I think being South Asian in Maryland in the 80s was still very much a new ethnicity to America.
So a lot of people didnt know what we even were.
I had to find a way to fit in.
Utkarsh Ambudkar in ‘Ghosts.‘Bertrand Calmeau/CBS
One way was to entertain my friends.
I feel like I got confidence and joy at Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland.
I could go on stage and do a Shakespeare play and start improvising.
Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jay and Rose McIver as Samantha inGhosts.Bertrand Calmeau/CBS
I had a ball.
I would get such a rush off of that, and the audience would love it.
DEADLINE: How was your time studying at New York University?
AMBUDKAR: They still didnt really know what to do with an Indian, if Im being honest.
They were very much like, Well, I guess you could play the Prince.
I started to take rap and freestyling really seriously.
It felt like a place where I could really embody all of who I wanted to be.
I could be the minority, the South Asian.
I could be cool, I could be vulnerable, I could be political.
DEADLINE: What was your first job?
He was such a brilliant guy.
The Hip Hop Theater Festival was just a bunch of broke dudes doing comedy raps.
Little do I know that Im walking into a room with Tommy Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Christopher Jackson.
The amount of Tonys, Grammys, Oscar nominations and Emmys that are in that group!
So weve all just stayed together.
Then Mindy Kaling seesPitch Perfectand goes, Oh, I have an idea for a rapping brother.
So Mindy kind of broke me into television.
Its such a feel-good movie.
And star Jillian Bell is so freaking funny.
Weve done four movies together, and its always the best working with her.
In the way that people respond toGhosts, I think the same people would loveBrittany Runs a Marathon.
DEADLINE: Can you remember whenGhostslaunched?
AMBUDKAR: I dont think so.
When you see Rebecca Wisocky, Brandon Scott Jones and Devan Chandler Long, youre like, Oh!
it was almost an immediate acceptance of like, Wow, youre here.
Its a successful show and these people are good and you found a spot to land.
Im married with two kids and one on the way.
My priorities are different.
AMBUDKAR: What can you do with a character if he doesnt believe his wife?
Hes just always the antagonist and then the audience is like, F*ck that guy.
Now, hes either along for the adventure and pushing the adventure forward.
Jay is sort of the glue guy.
DEADLINE: So the second season ended with this pretty fun cliffhanger.
Does that mean its time to thin out the ghosts onGhosts?
AMBUDKAR: I hope not.
Anytime you lose a character, it feels like youre losing a family member.
So as a fan, I dont really want that to happen.
I dont know whos getting sucked off.
I really hope its not one of our main ghosts.
DEADLINE: Tell me about the Disney+ movieWorlds Best.
AMBUDKAR: Its about a young boy named Prem [newcomer Manny Magnus], whos a math wizard.
But he doesnt want to be because hes an outcast in school.
He has to realize that changing his entire identity may not be the best thing.
Its a family story about growth.
Im really proud of it.
DEADLINE: Youve had a charmed career.
Does it feel that way?
AMBUDKAR: My mistakes have been huge.
Im sober now for eight and-a-half years, but my sobriety, or lack thereof at the time…
I mean, I dropped it.
Lin put it in my hands and I let go of it.
[Ambudkar was replaced by Leslie Odom Jr.].
So, I understand what I have.
I guess if you look at it that way, it is charmed.
They didnt kick me to the curb.
They loved me enough until I could love myself, and thats really special.
