Meet Preeti Dhanda

We were lucky to catch up with Preeti Dhanda recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Preeti with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic was built from survival, shaped by passion, and fueled by love. I’m the daughter of immigrants who worked tirelessly—two jobs, 12-hour shifts, never a day off—to give their kids a better life. Even when they had nothing, they gave us everything. They didn’t eat out, didn’t treat themselves—life was simple: homecooked meals, school, family events, and going to the gurdwara.
We didn’t grow up with luxury, but we grew up with values. If we got birthday money, we spent it on our parents as a thank you. That’s the kind of home I came from—where love looked like sacrifice, and hard work was just what you did. My dad was an entrepreneur who never waited for opportunities—he created them. Watching him take risks taught me to bet on myself.

Acting is hard. But so is anything meaningful—whether it’s starting a business or getting abs. I got abs—it took time, but with the right diet and putting in the work every day, I started to see results. You don’t get results from wishing. You get them from showing up. Every. Single. Day. Abs start in the kitchen, but they’re earned through discipline. Just like dreams.

To me, work ethic is about shaping yourself, not quitting, and having a strong why—because you know that getting just 1% better every day leads to a better tomorrow. It’s about working steadily toward your dreams, no matter what.

Hustle isn’t something you can teach. It comes from wanting more for yourself and not being afraid to work for it. I’ve always had a second job to support my passion. I don’t quit. I fall, sure—but I get back up. That’s where my fire comes from: grit, faith, and a refusal to give up.

So I stay ready. I show up. And when opportunity comes, I don’t hesitate—I take it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a storyteller at heart, and that shapes everything I do—as an actress and comedian. I’m passionate about bringing authentic, diverse stories to life that make people laugh and think. My comedy leans into adult humor, often tackling taboo topics that people don’t expect a brown girl like me to address. I love flipping the script and challenging assumptions.
What excites me most about my work is the chance to represent voices and experiences that often go unheard. Comedy and acting have a unique power to connect us, break down barriers, and open up important conversations. Making an audience feel seen or inspired through my performances is incredibly rewarding.

I’m always auditioning for amazing projects and hoping a major booking is just around the corner. Eventually, I’d love to do a comedy tour—but not quite yet.

Outside of the arts, I’m passionate about health and fitness. In my stories, I try to inspire people to improve just 1% every day, because consistency matters more than trying to do it all at once. Health is something you can’t buy back in 20 years, so I prioritize it now.

I also love dressing up every day to express my creative style—classy and fun. I live in skirts and dresses because I feel like people have moved away from dressing up. These days, you see a lot of sweatpants and yoga clothes—and that’s totally fine if that makes you comfortable. But for me, dressing up is about celebrating myself and putting together an outfit that reflects my mood and creativity each day.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three things really shaped my journey: confidence, resilience, and consistency.
Confidence in yourself is everything. You have to trust your own voice and your worth, even when nobody else sees it yet. That belief pushes you to take risks and keep chasing your dreams.

Resilience is about not giving up when things get tough. I’ve heard a lot of silent “no’s” as an actor—you audition and audition, and sometimes you don’t get the role. But you keep going. Remember your why, keep showing up, and keep pushing forward.

Consistency ties right into resilience. It’s about showing up every day, whether you feel like it or not. It’s the small daily actions—rehearsing lines, writing jokes, staying healthy—that build up over time and make the real difference. Getting just 1% better every day adds up.

For anyone starting out, my advice is: don’t take rejection personally—it’s part of the process. Set small goals, celebrate the little wins, and be patient. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep showing up, trust your journey, and be kind to yourself.

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities, or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My family, my friends, and my mentors have all played huge roles in shaping me. When I first started acting, I had an acting coach named Mark Schoenberg—he’s no longer with us, but he made a lasting impact. I remember being failed by an acting school he taught at in Toronto (still don’t know how someone can fail you in an art class). I had a big audition coming up and the odds were stacked against me, but Mark believed in me. He said, “Kid, you might not get this—actually, you definitely won’t get this. But you’ve got a fire in you, and that’s more important than talent. I can’t teach hunger, but I can teach you to act—as long as you put in the work.” That stuck with me.

Later, I trained with Earl Nanhu for almost a decade. He taught me that acting isn’t just technical—it’s spiritual. It’s about being present, living moment to moment, and drawing from real human experience. He always encouraged me to read more, live more, and be curious about everything. The more you live, the deeper your work gets.

My circle of friends—small but solid—keeps me grounded. Some are in the industry, some aren’t, and that balance is everything. We go see plays, catch movies, have BBQs, and talk about life. When I feel lost, they remind me of how far I’ve come and who I really am. They’ve been my anchor when things get hard.

One of my best friends, Pedro, passed away from cancer. Before he died, he said, “Promise me you’ll never quit acting. You’re really good. You’ve got talent. Just be patient. Just keep going.” I carry that with me.

At the end of the day, real life is harder than acting. I’m just here trying to live, love, and learn as much as I can while I can.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/preetiidhanda/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialjasdhanda/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasdhanda/

Image Credits

Megan Vincent