Today we’d like to introduce you to Kashif Shakti.
Hi Kashif , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began my acting journey in Philadelphia during elementary school with a role in The Wiz. From the moment I delivered my first line, I felt that acting was a gift from the universe—not just a way to escape the tough streets of Philly, but a driving force for a meaningful and purposeful life. I performed in various plays, took summer acting classes, and ultimately earned my B.A. in Theatre.
After graduating, I was invited to live in Los Angeles, and I immediately said yes. To make ends meet in LA, I worked in retail for over seven years. I thrived in that field and eventually transitioned to focus solely on acting, supported by my lifelong partner and an acting agency. It was challenging to be an artist for many years, but my first couple of commercial and print jobs kept me excited and grateful for the possibilities.
When COVID-19 hit, I realized I needed to create my own work. I turned to Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way to guide me in writing, filming, producing, music directing, choreographing, acting in, directing, and editing my first transcendental meditation film, The Price of Freedom (90 minutes). This film inspired The Liberxted Experience, a guided interactive art performance that I wrote, creatively directed, choreographed, and performed alongside my partner.
The structure of working as an artist changed for everyone after COVID-19, so I shifted my focus to opportunities outside of Los Angeles. I booked multiple plays, including Thank You for Holding and Teal Ribbons, as well as commercials for Best Buy and TSR in the Midwest. By staying open and willing to see the bigger picture, I won my first grant for the 2025-2026 year with Springboard for the Arts. My stage and on-camera credits are currently expanding.
My journey has been a testament to faith, resilience, and creativity.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. One of my significant struggles was in 2019 when I received multiple callbacks for SAG commercials as an on-camera principal. I was put on “avail” several times, but ultimately, I didn’t book any of those jobs.
Another challenge came with my film Price of Freedom, which was rejected from every film festival I submitted to during 2021-2022. It was disheartening to pour so much effort into a project only to face consistent setbacks. Each obstacle has shaped my journey and fueled my determination to succeed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an actor, visual and conscious performance artist, and movement artist. I’m known for utilizing my dance and movement abilities to express character and soul in motion, often playing multiple roles in plays, voice-overs, and stage performances.
I’m particularly proud of my original works, including The Liberxted Experience, Price of Freedom, and my creative workshop Embodied Alter Ego, Most recently, I had the pleasure of performing as Titania and Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
What sets me apart is my commitment to creating, performing as a way to express gratitude to the creative universal loving force that has given me this life.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
What’s most surprising that people may not know about me is that I love watching home decor shows.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kashifshakti
