The Indian-American actress talks about her role as Praveena in the popular Netflix show, behind-the-scenes moments and her personal struggles in an exclusive interview.&nbsp;

Sasha Bhasin is one of the fresh faces making waves in Season 2 of <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/culture/stranger-things-5-release-teaser-netflix-tv-series-details-cast-premiere-news" title="What To Expect From Netflix's 'Stranger Things' Season 5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Netflix</a>&rsquo;s hit teen dramedy, XO, Kitty. The highly anticipated new season, which dropped on January 16, quickly climbed into the platform&rsquo;s top 10 worldwide, matching the success of its debut season and sparking <a href="https://9meters.com/entertainment/shows/xo-kitty-likely-to-be-renewed-for-season-3-based-on-how-successful-the-first-two-seasons-have-been-best-case-for-a-release-date-on-season-3-will-be-2026" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rumours of a third installment</a>. As Praveena Bhakti, a confident and charismatic queer Indian student at KISS (Korean Independent School of Seoul), Sasha plays a pivotal role in Kitty Song&rsquo;s evolving journey of self-discovery. Her on-screen chemistry with <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/kate-spade-spring-2024-show-nyfw-new-york-fashion-week" title="Blossoming in Style: Kate Spade Spring 2024, where &quot;NYC Meets Chic&quot;" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Anna Cathcart</a>&rsquo;s Kitty has already generated buzz among fans, making her a standout addition to the ensemble cast, which also includes returning stars <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/culture/cover-story-rising-star-sang-heon-lee-xo-kitty-gran-turismo-celebrity-interview" title="Cover Story: Rising Star Sang-Heon Lee is Reaching New Heights" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sang-heon Lee</a> and Gia Kim.
But Sasha&rsquo;s journey to the screen is just as compelling as the character she portrays. Born in India and raised in Florida after moving to the U.S. as an infant, she grew up with a deep love for acting&mdash;despite her parents' initial reservations about the industry. It wasn&rsquo;t until she attended NYU that she was able to fully commit to her craft, leading to her first major role in Brave the Dark and, now, a breakout moment in XO, Kitty. Off-screen, Sasha&rsquo;s passion extends beyond acting into fashion, where she embraces a unique, sustainable approach to style. Whether she&rsquo;s thrift shopping in New York&rsquo;s secondhand stores or incorporating elements of Indian fashion into her wardrobe, she&rsquo;s always on the lookout for creative ways to express herself.
L'OFFICIEL SINGAPORE sat down with the rising star to talk about booking XO, Kitty, her experiences as an Indian actress in Hollywood, behind-the-scenes moments from set, and how her love for fashion plays into her personal and professional life.

Hi Sasha! How was Christmas for you and what's your mantra entering 2025? 
Sasha: Christmas was amazing! I was fortunate to spend it with my family in New York. My mantra entering 2025 is "Let it go and let it flow."
Looking back at 2024, what were some of the highlights and lessons you learnt? 
Obviously getting booked on XO, Kitty and spending months in Seoul was the greatest thing that could have ever happened to me! Additionally, I went to Los Angeles for the first time to shoot a new Max Original show called The Pitt, and then I ended the year in Mexico making an EP with one of my best friends. Overall, the biggest lesson I learned was to keep trying new things and to continue to put myself in positions where I can grow artistically and as a person.
We were told that despite your parents not being supportive of the profession, you knew early on that you wanted to be an actress. How did you come to that realization at such a young age on your own and what is it about acting that drew you in? 
Growing up, my parents weren't keen about acting as a profession because they wanted to protect me. Eventually they came around when I began booking work and they saw how passionate and serious I was about acting as a career. At a young age, I spent most of my time playing dress up, making up stories, and putting one woman shows on for my family. Once I realized that I could actually do that as a career, I never even thought about doing anything else. Plus, I loved and admired the actors that I would watch on TV and in movies &ndash; I wanted to be someone that future actors could look up to as well.
What are some of the struggles you encountered in pursuing your dream and how did you approach these obstacles?
The biggest obstacle I faced was the unbelievable amount of rejection that comes with this career path. To be honest, there's nothing I could do besides keep moving forward and not letting all of the "no's&rdquo; get into my head or affect my self-worth (which is easier said than done but it can be done).

Do you have any advice for young Asians who want to pursue a similar path?
The best advice I can give is once you decide, fully commit, and don't stop trying until you get what you want. You have the desire, which means it is already destined, so trust your heart.&nbsp;
Switching gears, you&rsquo;re starring in Season 2 of Netflix&rsquo;s series, &lsquo;XO Kitty&rsquo; as Praveena. Could you tell us more about your role and how you felt getting it? 
Booking XO, Kitty - I still don't have words for how lucky I feel. I always dreamed about being on Netflix. I even had the Netflix logo printed out and taped onto my wall when I received the call that I booked Praveena. I was in a bathroom stall of the Regal Cinema in Union Square when I got the call that I was the producer&rsquo;s choice for the role. I just screamed, cried, and thanked the universe for giving me this.
Playing a queer Indian student at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS), were there any unique struggles that you wanted to portray or highlight when it comes to Praveena&rsquo;s experience? 
Praveena is such a beautiful and multi-faceted character. I feel so lucky to be able to portray her &ndash; a queer, Indian woman &ndash; and represent a community of Indians (who also happen to be queer) that may not feel like they are seen on-screen at all. When I was growing up, I never really saw any Indian people in TV and film portrayed as just simply 'cool'. Praveena is that cool girl at KISS. So, for the XO, Kitty team to create a cool, queer, smart, and desirable Indian girl, is groundbreaking!
Have you been to South Korea before this show and how familiar are you with K-culture? 
I had never been to South Korea! I would buy <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/beauty/all-about-toner-pads-product-k-beauty-korean-skincare-popular-trend-benefits" title="K-Beauty Must-Haves: Why Everyone is Obsessed with Toner Pads" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Korean skincare</a> religiously from a little shop in K-Town NYC and enjoy Korean BBQ often, but it wasn't until I got to Seoul that I was fully able to immerse myself in the culture.

What was the filming process like for Season 2 and what was your strongest memory of the whole experience? 
Filming was amazing! It actually felt a bit like being at a fancy Korean boarding school since the whole cast was living in the same hotel and working together every day. My strongest memory was exploring the streets of Seoul with the other cast members, some of whom have become my closest friends!
With how influential South Korea is in beauty and fashion, did you make any new style, skincare or makeup discoveries while you were there? 
One of my favourite discoveries was Olive Young &ndash; it is the mecca of skincare and makeup. I continue to order sheet masks and serums from there to my house in New York!
You are also set to appear in The Pitt, Max&lsquo;s upcoming drama series, alongside Noah Wyle which is very different from XO Kitty. Could you tell us more about that? 
The Pitt was such a wonderful experience it was my first time in LA and shooting on a studio lot. It was such a change going from a coming-of-age show to a medical drama and I could not be more grateful to be working across genres.
What&rsquo;s next for Sasha Bhasin in 2025? 
I have a lot of projects in the works in acting, music, and fashion so stay tuned!

Exclusive! Meet Rising Star, Sasha Bhasin of 'XO, Kitty' Season 2

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