EMILY SHAH
Actress, Executive Producer,
Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation Ambassador
An Indian/American actress, Emily Shah, is the daughter of famed Bollywood producer Prashant Shah who’s making a name for herself as an actress and dancer internationally. Next up, Emily stars in and executive produce the Indian film “Jungle Cry,” which has a theatrical release internationally to the U.A.E., U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and India.
The Chicago-born, New Jersey raised actress, is influenced by her multi-cultural family background, her love of dance and travel, and her passion for theatre. Emily grew up on set for her father’s films and always felt an infatuation with both production and acting. Emily had the privilege of theatre training throughout her youth, including Lee Strasberg’s Institute of Film and Theater in New York and Los Angeles, Madumati’s Dance & Acting Academy in Hindi for Bollywood, New York Film Academy, and Weist-Barron. She trained in ballet at the American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School and danced tap, jazz, and hip hop. When she was 13, she was selected for a dance troupe and eventually became a dance teacher for Stage Stars.
As a teenager, Emily started working in local pageants, commercials, and print work for Indian/American brands until she got a job on the set of “Jersey Boys” as an assistant to Clint Eastwood. Later on, she worked as an assistant on the feature films, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Monster Trucks,” and “Fast & Furious 7.” Emily graduated with a degree in Entertainment Media Management from California State University. She went on to grow her career in acting by working on national campaigns for Proactive, Sephora, Motorola, and T3. Emily is a UNICEF, Autism Awareness, and Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation ambassador and proudly works with various charities and nonprofit organizations involved with cancer, people with disabilities, and underprivileged individuals.
As an actress fluent in Gujarati, English, and Hindi, Emily is building her career in both Bollywood and Hollywood alike. When she is not on set, you can find her watching her favorite sports team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Emily grew up playing soccer every day, so her passion for sports has only grown. She now exercises five to six days a week doing Pilates, kickboxing, and cycling, to name a few. Outside of sports and exercise, her other passion is food.
Tell us about your role in “Jungle Cry.”
I play the team’s physio, Roshni Thakker. She becomes the boys’ mentor while also assisting the coach in the games. She has her adversities that she overcomes with the help of the team.
How was your experience working with Clint
Eastwood on the set of “Jersey Boys.”?
I was only 18 when I worked alongside Mr. Eastwood, and it’s safe to say that he has as much energy as I did on set. During lunch, he would sit with the crew and interact with every single cast and crew on set, including the extras. I learned so much from him, more than I could learn at any university.
How do you go about picking the roles you want to play in films?
I think it’s important to support stories that portray strong, powerful women, and I love playing roles where women can hold their own, adding to the story without just merely being “the love interest.”
Tell us about the good and bad experiences you had during your career.
Every career has its ebbs and flows, especially the entertainment industry. The most positive reward that’s happened to me so far is the feedback I have received from Jungle Cry. It’s touched a lot of people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s certainly an accomplishment, and I hope that I can continue to create international content that people all over the world can relate to. However, something that needs to change (that I have experienced myself), is a sense of reverse racism. I have auditioned quite a bit in my career, and being that I am Indian, and can speak two Indian languages, I’ve auditioned for a lot of Indian roles. The one feedback that I have constantly received is that – I don’t look Indian enough. Not only is that hurtful and disrespectful, but it’s instilling this stereotype of what Indians SHOULD look like, and I hope I can help progress towards a less judgmental casting process.
Tell us about your daily fitness routine.
I love to switch it up and take classes all over the city. With everything going on right now, everything is shut down, so I am working out at home. At the moment, I try to go on a 4-5 mile walk 2-3 times a week, cardio 3-4 times a week, and then weight training or boxing the rest of the days. On my recovery days- I opt for an active recovery, so I will choose to swim or practice yoga.
Healthy eating and nutrition are part of your lifestyle. Tel us about what you prefer to eat and what you avoid in your diet?
I eat mostly plant-based. A few times a month, I will try to incorporate eating white fish just for personal health reasons. I think everyone is different and should consult with their physician before making nutritional changes because it is a lifestyle choice. I have done a lot of research on plant-based diets, and I grew up as a vegetarian, so it was quite easy for me to cut out dairy. It was the best personal choice for me, and I feel stronger than ever!
What is next for you? Any Plans for the future?
My family’s production company has a slate of projects, including international content that I intend to produce. On the acting front, I am also attached to a project that has Andy Armstrong attached as the director! And I’m looking forward to getting back in front of the camera.
Are there any charities close to your heart?
The Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation is a charity that I started working with when I was 15. They will always have a special place in my heart. Pediatric hospitals cater to very young kids, handing out princess toys or comic books, which isn’t typically of interest to teenagers who are submitted. So this foundation comes in and sets up teen lounges with gaming systems, ping pong tables, and activities that do cater to middle school/ high school kids.
Cover Photo by
Jessielyn Palumbo
Makeup by: Angelica Alberti
Hair by: Zullay Sevilla
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