Amir Bageria is a 19 year old rising actor from Canada, who is starring in the upcoming Netflix Original, Grand Army. Through the Education Initiative, a youth-led non-profit that seeks to support disadvantaged youth, I had the chance to interview Bageria on his story and unique experiences in the acting industry.
Entering his sixth year of the industry, Bageria has been professionally acting since he was 14 years old. In that time, Bageria has played Baaz Nahir from Degrassi: Next Class and Louis from Behind the Black Curtain. A Netflix Original he stars in premieres this October.
But despite his enviable success and plethora of roles things were not always easy for the young star. “I often have mixed thoughts about my pursuit,” said Bageria. “Like, did I make the right choice? Are things going to work out?”
Chasing his acting dream right after middle school, Bageria enrolled in acting school where he faced a plethora of challenges. “It was really daunting. I was 14, working with 17, 19 years old and wanting to be like them and fit in. It honestly wasn’t that different from being in a regular high school.”
Reflecting back, Bageria says that “At this point in life it’s easy to be hard on yourself.” Bageria found resilience in his friends, family, and acting idols. One of his friends came from a disadvantaged situation and had to wash dishes on the side to support his acting career.
“If people come from a lot worse but give a lot more, surely there’s more I can give,” Bageria said, adding that “I’m sure there’s a lot of challenges up ahead, but I’m excited for it. Those are the moments that really challenge who you are.”
Bageria recounted the experience that inspired him to begin acting: In the third grade he auditioned for a role in a Macbeth play put on by his school. While nervous and neurotic leading up to the play, Bageria experienced an unexpected epiphany while giving his own personal monologue during his character’s speech.
“I remember going up on stage, giving a monologue, and just not caring about what anyone thought. At that age, that was a really profound experience.”
For people who find themselves in similar acting situations he suggests remembering that “People are not necessarily looking at you, they are really looking at the character you are playing. That’s something that helps me to embrace my roles and scripts.”
Speaking on the yet to be seen effects of the coronavirus on the acting industry, Bageria said “We are probably going to be auditioning over zoom- which is awesome. The amount of time I spent driving over to an acting place didn’t make sense.
Surprisingly, he thinks “It will be more of an inconvenience than anything. The acting industry is a major business, so they’ll react rationally and competently”.
After reminiscing on his experiences and tribulations, Bageria called for everyone to “Find that feeling of euphoria and embrace it, because that will be your core.”
