As Abhay Deol navigates the larger-than-life terrain of Hollywood, he is glad that the industry over there is working hard to finally get to a point where they are writing and casting characters that accurately reflect the rest of the world. “I’m glad it is finally happening. There needs to be right representation in Hollywood as it has been lacking for a long time,” shares Deol, who has embarked upon a journey in the West with his latest film, Spin.

For the actor, getting the representation right is crucial since several youngsters look up to the entertainment medium to identify and understand their own culture as part of growing up.

“Kids, who look like us — whether from the Indian-American or the Latin-American or Asian communities, they need to see themselves represented the way they are, so that kids who grow up in that country feel like they belong,” shares the 45-year-old.

He reveals that Asian-Americans are happy to see someone like them on screen, and that is important. “I’ve been getting (positive) feedback after Spin, in which I play the role of father to a teenage daughter in an Indian-American set-up,” the actor shares.

Explaining his earlier point further, the Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) actor says, “It gives them a sense of belonging. Because a lot of kids who are from an ethnic community outside of the USA, and who were born and raised in the US, try and find where they belong by visiting countries where their parents come from [only to] realise that they don’t fit there. And they feel like they don’t belong in America either.” That leaves them in the lurch, and that’s why becoming inclusive should be the way forward, and is a big deal, feels Deol.

However, he doesn’t mean that ethnicity in the plotline should be forced to make a point as “making a statement without making it about ethnic identity is important”.

Actor Abhay Deol says showcasing Indian men as nerds and women as ‘exotic’ is one of the stereotypes American mainstream cinema should stop, as there are more to explore.

The actor said, “I think stereotyping people is a reality, whether it is in Bollywood or Hollywood. Even in our cinema, we stereotype few communities. But if we look at mainstream American cinema and television, I would say, we Indians are shown in two extremes. Onscreen, Indian men are usually shown as nerds and Indian women are shown as exotic, attractive and beautiful. This kind of stereotyping puts a community in a pigeonhole, which I do not like. Having said that, I do not want to look at the past anymore because we are changing the conversation with better roles, better representation and better storytelling. I see no reason to hold on to the past and sulk about it, we are storytellers, we should change it.”

Citing the example of Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Manjari Makijany, who recently directed the film, Spin, said, “She is the face of change that we want to see to break the stereotype of representation of south Asian characters. Casting actors like her in lead roles, whether it is in Quantico or in films in which she played a substantial part because of her talent, is the way forward. That is the way forward, instead of casting Indian actors like ‘taxi driver’ etc.”

She went on to add, “I think people also have a tendency of making Indian characters speak with a put-on accent in western cinema. They think we talk like that all the time. Listen, there is no one Indian accent when we speak in English. People from north India speak in one kind of accent in English, which is different from the south. But western cinema stereotyped that for the longest time. Not all Indian communities are loud, that is another stereotype. But I am hopeful that like Priyanka, there will be more role models from South Asia to break stereotypes in the western cinema.”

A quick look at Abhay Deol’s repertoire will tell you that playing a dad won’t faze him. “I played one in Manorama [Six Feet Under],” he says as we discuss his new film, Spin, where he essays the role of a supportive father to Avantika Vandanapu. “Bollywood normalises 50-plus actors with 20-plus heroines because of their insecurity about ageing. It’s funny because next to younger actresses, they look even older. My upcoming Netflix show has me going from 30s to the 50s. I can play roles of different ages without hang-ups.”

Disney’s first Indo-American movie, directed by Manjari Makijany, revolves around a teenager following her passion for DJing. Deol believes the film is a significant step in representing South Asian culture on screen. “It’s telling the story of an American kid and suggesting not to judge them by their skin colour. [My character] doesn’t have an American twang. In keeping it as a regular story, Disney has made a statement about how American culture is a composite of many cultures. South Asian culture being represented front and centre does a great deal for brown kids who can [now see] themselves on screen. It makes them feel less on the periphery.”

Never one to have patience for formulaic films, Deol charted his own path in the Hindi film industry, fronting stories that spoke to him. The actor, who has a web series on Uphaar Cinema tragedy in the pipeline, is glad that the OTT boom has created an alternate universe of entertainment. “Now, there are platforms showcasing the talent of those who don’t conform to Bollywood. Formula filmmakers don’t realise that the generation, which has grown up on the Internet, will not look at stardom the way they do.”

Manjari Makijany, daughter of actor Mac Mohan, who is fondly remembered as Sambha from Sholay (1975), has a huge legacy to lean on. But, the writer-filmmaker doesn’t want to get stuck in one region, which explains her absence from Bollywood. “I hope to tell stories that transcend borders, cultures and have a universal appeal,” she tells us.

Makijany is working on projects that reflect her Indian connection, infused with a hint of universal appeal, such as Skater Girl, set in a remote village of Rajasthan. The filmmaker, who has worked on Wake Up Sid! (2009) and 7 Khoon Maaf (2011), admits that a film like Skater Girl wouldn’t have been financed if she was still in India.

“It would have been a risky, unconventional decision,” she opines. “It’s been a wonderful journey of learning in the past decade — from making short films, assisting on Hindi films and international productions to being selected as a director to participate in Hollywood studio workshops and labs that give importance to diversity in films,” adds Makijany, who looks at each of these as an “important milestone”.

Carrying forward her father’s legacy, she says, is an honour. “We still meet people who have the most beautiful stories to share about him. His goodwill, in the industry and outside, doesn’t fail to inspire us. He taught us to approach our work with integrity,” adds the filmmaker, whose next directorial is Spin, a coming-of-age teen drama starring Abhay Deol in the lead.