In some ways, the evolution of Suraj Sharma and Hollywood has been parallel. Where the Indian actor is trying to find his feet in the international circuit after Life of Pi (2012), Hollywood is shedding its prejudices and embracing inclusivity. The actor, who is headlining The Illegal that recently dropped on Amazon Prime Video, says there has been a sea change in the West over the past decade with regard to cultural representation.  

“I came to the US seven to eight years ago, and since then, things have become much better. There is more scope for us now. It’s no longer about how many Indian actors are [part of the industry]. It’s about how many South Asians are producers or in the writers’ room, or how many have got a chance to direct a film. What they show on screen has a huge impact. The more you see a person from a particular background on the screen, the more familiar you become with [the community]. It’s nice to see more South Asian festivals; they push this movement forward,” says Sharma.