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A 11-year old Telugu actor Roni Akurti, a native of Lake Zurich, Ill. received the American Telugu Association’s youth award at the silver jubilee celebrations of American Telugu Association in Chicago, Ill. July 1 for his accomplishments in acting.
Roni, who will be seen in the Hollywood film “Growing Up Smith” this Fall started his career as an on-screen theater actor at the age of five, successfully assuming the parts of an Indian changeling kid in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as Tiny Tim, and in “A Christmas Carol” and the “The Jungle Book”, which played at Goodman Theater in Chicago and Huntington Theater in Boston, Mass.
Roni’s acting career quickly swung from theater to acting in TV and films, including the “Animal Practice” for NBC, “Deadtime Stories and Henry Danger” for Nickelodeon and “Another Period” with Ben stiller for Comedy Central.
Roni also performs as stand-up comedian with exhibitions at Hollywood Improv Theater, the same venue where Jerry Seinfeld began his career, and Flapper Comedy Club.
“Overall, I have auditioned for more than 200 roles. I really enjoy acting. I like both theater acting, and acting on camera. When I don’t get a role I just brush it off and go for the next one. I’m really very grateful and happy that I have been able to do so many different things at such a young age. I always try to do the best I can,” Roni said in an interview with DesiTalk Chicago.
Roni’s parents recognized his potential for acting at a very young age and have given him immense support despite their lack of experience in navigating the industry. They have been instrumental in providing him with various platforms, including theater acting, performing arts and stand-up comedy, a commitment which has often required them to relocate from coast to coast.
“We are the first generation in the U.S., so we don’t know much about the industry. We’re learning as we go. Since he’s showing some interest, we’re trying to encourage it. We try to keep the pressure off. Whenever there’s an audition or anything, he is the first one to wake up and get ready.
When he has an audition, he learns the lines by heart. We don’t have to push him,” said his mother, Rajani Akurati.
When asked about the stereotype of putting strong emphasis on education rather than arts in the Indian-American community, Roni’s father Ramesh Akurti admitted that initially there were some reservations from their side. “Yes, there is a strong emphasis on education in our community and Roni is an exceptional A student, but we realized that as parents we need to be open to what our kids want. Roni also likes to play sports but whenever we ask him what he prefers, acting or sports, he always says acting.”
In the Hollywood feature film “Growing up Smith” directed by Frank Lotito, Roni plays the lead part of a ten-year-old boy whose family has just moved to America from India with hopes of living the American Dream.
Meanwhile, their 10-year-old boy Smith falls head over-heels for the girl next door and his desire to become a “good old boy” propels him further away from his family’s ideals than ever before.
The film, which has been making rounds in the festival circuit, has already been nominated for eight awards and won awards at the Naples, Woodstock, Garden State, CAAM, Seattle and Montreal International film festivals.
“ I think it is a very relatable film since it is a immigrant story and both parents and children will be able to enjoy and connect with the characters,” said Roni.
Although, Roni said he’s certain he wants to be an actor when he grows up, but he hasn’t settled on a medium: “Theater’s really fun, and then so is on-camera stuff.”
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