‘Working With Ryan Gosling Was a Masterclass’

“Working with Ryan Gosling was like watching a masterclass in acting,” says Priya Kansara, who voiced ‘Mary,’ a computer on a spaceship in Project Hail Mary, one of the most commercially and critically acclaimed films of the year so far.

In an exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle over a Zoom call from London, the British-born Indian actor described the work environment on the project as “collaborative and nurturing” and highlighted the fact that despite being the youngest and newest person on the team, she was constantly encouraged to give inputs.

No hierarchy

Talking of the acclaim the film has been receiving, she said, “It’s been overwhelming. I guess you never really anticipate that something is going to be super successful, or how you’re going to be perceived for being part of the project. The entire experience was one long “pinch-me moment.” Giving special credit to Gosling, Priya said, “He’s so kind, open and wonderful to work with. Watching how he works, the notes he makes between cuts, and how he allows others to lead as well was an incredible way to learn.”

Pragmatism over passion

A biologist by training, Priya said acting was something she had always wanted to do, but she was also pragmatic about her passion. “For many it is not really an accessible career or industry. I guess that’s the case for many kids of Indian parents. I enjoyed science at school. So I guess I took the sensible route, because I didn’t really think I had an option. But over the years I realised I felt strongly about acting and devoted myself full time to it.”

Priya’s first acting credits included a brief part in Bridgerton Season 2, followed by the action comedy film Polite Society in 2023. The film won her rave reviews, with several British critics calling her the Tom Cruise of the UK, for having done her own stunts. “I’m very happy with the comparison,” said Priya with a laugh.

Long way to go

With the South Asian presence growing in Hollywood, she acknowledged that though she has made progress, there is still a long way to go. She agreed with Priyanka Chopra’s statement on hustling to find a seat at the table, saying for Asians to get easy access, movies starring them need to do well commercially.

“I think we’ve made a lot of progress, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. We’ve got maybe half a seat at the table. Or sometimes they put the seat but take it away because they decide that we’ve got too many seats,” she said.

“Several parts of this industry can be a bit scary for people like us, like the feeling that if we don’t do something that is successful, we’ll be considered not of value. If one project doesn’t make big money at the box office, that’s the precedent, not all of our work put together,” she explained.

Indian cinema on the bucket list

Asked about working in Indian cinema, Priya said she grew up watching Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai’s movies. “I have so much nostalgia about Indian cinema that I would say Yes in a heartbeat. But now there are new actors like Ishaan Khatter who are doing great work, and also directors doing incredible films. I watched Homebound recently, which was amazing.”

Desi DNA

When asked about her Indian roots, she revealed that there is a lot of the desi in her. “You will see me sitting cross-legged and when I need to refresh my palate I make khichdi. If I’m feeling stressed out, sometimes I’ll just listen to bhajans because it’s what I used to hear in the house when I was little, and it soothes me. I also love Garba.”