated: October 7, 2015 5:55 AM IST

By Poorvi Adavi

Actress Dipti Mehta on Capturing Immigrant Experiences in 'Far Away'

Passion is a magician that makes wearing different hats at the same time an effortless venture.

Very few people possess the ability to turn a childhood passion into a profession. The ones who do, often go on to become extraordinary. Dipti Mehta is one such individual. Mehta is an Indian-American actress popularly known for her portrayal of Reina in “Life, Camera, Action!”

At the age of six, after finding joy in acting, Mehta pursued acting with academics—and excelled in both streams. She holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology, along with being a popular actress and a radio jockey.

“I was always an actor and have always pursued both science and acting. I still do. My day job is working in cancer research,”  Mehta said.

Mehta was born in Ahmedabad but raised in Mumbai, where she eventually found her true calling. “I loved growing up in Mumbai. I think I am who I am because of Mumbai,” Mehta explained. “I was exposed to theater and radio at a relatively early age and was able to find my calling. Mumbai is such a melting pot, you hear all different languages, celebrate different cultures and become really open to new ideas and things. I used to say, ‘I don’t live in Mumbai, Mumbai lives in me!’”

What really shaped Mehta’s personality, though, was the chawl she lived in during her childhood years. “We lived in a 200 square foot studio-sized home in a chawl and that was really a wonderful thing as a child. I had so many friends to play with and hang out with. I could go into anyone’s home and feel welcomed—it was like having one mom but 100 dinners. It also helped me become very outgoing and confident,” Mehta said.

Unlike other Indians, Mehta did not dream of coming to the U.S. and living the American dream. “I was very happy with my life in Mumbai and still crave to go back.” Mehta said.

So, when Mehta came to the University of Arizona to pursue her doctorate degree, she found the entire experience to be quite challenging. “I went to University of Arizona which is a desert. I love the ocean—I lived in South Bombay very close to the ocean and it was my evening routine to go to Marine Drive and just hang out there. In Tucson, I missed that terribly,” she explained.

“Also, I left a very fulfilling and successful career as a radio jockey in Mumbai so it took a lot of adjusting to become a lab rat,” she went on to say. “But then I found dance and started to train in classical dance forms, and also formed a dance group so I did have fun. My mentor, Dr. Gerner, is an amazing scientist and I am definitely lucky to have had his guidance and mentorship. I had wonderful roommates and friends so all in all it was a great experience.”

Dipti Mehta[A still from the movie, “Far Away.” | Photo Courtesy: Dipti Mehta]

Mehta is currently working on a short film titled “Far Away.” What intrigued Mehta about this film is that it is a story of people, and their hopes and dreams, as they immigrate from India to the U.S.

“I relate to that and I am sure viewers will too,” Mehta explained. “All of us have had to make choices where we had to choose one thing over the other. ‘Far Away’ is about those choices and how they shape the character’s lives.”

Mehta is playing the character of Ritika in “Far Away.” She relates to the character, but not in the way one might think. “The similarity is in the fact that she wants to take a stand for what she believes in, and that is how I am in real life,” Mehta said. “I think I am rather a headstrong person and will not compromise on certain core beliefs. Ritika has a dilemma to go through around that.”

Most Indian immigrants who come to the U.S. are caught in a catch-22 situation. It is not easy to get acclimated to Western norms, nor is it easy to relocate to India for good. But Mehta believes that after a rough phase of adjustment, one can live a content life in India.

“Many of my friends have relocated to India,” Mehta confessed. “They did have to go through a little adjustment period, but I think it is a give and take. We are paying a price of living here in the States as well. We might have bigger houses or cars or better lifestyles (that is debatable as well,) but we are not home—and that is a big price to pay compared to dealing with issues back home.”

Dipti Mehta[A still from the movie, “Far Away.” | Photo Courtesy: Dipti Mehta]

To get into the nerve of the character she plays in “Far Away,” Mehta drew inspiration from her friends and family who have immigrated to the U.S., and are in varying stages of life.

“I drew a lot from all these relationships. Interestingly, people have the same issues and challenges that they deal with when they leave home,” she said.

Through her on-screen characters, Mehta weaves the tapestry of Indian culture into that of the U.S.—they are gentle reminders of the incredibly entangled web, which is the life of immigrants. Mehta’s art kindles the thought process about our identities, which are eternally meandering through space and time, yet maintain their authentic core.

“In today’s day and age it is relatively easy to retain your cultural heritage,” Mehta said. “One needs to be careful, though, as life is always flowing. When I go home to Mumbai, I find the culture evolving. But here in the States, I see a lot of immigrant families in a cultural freeze—especially the ones that moved here back in the eighties and nineties. I think that can be a big problem because India is changing and so is being Indian.”

Help fund Mehta’s film by contributing to her Indiegogo campaign! The crowdfund page ends in four days, so every little bit counts!

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