(Anjali Bhimani. Photo credit: Matthew Kenneth)
“Critical Role’s Anjali Bhimani joined the season 2 cast of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated comedy series “Special.” She chats that the show is a great celebration of finding your own unique voice and standing in whatever it is that makes you YOU. The actress is also excited to be back to meeting her fans at in-person conventions. The D&D fan since she was just 8 years old loves gaming, traveling, writing, and even rock climbing! Catch up with Anjali and see what she has in the works and what brings her joy. Stay tuned for her Kickstarter coming soon for her new book “I Am Fun Size” based on her YouTube!
“Critical Role’s Exandria Unlimited” fans know her well as the fire genasi Fy’ra Rai. Fns have also seen her in recent films Amazon’s horror/thriller “Evil Eye,” romance drama “All My Life” with Jessica Rothe and Harry Shum Jr., and comedy “The Bellmen.” She voiced main characters in popular video games including Symmetra in Overwatch, Rampart in Apex Legends, and Kala in Indivisible. “Modern Family,” “Blindspot,” “Runaways,” “Little Voice,” “S.W.A.T.” and so many more.
Colleen Bement: Congrats on your role in season 2 of Netflix’s Emmy-nominated series “Special.” What has that experience been like?
Anjali Bhimani: Oh it was absolutely perfect. The show is such a perfect jewel – and it was a joy to be a part of it. I’ve been a fan since the first season – I started to watch it since my friend Punam Patel (Who plays Kim) was on it and I wanted to support her, and then I fell in love not just with her brilliant work but with everyones. It’s such a great celebration of finding your own unique voice and standing in whatever it is that makes you YOU. When the chance came up to play Kim’s mom, needless to say, I jumped at it. And getting to be a part not just of a show that is so diverse and beautiful but also a storyline that was so unique for the South Asian community was a real joy. I only wish we could have continued for more seasons because it was the most wonderful time.
CB: For our D&D fans, let’s talk about your time on “Critical Role.” What was that experience like, and just how into D&D are you? Are you a Dungeon Master by chance?
AB: Oh God, if you get me started I might not stop talking about this. I love the gang at “Critical Role” so very much, and every chance I get to play with them is such a gift. They are such masters of storytelling and the whole RPG genre, and between working on Undeadwood, the DOOM Eternal One shot, and then Exandria Unlimited, it’s been an embarrassment of riches. I started playing D&D when I was 8, so it’s been in my blood for a long time, but I had a long time away from it. It was all thanks to Marisha Ray that I got back into RPGs because she connected me with Ivan Van Norman who was the GM for We’re Alive: Frontier on Geek and Sundry. Once we did that, it was like coming home. And after the magnificent experience of Undeadwood – I mean I can’t even describe how special that was – I knew there was no living without TTRPGs in my life ever again. I haven’t yet DM’d, and Marisha was the first one to suggest I should try it someday, so that day is definitely coming. I just don’t know when or with whom!
CB: You’re known for voicing characters in video games like Overwatch and Apex Legends and Indivisible. Were you excited to have this opportunity?
AB: Honestly, when I first booked Overwatch I had no idea how huge it was going to become. I was excited for the opportunity, of course, especially because it was the first time that I had ever seen a hero like Symmetra, let alone a game that was so hopeful and aspirational and diverse. But the excitement about the popularity of the game came as we all saw how much the community was embracing it. When Apex Legends came along, it was another incredible blessing, because the cast and devs there are just as close as we are on Overwatch, only I was stepping into their pre-existing world. They were so loving and embracing that I felt at home immediately, and I love how much we all celebrate each other – sharing posts about each other’s character’s events and new lore as well as our personal successes and achievements; and also connecting personally, one on one. Indivisible was a sweet little gem to be a part of as well, and a character unlike anything I’d played before…so yeah, I’d say I’ve been pretty excited for all the opportunities I’ve had, these and so many more.
Q: Would you happen to have any other projects in the works that you’re allowed to share?
I DO! I am so so so excited to share that I am launching a new book called I Am Fun Size, And So Are YOU!: Thoughts from a Tiny Human on Living a Giant Life this fall! It’s based on my series on YouTube of the same name that I started as a love letter to the incredible online gaming and artists community that had been so supportive of me. My take is that even though we think of the words “fun size” as meaning candy bars or petite people, we are ALL built for fun…but life’s challenges often don’t leave us feeling that way. My goal has been to share my experiences and ways I’ve learned to face those challenges because it’s the most unique offering I have to give people. I want people to think of it as their buddy in a book…a read that makes them feel seen, understood, hopeful, and lets them know they are never alone. Plus, there are gorgeous illustrations by Vivian Truong, and there are loads of my adorable dog, Charley, in it. We’re launching the Kickstarter soon and I just can’t WAIT to share all of the cool things we have to share with our supporters.
CB: When you have some spare time, how do you spend it?
AB: What is this “spare time” you speak of? Seriously, though, I haven’t been very good in recent years about creating the space for spare time. I get so excited about working (which usually includes a certain amount of play) that I forget to make space to just chill. When I do, usually it’s simple moments here and there, snuggling with my husband and the dog or visiting my mom and all of us watching something on TV or catching up with movies. I do really love my solo time as well…reading, writing, making music…creating for no other reason than to make something. What I am HOPING to go back to doing very, very soon is rock climbing, because I haven’t been in ages and it’s one of my very favorite things to do in the world. Jeannie Bolet from Overwatch and I have been talking about making an outing happen for a while now…it’s just finding that elusive “spare time” to do it! I also love love love love LOVE to travel….now that in-person conventions are coming back (which are another thing I LOVE to do – for work and play) I’m hoping to get a chance to include more travel into my world because it fills me with so much life.
CB: What game are you currently into? Tabletop or video.
AB: Honestly I’m just leaning back into D&D very heavily right now, although really I just love all TTRPGs I’ve had a chance to play – Outbreak: Undead and Savage Worlds are so delicious, especially with the threat of permadeath featuring so highly in both games. I find that TTRPGs scratch my creative itch so beautifully, and I love the quality time it requires with friends. Since I don’t get to see a lot of people in my life unless we are working together, I keep trying to find ways to turn playing RPGs into more work opportunities so we can do both together. I’m also REALLY excited about the game SHAZN: ASADI. I just met the creator of the game, which is a follow up to SHASN and I am in love with the concept of both of them. Would love to find a time to play both sometime soon…maybe a cross-collaboration is in order!
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Written by Colleen Bement
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