About Me
Balan is a NYC based South Asian, multi-lingual actor, who began his acting journey in 2007 in Manipal, India, starting out in theater. His passion for the stage led him to his first role as the morally ambiguous Amyas Crale in Agatha Christie's "Go Back to Murder." Balan's portrayal of the complex character was followed by a series of comedic performances, including roles such as Billy Buckle in "Lie, Cheat and Genuflect," Babu Rashad in "What the Bellhop Saw," and Joey in "Confessions of a Dirty Blonde," all of which premiered to packed crowds of over 700 people. More recently, Balan's improv and comedic skills were on display at the sketch comedy show "A sketch of New York," a satirical take on NYC and its inhabitants.
In addition to his theatrical accomplishments, Balan has also performed "Street Plays" in India, which were aimed at raising awareness on social issues in a unique and engaging way.
More recently, he has appeared in several short films in NYC. In the seriocomic "Fool's Gold" he plays Anu Dasari, a struggling sculptor desperately seeking success he feels he is owed. In the action comedy, "Christmas Is a Contest," Balan plays Nicholas, an unqualified, yet passionate office manager trying desperately to lead his team to victory in the annual Christmas decoration contest.
Balan has trained at several schools across India and NYC, including institutions such as the Barrow Studio and the New York Film Academy. However, it is at the renowned Stella Adler Studio where he finds his artistic home, honing his skills and deepening his understanding of the craft.
Having lived across the US and India and with fluency in 4 languages including Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil, Balan brings a unique perspective to his characters. He strives to bring authenticity and depth to his characters and firmly believes that the story comes first.