Acclaimed actor Ankur Rathee has broken his silence on the hidden systemic barriers confronting international Indian talent, revealing that he was forced to conceal his American accent for nearly seven years to protect his career from deep-rooted industry stereotypes.
Born in India and raised in San Diego, California, Rathee built a diverse filmography across hit series and films like Undekhi, Four More Shots Please!, and Thappad. However, behind his on-screen success was a calculated effort to blend in. The actor disclosed that his natural American accent directly cost him roles, as industry gatekeepers frequently used it to question his ability to portray authentic local or desi characters.
To survive in the competitive industry, Rathee resorted to hiding his upbringing, carefully maintaining a neutral tone or speaking strictly in Hindi during professional interactions to avoid being categorized as a detached non-resident Indian. The fear of being pigeonholed forced him to constantly fly under the radar just to secure auditions for mainstream parts.
The actor noted that following years of relentless persistence and proving his linguistic range in diverse projects, casting directors and filmmakers have finally acknowledged his versatility.
The revelation comes at a transitional moment for the actor, who recently transitioned from Indian cinema back to the United States to star as the male lead in the Netflix global hit film Best of the Best, marking a full-circle evolution from navigating regional biases to anchoring major international releases.
News Edit KV Raman
