5 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Never Have I Ever’ Actress & Choreographer Joya Kazi

If you’re like us, you’ve probably already binged Netflix’s new series Never Have I Ever. And if you’re really like us, you took note of that iconic dance scene during episode four (choreographed by Joya Kazi), and specifically the lead dancer, Preeti (played by Kazi herself).

PureWow recently sat down for a virtual interview with Kazi, who opened up about everything from working on the hit series to her life in quarantine. Keep reading for five facts about the L.A.-based Bollywood choreographer.

As it turns out, Kazi’s official involvement was supposed to be “casting, choreography and wardrobe.”

“A little into the rehearsal process I ended up getting a call saying that Mindy and production really liked my headshot and they actually wanted me to be in the scene and play the main dancer, Preeti,” she said. “I was so thrilled. I’m more than happy to be doing the work behind the scenes but that’s kind of how I went from behind the camera to on camera.” And by “on camera” she means the star of the entire scene.

We’d imagine with both of their busy schedules it would be kind of hard for Kaling and Kazi to actually meet in person. However, they finally did on the day of the shoot.

“Leading up to it I was in contact with her production assistant and then on shoot day, we all got to actually meet and work together,” she said. “It was so amazing to work alongside someone I’ve been following for such a long time—one of the very few South Asian women to be on television—and to be a part of her work, it was so surreal.”

Just like the rest of us, Kazi admits she spent about a week sulking in sweatpants and bingeing everything on Netflix.

“After I realized that things were really shutting down and I have no performances left, it was pretty much sweatpants and sweatshirts, which is huge because I do not wear sweatpants. I always go from pajamas straight into workout gear with full hair and makeup for work. I spent all hours of the day bingeing on Netflix and I did that for about a week, and after grieved enough, I decided to try and go back to how things were before,” Kazi said.

Rather than focusing on all the things she would have been doing if it weren’t for the current situation, Kazi now uses her list to write down positive thoughts and wants for the next day.

“The night before, I always make a to do list of what I have to do the next morning and you know, my to do list suddenly got very small. So, instead of doing that, I decided to write down a list of things that I am grateful for and what I hope for for the next day. I kind of took something that I used to do to be really productive and turned it into something a little more turned into myself. When I wake the next morning and look at that to do list, I’m already waking up with a sense of happiness and joy and less anxiety.”

Now that’s something we would totally try.

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