Today we’d like to introduce you to Kashish Jain.
Hi Kashish, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I was two years old, I have been in love with the art of acting. I was born and raised in Bangalore, India, until I was twelve, before moving to Dallas, Texas, in 2016. From a very young age, I was vocal about what I wanted to pursue, and that dream was always to become an actress. My family supported that passion wholeheartedly, enrolling me in dance, singing, and acting classes outside of school. Through musical theatre in middle and high school, I began to better understand not only my love for performance, but what I truly wanted from acting as an art form. With that clarity, my parents encouraged me to apply to the Savannah College of Art and Design to further pursue the arts.
I have always felt drawn to the entertainment industry as a space for both expression and discovery. Acting allows me to tell stories while learning about human complexity—the way people respond to patterns and trauma, the small behavioral tics that often go unnoticed, and the transformation of a script into something alive through collaboration between actors and crew. I bring my own lived experiences into each character, using my understanding of myself and others to create performances that feel authentic, grounded, and deeply human.
As I prepare to graduate from SCAD with a degree in Performing Arts and Photography, I can confidently say that I have grown tremendously, both as an artist and as a person. Living in Atlanta and being surrounded by like-minded creatives has challenged and shaped me in meaningful ways. I have faced rejection and failure, but each experience has taught me how to improve, adapt, and learn from those around me. I’ve learned when to hold on, when to let go, and how to continue growing through both.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No one’s path is ever smooth, but my challenges began when I moved to the United States from India. As a teenager stepping into a completely unfamiliar place with new people, a new culture, and no sense of belonging, I struggled deeply. Mentally, I was in a very dark space. I lost my desire to pursue acting, and honestly, my motivation to do anything at all. My self-esteem hit an all-time low. The move affected me so strongly that I felt disconnected from myself, unsure of who I was each day I woke up. I felt hopeless and thought about giving up constantly.
What saved me during that time was the incredibly loving support system I was fortunate enough to have. The friends I made in Dallas during my first year became some of the closest people in my life. They are my second family, and I genuinely would not be the person I am today without them. The sense of community I felt within that group helped me more than they will ever realize.
When I came to SCAD, I still wasn’t in the best mental space, which made motivation and discipline difficult. Even so, I chose to keep going because I wanted to honor little Kashish’s dream of becoming an actress. For a while, I was just getting through college day by day, not fully putting myself out there. That changed during the transition between my sophomore and junior years. Being surrounded by so many creatives, people constantly learning, collaborating, and creating had reignited something in me. I didn’t want my potential to go to waste.
I began pushing myself more: auditioning more, reading more, failing more, and learning to get back up every time. Now, as a senior, I am proud of how much I’ve grown into myself. I’ve built a strong foundation, not just as an artist, but as a person, and I finally understand how I want to lead my life moving forward.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an ever-evolving creative with a specialization in acting and film photography, two mediums I have loved and studied since I was a child. My training in acting spans multiple spaces and disciplines, including conservatories in Dallas such as KD Conservatory, the Yale Summer Session for Actors, theatre throughout middle and high school, and now my formal education at SCAD. Alongside acting, I have trained in various dance forms including ballet, contemporary, Bollywood, and hip-hop. I also spent years in choir, took private vocal lessons, and explored my athletic side through gymnastics and track. Each of these experiences has shaped me, and together they allow me to approach acting with physical awareness, emotional and skill range, and discipline.
During my sophomore year at SCAD, a professor introduced me to the world of experimental theatre and performance art. That experience reignited my love for live performance and reaffirmed my desire to return to theatre. The discipline, rigor, and intention required for theatre are unlike any other medium, and it is this intensity that fuels my passion. My long-term goal is to open a theatre and film production company created by South Asians, for South Asians, providing space for authentic stories that are often overlooked.
Much of my recent work has been in SCAD films, including thesis projects and director-driven passion projects. One of the most meaningful projects I worked on this past year was ‘Illam’, directed by Sruthi Subramanian. The film explores themes of family, cultural blending, and acceptance within a Tamil household. The environment on set was one of the most positive and collaborative I have ever been part of, making long days feel purposeful and fulfilling. Sruthi’s vision was clear and powerful, and seeing the film receive recognition and awards worldwide has been incredibly rewarding.
Another project I am deeply proud of is ‘Skinny Brittle Bones’, directed by Dayna Murray. This film examines the internal conflict of a queer individual navigating religion, society, and identity within a lesbian relationship. These are real and painful experiences that many people face, and I am proud to have helped bring this story to life alongside Dayna and my co-actor, Addison Haylett. The care, honesty, and vulnerability that went into this film made it especially impactful.
Beyond acting, I am also known for my creative direction on my passion project, The Naked Fool. This project came from a desire to finally create something of my own, despite fear and self-doubt. Inspired by clowning, an acting art form that encourages radical authenticity, this experimental photoshoot explores human emotion and behavior through the symbolism of clowns. Clowning teaches you to remove walls, to embrace being strange, emotional, vulnerable, and fully present. With the help of an incredible crew of photographers, videographers, makeup artists, stylists, and performers, I was able to bring this vision to life. The project is available to view on my art Instagram, @kukspace_.
Looking ahead, I am especially excited about an upcoming experimental theatre project in Atlanta, running throughout March 2026 at the Virginia-Highland Church. The play, ‘FUCK THIS, I’M GOING TO CHURCH’ by Hailee B. Zuniga, is an immersive and confrontational piece that serves as a protest against harmful and oppressive religious practices. Being part of this production is a dream come true, not only because of its innovative form, but because of the urgent message it delivers and the values it stands for. More information about the project can be found on Instagram at @fckthisimgoingtochurch.
In all of my work, I bring my full self to the table. My art reflects who I am as a human being, and I would not have it any other way. Film photography, in particular, is a deeply personal practice for me. I focus primarily on environmental and documentary-style imagery, capturing moments through a lens that feels both melancholic and peaceful. Similarly, my approach to acting is rooted in lived experience. I explore how environment shapes identity, whether through conformity or rebellion, and how those forces manifest both in my characters and in my own life. Through openness, observation, and vulnerability, I strive to create work that feels real, grounded, and honest.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I am deeply grateful to my family for supporting me in every possible way, for believing in me, loving me, and never letting me lose faith in myself. To my friends, thank you for helping me survive, learn, and grow during moments when I needed it most. To the fellow creatives I’ve met over these past years: you continuously inspire me to be stronger, braver, and better in my craft. Your passion drives me, and I am motivated by your dreams just as much as my own. I want to achieve my goals not only for myself, but to create work that genuinely impacts people.
I am incredibly thankful for my professors at SCAD, who have taught me the technical foundations of acting, the discipline and study behind it, and the emotional responsibility that comes with this work. They have emphasized the importance of boundaries and a strong personal foundation, tools that allow an artist to return to themselves while navigating such vulnerable emotional spaces. I find myself constantly seeking wisdom and guidance from them, and I carry their lessons with me in every project.
Lastly, I want to acknowledge and thank the artists, especially women of color, who have paved the way for a more inclusive and authentic industry. Their courage has created space for voices like mine, and I hope to honor that legacy by doing my part for the generations that come next, and the ones after that.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kukspace_
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kashishjain02
Image Credits
Photography: Azalea Cox
Headshot Photographer: Benjamin McDonnell
Director of Photography: Enoch Leung
Cast: Addison Haylett
BTS Photographer: Siddharth Sivakumar
