What happens when a consultant at Accenture trades spreadsheets for screenplays and ends up directing, producing, and starring in her own films?Today on Chai with Champs, we're joined by Sujata Day, a multi-hyphenate creator, star of HBO’s Insecure, and the force behind the critically acclaimed film Definition Please.From navigating Hollywood without connections, to rewriting the narrative for South Asian characters on screen, Sujata shares how she transformed early challenges into creative leverage and why building your own table is sometimes more powerful than asking for a seat.This is a conversation about strategy, identity, and storytelling and what it really takes to thrive in today’s entertainment industry.

[00:00 ] - Intro
[01:15 ] - Who is Sujata Day?
[08:53 ] - Balancing Film & Consulting | How a career in consulting sets you up for success?
[14:45 ] - Auditioning & Finding an Agent | How to build your network when you start out?
[16:52 ] - How a tweet got Sujata to work with Issa Rae
[20:12 ] - South Asian Stereotypes in Media
[26:25 ] - Shoutout to Sunblue Sound! - Our Official Show Sponsors
[27:14 ] - The reality of Hollywood & the Power of DIY
[31:15 ] - No Film School to Netflix
[37:56 ] - How Mindy Kaling became EP for Sujata's first film
[45:55 ] - How to get Sujata Day to be your mentor?
[49:00 ] - Spill the Chai | Chai with Champs' Rapid Fire
[53:29 ] - Advice to your younger self
[54:52 ] - Gatekeeping in the Industry & Finding Inspiration
[57:25 ] - How do you bring South Asian Cinema to Center Stage?

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