Keeping mum! KALYANI'S BIG SECRET

The Raised by Refugees actor feels the weight of all mothers on her shoulders!

- Aroha Awarau

At only 28 years old, Kalyani Nagarajan has carved out an acting career in theatre and TV playing strong South Asian mothers.

The Auckland performer says it’s amusing that she is constantly cast in these roles because she is a proud single woman with no children.

“Every actor has that character they play that they are really good at. For me, it’s a South Asian mother. Their stories aren’t often told and when they are, they’re often stereotypes. I want to tear those archetypes apart.”

In her latest role, Kalyani portrays Safia Assadi, a character based on comedian Pax Assadi’s mother in the biographical local TV comedy Raised by Refugees.

Kalyani acts opposite Pax, who stars as his own father Afnan, in a series about Pax’s upbringing in New Zealand with parents who moved here from Pakistan as refugees.

Kalyani’s parents moved to New Zealand from India before she was born, so she could relate to the story of being a child of immigrant parents.

“Safia reminded me of my own mother. I deeply understand her because South Asian mothers are very direct, blunt and assertive.

“Many people can relate to having an immigrant mother trying to raise their first generation child. As a first-generation daughter, I constantly feel this obligation to make my parents happy and proud of me with the choices I make in my life.”