10/02/2015
SPOTLIGHT ON DEVIKA PARIKH
By Loureva Slade
Actress Devika Parikh is a phenomenal woman who has dedicated her life to making an impact for the Kingdom of God. Regardless of where your career aspirations lie, her take on the relationship between faith and career can definitely be applied to help you reach success (in its truest form). While many are willing to compromise their values to gain fame and fortune, Devika has found that when she lives a life that is pleasing to God, He blesses her. It’s that simple. For over twenty years Devika has had a successful acting career (television, film, commercials, and voiceovers) that she attributes to God’s favor, her submission to His will for her life, and her commitment to excellence (doing all things “as unto the Lord.”)
Devika was born and raised in suburban Gaithersburg, Maryland. Even as a child she knew that she was born to entertain. Devika always had a very vibrant personality. She won Homecoming Queen and was voted Best Personality and Most School Spirited in high school. She attended Syracuse University, where she majored in Broadcast Journalism. Her initial plan was to become a journalist and then slide into acting. The problem was that after obtaining her degree and working for a respected news organization, she was miserable. She cried every single night because her heart just wasn’t in journalism.
One weekend when Devika was 22 years old, she went to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia to spend time communing with God. She was frustrated and needed Him to give her direction. She sat on the side of the mountain for hours and told God she wasn’t leaving until she was clear about what to do next. She came up with four game plans and listed the pros and cons of each. By the time she left the mountain, she had a strategy that felt right. She had an uncle in Los Angeles whom she planned to visit during her weeklong birthday vacation in November. She would arrange to meet with as many television net- works as possible during her visit to L.A. If it was meant for her to become a Hollywood actress, she knew that God would open a door for her while on this trip. During the first part of her vacation, she took her resume to various studios, but didn’t leave feeling confident they would contact her for follow-up interviews.
On one of her last days in L.A. she drove by NBC studios and realized that she hadn’t set up any appointments with them. With resume in hand, she took a chance and went in. That day, “God put an angel in the lobby.” He was a set decorator named Al Harper, and when he saw Devika, he told her he had a few people he wanted her to meet. Harper took her back- stage and introduced her to people working behind the scenes on NBC shows. He then took her to guest relations, where they sent her to human resources to take a typing test and undergo an informal interview. That was further than she had gotten at any of the other studios. Four or five days after returning to Maryland, she received a job offer from NBC. She was selected to be a part of their Page Program, which was a developmental program for “high potential early career talent.” Devika was ec- static. This was just the thing she needed to get her foot in the door. She immediately accepted, put in her two-week notice, packed up her things, and drove across country to Los Angeles.
Devika worked as a page seating studio audiences and giving studio tours (amongst other things) for 18 months. Although she wasn’t acting in front of the camera yet, it allowed her to spend lots of time on the studio lot, interact with the public, and learn how things worked behind the scenes.
In her spare time, Devika took acting classes. She also performed theatre and improv/sketch comedy. She was determined to sharpen her natural talent so that when a television or film opportunity presented itself, she would be ready for it. She booked her first paid acting job doing an educational play called “1001 Black Inventions.” This play allowed her to travel and fine-tune her acting skills. She eventually linked up with a really good agent who helped her get auditions for television and film.
When Devika was in her mid-twenties, she was often offered roles that required nudity and other things that (because of her personal walk as a Christian) she was uncomfortable doing. She understood early on that she had to define who she was go- ing to be in this business. She had to be firm in what she would and would not do. She was very aware that she was only in this business because of God—because He opened doors. Before auditioning for and accepting roles, she would ask herself whether Jesus would be proud of her doing the part. She wanted to represent Him well.
When Devika was offered her first major movie role in “How to Be a Player,” she was thrilled until her manager told her it would require her to be topless in one scene. She respectfully declined the role. When she told her dear friend/roommate, Vicky Rice, about her decision not to compromise, Vicky pointed a wooden spoon at her and said, “God is gonna bless you with that part.” Devika didn’t see that happening because she had already turned down the role, but Vicky, who was also a strong believer, was certain of it. The next day her manager called and said that the director really wanted her for the part and she wouldn’t have to do nudity. Vicky was absolutely right! God had worked it out for her!
As a side note when talking about Vicky Rice, Devika said that she is a firm believer in the importance of keeping good Godly people around you. “Decide who you want to be and then be around people who will speak encourage- ment and God’s word. God’s word has power and it is different than inspirational phrases. Surround yourself with people who are focused, going somewhere, and are grounded in the Lord.”
The issue of nudity came up again not too long after “How to Be a Player.” Although Devika passed on the role, it wasn’t as easy a decision as it had been the first time because the stakes (demographics, exposure, and compensation) were a lot higher. There was a part of her that thought she might be able to do it if it was tastefully done. But the Holy Spirit clearly spoke to her and said, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.” She felt sick for a week and worried her career was over after she turned down the role. Her agent was adamant that she had made the wrong decision. Six or seven months later, howev- er, the same casting director she auditioned for booked her for a part in a faith-based movie called “Something to Sing About.” God showed Devika that when you take a stand and refuse to compromise, He will make a way for you.
In the late 90’s Devika had a two-year dry spell where she was unable to book noteworthy roles. It was devastating because at the time, Devika defined herself by the roles she booked. She prayed for understanding and God said, “I’m building char- acter. If I let you continue the same way you’re going, it will be a noose around your neck. You want people to like you and think you are a good actor. But acting can’t be an idol to you. I need you to be my daughter before you’re anything else. Other- wise I can’t use you.” Humbled, Devika took that time to study, pray, draw closer to Him, and continue developing her craft.
When Devika made it through those two years, she no longer cared what people thought. She got to a point where acting was no longer her idol and “God showed up and showed out.” He blessed her with “exceeding abundantly above all she could ask or think.” She booked recurring roles on the top-rated shows The West Wing, 24, and Resurrection Boulevard. Since then she has guest starred on shows like: Criminal Minds, Prime Suspect, Everybody Hates Chris and Good Luck Charlie. Her voice has been heard in movies like Madagascar and the Jungle Book 2. She has appeared in numerous commercials including: McDonald’s, Benjamin Moore Paints, AT&T, Tostitos, Progressive, KFC, and Lunesta. Although she is very grateful for all the amazing opportunities that come her way, they no longer define her. She is a child of God above all else. And she is on a mis- sion to make His name known.
I asked Devika for a few final words of career advice to CALI readers. Her response applies across the board. Don’t despise humble beginnings. Whatever you want to do, “work at it with all your heart. You have to be serious about your craft. If you are passionate about it, pursue it 100%. Don’t look at how far the next step is, just take the next step. Be clear and realistic about your goals. Be prayerful. Ask the Lord to show you what He wants you to do and then do it.” And be brave. If God has called you to do something, He will equip you to do it well.
Follow Devika on Instagram and Twitter
Be sure to stop by her website: http://devikaparikh.com/
