Minita Gandhi

Minita is a Los Angeles based multi-hyphenate who was born in Mumbai, India. They love magic realism, dark comedy and exploring multi-genre, multi-cultural, and multi-generational stories as a medium for healing. On TV they can be seen in the recurring role of Shandra on The Bold and the Beautiful, and in the upcoming Hulu/Onyx series Deli Boys, as Latika. You can also catch Gandhi in the new McManus Brothers film, Redux Redux, premiering at SXSW this year or opposite Diane Kruger in Swimming with Sharks and in the recurring role of Dr. Prospere on NBC’s Chicago Fire and Chicago PD. Minita also voices Shuma Mukherjee and others on Disney’s Mixed-Up Adventures. As an actor they have worked at regional theaters across the country including: The Arena Stage, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and Lookingglass Theater. They originated the role of Priya, in Silk Road Rising's World Premiere production of Rajiv Joseph's, The Lake Effect. Minita has toured nationally with the critically acclaimed improve troupe, Wavelength and has trained at Second City in Chicago. She studied Meisner with Audrey Francis and Laura Hooper at Black Box Acting Studio. Gandhi was also a beloved PBS Pledge Host for WTTW.

Their critically-acclaimed solo-show Muthaland, was Jeff Recommended for best new work and solo-performance and was an official selection of the Ignition Festival, NNPN’s Women in Playwrighting Festival at Florida Studio Theater, The Anne Frank Social Justice Festival, and has played at theatres/colleges/universities around the country. Their work has been featured by NBC News, and The Atlantic. Minita is a 2022 NYSAF Pfaelzer Award finalist, and currently working on an opera commission as a member of Minnesota Opera Company’s New Works cohort. Nerve, a full-length play in development was workshopped and developed at the Theatreworks Silicon Valley New Works Festival 2023 and with the support of The Ground Floor at Berkeley Repertory Theatre where she began to develop it in 2022. Nerve also received support form the Lucille Lortel Theatre, The Alcove New Play development program in 2023. Gandhi is also the lyricist for Rising Tide, a choral-orchestral piece on climate change activism composed by Emmy-award winning composer, Jonathan Beard. The piece was showcased at the 2022 AGU Conference.

Minita is the director/producer for a 5-episode Documentary Series: History is Now and the director/writer of Hindsight is 2020 or how Raisin Rainbows survived a pandemic starring Tony Award nominee Cora Vanderbroek. Other directing credits include new work development and readings at Creede Repertory Theatre, CAATA, Stage Left Theater, and upcoming at ANPF As an activist/healer they have been a keynote speaker for Commit2Change, KCATF, and Imagine Talks. And they have been a guest speaker for the Courier 12 Screenwriting Conference, Brighthouse Networks Women’s Leadership Conference, and CapGemini in India for International Women’s Day. Gandhi has led guided meditations, manifestation workshops, and private healing sessions for SAP, Family Equality, global institutions, and celebrities. Minita is a life-long Vegetarian, self-proclaimed samosa aficionado, and retired djay ( though she can still teach the electric slide in her sleep and still loves a good mashup of 90’s hip-hop and world music).

They are the Founder of IGNITE, a mentorship program for BIPOC women and non-binary theater artists that connects emerging artists to national theater leaders and the co-founder of Pathways, a two- year mentorship and professional development program for gender diverse BIPOC artists in the Portland area with ART/AGE. Minita has been on panels globally representing women in leadership and They are a proud member of The Playwright’s Union, The Dramatist’s Guild, NNPN, SAG/AFTRA, and AEA.