Actor Karan Sagoo Strives to Make Hollywood (And the World) a Better Place
Reading Time: 5 minutesFrom award-winning actor to judging his peers and sharing industry knowledge with up and coming actors, Karan Sagoo does it all.
Hollywood’s film industry is often seen as—to put it lightly—competitive. As actors from around the world move to L.A. and strive to build their careers, secure work, and get noticed, they can easily become overwhelmed. And even after film professionals do achieve success, they may become caught up in fame and not give back to the community.
There are some, however, like actor Karan Sagoo, who have become successful, and who know that it is within their power, and responsibility, to contribute toward making Hollywood a better, more supportive place.
Sagoo’s acting journey began in his hometown of London, England. Because he was raised with a strong connection to his Indian roots, Sagoo felt like an outsider throughout his childhood. In his school’s theater program, however, Sagoo found a sense of belonging.
‘When I would partake in plays, I would love that I was an equal,’ reminisced Karan Sagoo. ‘It was an escape from everything and all that mattered was the world we were creating for others to enjoy.’
That sense of equality and freedom flourished within Sagoo as he devoted himself to acting. Sagoo made a name for himself in Bollywood with starring roles in films like the 2010 romantic comedy ‘Band Baaja Baaraat,’ which won the Aspara Award and Filmfare Award; as well as ‘From Sydney with Love,’ a 2012 romantic comedy featuring an ensemble cast of India’s most sought-after actors like Bidita Bag and Ronjini Chakraborty. Then in 2013, Sagoo’s journey to the final round of ‘The Bachelorette India’ cemented his place as an Indian household name and national heartthrob.
In Hollywood, Sagoo made his mark with feature films like ‘Followed’ (2018), ‘Attack on Titan’ (2022), and with a guest star appearance on one episode of the hit television show, ‘Magnum P.I.’ in 2021, to name a few.
‘Followed’ was named Best Horror Feature Film at the Burbank International Film Festival in 2018. In the film, a controversial social media influencer stays in a cursed hotel, to terrifying results. Sagoo actually played two roles in this film; he was initially cast to play an ‘Alley Drug Dealer,’ but thanks to his impressive body and movement control, he was asked by the director to play a monstrous ‘Masked Man’ as well. His dual contributions to the film undoubtedly played a big role in its festival success.
In addition to acting, Sagoo is also making a big impact on the film industry through his appointment as a judge for two upcoming international film festivals: the Hollywood Short Film Festival and the Winter Film Awards festival in New York. These festivals can be invaluable for filmmakers, as they allow them to reach broader audiences, receive feedback from critics, and accelerate their careers, if they are so fortunate to be selected for awards.
Judging international film festivals is an incredible honor, bestowed only upon accomplished and esteemed professionals in the film industry. Indeed, it is a great responsibility to make decisions that could potentially make or break the careers of hundreds of hopeful applicants. However, with his illustrious list of accomplishments, it comes as no surprise that Karan Sagoo was invited to judge these film festivals.
Sagoo, who has starred in multiple award-winning films himself, also understands the pressure of being on the other side of the judges’ stand, and he looks forward to meeting with and supporting the talented directors, producers, actors and crew members who have submitted their films to the Hollywood Short Film Festival and the Winter Film Awards festival.
‘Being involved with these international film festivals allows me to connect with my peers, appreciate the talent of upcoming filmmakers, and be more involved with the community,’ remarked Sagoo. ‘And from what I have seen so far, there are some very exciting actors and directors to keep an eye on.’
Of course, Sagoo’s himself remains an exciting subject to stay focused on, and thanks to a recently announced partnership where he will be producing several upcoming projects with Paola Paulin (Paola Paulin Ventures), his body of work is set to grow substantially. When questioned about this new development, Sagoo could not disclose much, but he did say that his and Paulin’s upcoming projects will feature high-caliber actors such as Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas, and Al Pacino, and that they are producing a project attached to HBO Max that features actor George Lopez.
In regard to her partnership with Sagoo, Paula Paulin said, ‘Karan Sagoo and I are both committed to representing diversity in Hollywood positively through our work, and what excites me most is that together we can continue to break stereotypes and create opportunities to make a significant change in the industry.’
Another way Karan Sagoo is working to create opportunities and make change in the film industry is by offering free acting classes to aspiring models and actors in Los Angeles.
‘When you work in this industry, you come to realize very quickly that it’s an expensive journey; you sacrifice a lot and can easily lose your way,’ said Sagoo. ‘Many actors leave their families in pursuit of a dream and, at a young age, take on a lot of responsibility without the knowledge of how to manage everything.’
Although acting is an art form, it is also a business, and not all aspiring actors are fortunate enough to attend prestigious schools and learn the industry’s ins and outs. That knowledge gap can be the differentiating factor between an actor who achieves their goals and one who does not. Sagoo recognized this inequality, and has created an intimate acting class format to help address it.
In his coaching sessions, Sagoo not only trains actors to improve their on camera acting skills, but also helps them set realistic goals, learn about working with managers and agents, and how to prepare themselves for success.
As a coach, mentor and teacher, Sagoo finds fulfillment by nurturing the talent and passion of aspiring actors, and his dedication has made positive impacts in the lives and careers of many of those he has worked with.
‘Karan's acting courses helped me improve my on screen performance, as well as my confidence with script analysis and cold reading,’ said Leanne Hogde, one of Sagoo’s students. ‘I have noticed a tremendous improvement in my skill set; I feel much more prepared for auditions, and more confident on set after I’ve booked jobs.’
On and off the screen, Karan Sagoo feels truly at home; and the idea of ‘home’ to Sagoo carries with it a larger sense of empathy and familial duty toward those who also abide within the film industry. His charisma and kindness are truly infectious, and his impact on the industry—and the lives of many aspiring to succeed within it—are heartfelt and far-reaching. In a world where compassion may not always be at the forefront, we could use more people like Karan Sagoo.
This content reflects the personal opinions of the author. It is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for impartial fact or advice in legal, political, or personal matters.
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