Ritesh Rajan – Stitchers

By starrymag | April 5, 2016

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I have Disney’s The Jungle Book coming out on April 15. I play Mowgli’s father in that movie and also during pre-production I did a lot of the early initial design phase. I put on a motion-capture suit so they could get the ball rolling for the designers on the graphical end. Once they cast Neel [Sethi] as Mowgli, things switched. It was a great experience working with Jon Favreau and all the other people. Just from the technical aspects, it was very exciting! Then, I recently just did a little voice over project for “Barbie’s Dreamtopia.” I also have another voice over project that I can’t talk about just yet.

Q) We are seeing you on now on “Stitchers.” What can you tease about dynamics shifting this season for Linus?

A Specifically for Linus, I think this season is really a journey for him personally and internally. Coming off Season One, dealing with Cameron’s (Kyle Harris) short lived death, he has come to the conclusion that what he is doing in the lab has real consequences and real effects on people and their families. Stitching has great, far reaching consequences that I think hasn’t really hit home with Linus. And then the fact that Cameron goes through this and it hits so close to home I think makes him realize it is time to grow up and mature a little bit. I think in Season Two, he takes a little bit of time to think, “This is the type of person I want to be and this is the type of person people perceive me to be. How am I going to do what I have to do to take my work more seriously and take my relationships in life more seriously?” Between my parents, Cameron and even with Camille (Allison Scagliotti), there is a lot of back and forth that happens between Camille and Linus this season. I think Season Two is not as back and forth, it’s more fractured and there are a lot of twists and turns. It’s just more complex and, ultimately, more realistic in terms of all the characters’ relationships – not just Linus with Camille or Linus with Cameron.

Q) Will Cameron’s new risky outlook on life put his friendship with Linus in danger? How will the switch in Cameron effect their friendship?’

A) I kind of took it, character wise, as inspiring. Linus, out of all the people in the lab, is probably the only person who is behind Cameron’s attitude change. But I think it is more of a lighthearted thing. I think he realizes they are best friends. Even though it is not specifically stated, “You’re my best friend,” I think they have both grown where they understand, “We’re in this together – through thick and thin.” He sees that Cameron is doing something out of his comfort zone, which I think is a little bit inspiring for Linus. I also think it pushes Linus to expand his horizons, personally, in terms of accepting life, dealing with life and maturing. It’s balancing everything – work and personal. So, I don’t think there is a fracture in their relationship. They definitely go through situations together, but I think there is a tighter bond in Season Two than there was in Season One.

Q) What is the best part of filming “Stitchers?”

A) Personally, I would say the laughter that is on set. It’s the dream doing what I get to do every day, being able to go to work and go to set. Honestly, we have so much fun together. I really stress this there is not a day at work where we are not laughing or making each other laugh. So, it really is kind of a tight knight community with the cast and crew. I truly believe we are very lucky with the group that we have.

Q) Since we haven’t seen much of Linus, who would you like to see him interact with more?

A) We made a joke about it because I think in Season One that Linus only had one scene with Kirsten (Emma Ishta) and I think in Season Two we see a little bit more interaction with Kirsten. I think they are kind of the furthest apart because I think that everything is filtered between Cameron and Camille, between the two of us. So, it would be cool to maybe have something more personal between the two of them. If they could connect on more of a friendship level…Not that they aren’t friends, but if they could grow more on a personal level I think that there is a definitely a bridge there that we haven’t crossed story-wise that I think would be really interesting.

Q) What have you added to your role that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) I think as an actor, everyone brings a little piece of themselves to their character. It’s just inherent. And I think that me, as a human being, I’m much more kind of unafraid to be who I am. So, Linus has this very naïve outlook on life. It felt originally like the character was more a stereotypical nerd where you get awkward in social situations. And I felt that wasn’t the right choice so as the season went on, and even as early as episode two in Season One with the rave, you kind of learn quickly that Linus is incredibly comfortable being himself, no matter what everyone says. I was at more liberty to go with the flow. If there was something “nerdy” or “geeky,” I just didn’t worry about it as much as I felt like I originally did in terms of Linus’ perception of “I wonder how people are going to think of me or view me.” I think it played out really well because I think part of the charm of Linus is that he is just so open and so “this is who I am and if you think it is superior, I’m sorry. I’m not going to apologize for it.” He’s just very earnest and honest, both to his demise and his success. I think it is a very charming quality to have. People who are honest, you just like them. It’s just a very affable characteristic.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive during the episodes?

A) It’s great! When we do live tweeting, it is great hearing what the fans have to say about the characters and how they view them. It’s pretty amazing because we shoot in Santa Clarita, which is about an hour north of Los Angeles. We go to our little “Santa Clarita bubble” and we film long hours. We do that for a couple months, but you don’t realize the scope of what you are doing until you see the final product. You don’t know if it is good or if it is terrible. It’s one of those scary things where you’re like, “This feels good and it looks great,” but you really don’t know until the fans see it and what they say. You have no idea. They could think it was terrible or amazing. We, as actors, don’t get to see the whole finished product until they get to see it because that is part of the experience. It is just so different from theater and I come from a theater background. With theater, you are there with the audience all together experiencing the show together. With TV, we have to wait three or four months to get feedback. Having that ability to just say “This was great,” and they ask us questions – or they have ideas or tell us what they want to see is really exciting. Social media has basically allowed that process to be instantaneous.

Q) Will you be sharing any behind the scenes photos from Season Two of “Stitchers?”

A) Yeah, I’ve got a few on my phone. I don’t have too many from this season because I tried to make a point not to bring my phone on to set. It’s a bad habit so I tried to focus on the work. Otherwise, in between takes Kyle and I are probably sending each other stupid photos all day. But I do have a couple so when we get to those episodes I’ll share them.

Q) Is there a special moment from this season that you are nervous or excited for fans to see?

A) Yes, there is a moment that I have with my parents later in the season that I think is very powerful and I haven’t seen the episode yet at all. So, I’m waiting to see how it is going to play out and how audiences are going to perceive it. Obviously, our season finale is great. Everything is really just kind of focused and definitely packs a punch. So, I’m excited for what fans have to say.

Q) What is it like for you watching the show with your parents?

A) Watching it with my actual parents is funny because they are totally uncensored and unfiltered and sometimes things go over their head (like the younger teen jargon). But I love it! Obviously, they sacrificed quite a bit so I could follow my dreams. They immigrated from India and they are both doctors. It’s kind of funny because being Indian, people are always kind of like, “Both of your parents are doctors and they let you be an actor?” I’m like, “Yeah! I’m one of the lucky ones.” [laughs] It’s great for them because everything they put into me and the sacrifices they made is all kind of a piece to a larger puzzle. All the collective hard work throughout the years from them from my teachers and translating into me…Seeing something tangible is incredibly gratifying and a humbling experience for everybody, including me and my parents. It’s an amazing experience to sit with your family, watch your work and have fun.

Q) There is a recent article that dubbed you “The Fourth Most Important Indian on Television.”

A) [laughs] I don’t know how they came to that conclusion considering there are a lot of great, great South Asian actors. Whoever came to that decision, it’s a great big honor. There are some great people on that list so I’m in great company.

Q) Who are some guest stars we will be seeing this season?

A) In episodes three and four, Logan Paul is playing Camille’s older brother Theo. I think in terms of guest stars, we hit home. I think he’s probably the biggest one, in terms of his social media impact. But everyone who comes in for every episode is just great. I really do believe that every episode, especially in Season Two, gets a little bit deeper and darker. Stitch Cases get a lot more involved, complicated, dirty and messy. They definitely did age it up for Season Two with that 10pm timeslot. It has allowed us to do riskier things.

Q) What have you taken away from your time working on “Stitchers?”

A) This is my first TV show. So, for me, on Season One really every day and even on Season Two it was what can I learn today that can help me be better tomorrow. It was really focusing on the character. I remember my first day on Season One and I was so, so, so incredibly nervous. It was kind of really a new feeling. I’m pretty good with my nerves. When I go into an audition, it’s usually a good energy I have and I use it in my favor. But I remember on the first day of work, I was like “I have something to prove. Everyone has already filmed. I’m coming on the tail end of the episode.” It’s really just kind of being expressive, open and free to any experience that happens on the camera and just learning as much as you can because I don’t know how long the “Stitchers” journey is going to go for. So, if I can take something from here and bring it to my next project and keep doing that for the rest of my career then I think you can move forward from here. It’s kind of like just absorb everything as a sponge and just always be a student. This show has given me so much opportunity to hone my craft and practice my acting muscles that you kind of forget, especially in our acting world. You go on auditions and then you have to go back to doing something that you don’t want to do. So, you forget how much time and effort you have really put into this art form and now you get to do it as a living is amazing. Just don’t take anything for granted!

Q) What would you like to be sure to share with fans and supporters of you and your work?

A) It’s great. It’s fantastic! I hope everyone tunes in to watch it and they can check it out on the Freeform app. You can watch the old episodes there. I just hope everyone enjoys this season. I think the characters really do mature and grow. I think the show is just much more complex and exciting. It just is good TV to watch. It’s a show that everyone can watch, young and old, which I think is rare for television today.