We were lucky to catch up with Havish Ravipati recently and have shared our conversation below.
Havish, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I have always been a creative individual and interested in some aspect or another of some form of arts; be it illustrating, acting, music or watching movies & television.
When I was in second grade, we were doing a play performance for class about Sleeping Beauty and while they selected a girl to be the title role, none of the other boys raised their hands to play the Prince. Then thinking why not me?, I raised my hand. It was my first experience performing and the next class play, I played one of the Ugly Ducklings (though I didn’t care for being “ugly”, it was another fun experience. Though I didn’t pursue drama throughout my grade school years, I was still interested in movies a lot.
The whole aspect of creating a character outside of your own self, discovering humanity within, relating to an audience/getting a reaction from them has always inspired me and continues to do so today.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Havish Ravipati. I am an actor who is currently in the California Bay Area, but have started working in the Los Angeles market as well,
I have done many stage productions, parts in feature films, short films, commercials, voiceovers and print advertisements. I like to do projects within the thriller/horror genres, but have done productions of all types and genres.
I specialize in portraying the unlikely hero types, quirky oddballs, brooding henchman and memorable character roles.
I was in a supporting role in the feature film, Four Samosas, which was selected to be part of Tribeca Film Festival in 2022 and is now available for viewing on Hulu, Amazon Prime and other streaming services.
Some of my more recent works has been: the stage production, Our Stories 2 by Bay Area Drama Company (a sequel production of 8 short plays about South Asians living in America); the podcast series, Murphy’s Inc. and to be released-Cypress Creek; and the podcast adaptation of Shakunthalai in the Forest (based off the story in the Mahabharata) produced by the Feminist Fairytales podcast group.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1.) Persistence – I am sure there are plenty of actors/artists more talented and versatile than I am, but one aspect that has kept me going is my persistence and hard work. I am always looking for performing opportunities, looking to network with other creatives and seeking ways to keep my skills sharp. This has helped me in building my resume, skill of performances and getting my name out there.
2.) Finding your own unique “voice”. When I say voice, I don’t mean your literal speaking voice, I mean what separates you from the other artist. What makes you, YOU. For example, I specialize in playing quirky oddball character roles and that of the unlikely hero sort, with a touch of dry humor. I think all artists should bring their own unique worldview and personality to their work and that will make it shine and standout.
3.) Be diverse and adapting. I once only wanted to focus on acting for movies, but gradually, I started venturing by performing in stage plays, voiceovers, screenwriting and other creative venues. Not only has it helped me become a more well-rounded artist, but it has helped me find opportunities when I wasn’t getting work. I feel all artists should be multi-talented in various aspects as this well open them up to a wider audience and performing possibilities.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I have a very creative mind, yet tend to suffer from a lack of focus. I have so many ideas and things I want to accomplish and sometimes it ends up to nothing getting done. The intention to do something is there, but clearer organization is required.
As a result, I have been making attempts to do one thing at a time, make lists of what to accomplish and finish tasks one by one. It helps me be organized and also feel like I’m progressing forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.havish-ravipati.com
- Instagram: @havishravipatiactor
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/havish.ravipati/
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/havish-ravipati-7364651b
- Twitter: @HavishR
- Youtube: @TheMrHavish
- Other: IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1845892/
Image Credits
Steve Cozart (headshots in purple and grey shirts) Sandor Helderman (headshot in brown shirt from side) Kyle Adler Photography (theatre shots in front of light background)
