Acting

My acting journey

Pratik Patel, a New Zealand actor of Indian descent, discovered his passion for acting during his school years. Demonstrating a natural flair for performance, he captivated his peers during plays and annual day events. Influenced by actors from both Hollywood and Bollywood, including luminaries such as Hrithik Roshan, Shahrukh Khan, and Irrfan Khan, as well as iconic figures from the golden era of Bollywood, Pratik found profound inspiration in Christian Bale, Jake Gyllenhaal, and notably Tobey Maguire's rendition of Spiderman within Hollywood's superhero genre. These influences ignited Pratik's passion for acting.

In early 2019, Pratik commenced his acting journey by enrolling in formal training under the guidance of Peter Feeney's Actor's Lab studio. Seeking to confront his stage fright, a significant obstacle on his path, Pratik Patel challenged himself by participating in the Mr. India 2019 pageant. His dedication and growth were highlighted as he won the title of Mr. India 1st runner-up. This transformative experience was captured in the globally acclaimed documentary film "Mr. India," which chronicled Pratik's journey to the pageant. The film garnered recognition across the globe, especially in America, the United Kingdom, Turkey, India, Australia, and New Zealand, for its portrayal of his personal evolution and commitment to his craft.

Since embarking on his acting journey in 2019, Pratik has delved deep into workshops and one-on-one sessions with esteemed coaches such as Jamie Irvine. Under Irvine's guidance, he honed foundational acting skills from the ground up, laying a solid groundwork for his craft. Pratik secured representation with Collaborate Management (formerly known as B&M Creative Artists) in 2020, and over the past five years, he has trained closely with mentors such as Miranda Harcourt, Elena Stejko, Jamie Irvine, Jim McLarty, and Jacque Drew.

In 2021, during the covid era Pratik made the bold decision to leave his IT engineering job to pursue a one-year full-time diploma in Filmmaking at South Seas Film School, specializing in Cinematography. During his tenure at South Seas Film School, he served as the director of photography for the short film ‘Curtain Call’.

Pratik thrives on leading a fulfilling, busy life. He embraces discipline and self-improvement across all facets of his existence, meticulously balancing his time between his day job as an IT Engineer/Contractor for New Zealand Government agencies, regular scene work at a local acting studio, yoga, functional physical training, meditation, travel, and photography. For Pratik, acting transcends mere passion and profession; it serves as a profound source of personal fulfillment and growth.

Currently represented by The Proactors Acting Agency in New Zealand, Pratik harbors aspirations of establishing himself as a global actor, continuously pushing the boundaries of his craft. Grateful for the opportunities and growth that acting has afforded him, Pratik acknowledges it as the driving force behind his journey of self-discovery and evolution as both an artist and an individual.