Neil Sharma is an Emmy award winning director and writer. He was under the mentorship of Oscar-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi and acclaimed director Jeffrey Walker. He helmed the successful reboot of Heartbreak High for Netflix, and established the dramedy remake of Mother and Son for Wooden Horse and ABC, featuring Matt Okine and Denise Scott. His SBS Digital Original Series Appetite premiered at the 2023 Cannes Series Festival, making it the only Australian project in competition. Most recently, Neil directed Critical Incident from Stan and he is currently directing all of Strife Season 2 for Foxtel/Binge.
Impressive right?
He was also the only South Asian director at the NSW Directors Panel at the SXSW Sydney this year. I was immediately captivated by his journey and was on the edge of my seat, I needed to know more. On a whim I DMed him for an interview and to my astonishment he responded, and graciously said yes!
It’s really exciting when we see another South Asian striving in the film industry, because let’s face it, if we’re not a doctor, engineer or lawyer, it’s blasphemy! It was lovely to hear Filmmaker Neil Sharma’s parents were open to his creative journey. He laughs as he explains how he “soft launched” them; from a young age he was in punk bands, watching film clips like The Smashing Pumpkins 1979 and skating – as if he couldn’t get any cooler, but when he started directing bigger projects his folks couldn’t be prouder of him; his “hobby” is winning him Emmy awards!
However, Neil’s success didn’t come overnight. With guidance from talented directors like Taika Waititi and Jeffrey Walker, he started his career with a strong work ethic, taking on PA roles and assistant directing for films such as Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Mortal Kombat, and Picnic at Hanging Rock, among others. He believes that the best way to learn is by being on set. Neil encourages aspiring filmmakers to say yes to opportunities early on and, over time there will come a moment where you get to say “yes to what you love.”
It’s incredible to see Neil is now in a position where he can say yes to what he loves. He shared, “career-wise, I'm trying to be strategic with what I do and choose different jobs that showcase what I do”. People often tell him he has a great sense of humour, and I can confirm that! His work on Strife Season Two and Mother and Son certainly reflects his comedic skills. While he enjoys comedy, he found a compelling blend of humour and drama in Heartbreak High and explored deeper themes in the psychological thriller, Critical Incident. Ultimately, it’s all about storytelling and evoking emotions. “I love to make people laugh and cry. If I can make you cry, it’s the best thing in the world,” he says with enthusiasm.
Neil’s love for music is a key component of his directorial style. Just as he crafts stories to make people laugh and cry, he uses music to shape the mood of his sets and drive the emotional narrative. I asked if he had a favourite playlist. He said, he likes to “go rogue” depending on the emotion he’s trying to pervade on set, he chooses the music. “Music is so much more articulate than anything I will ever do or say” and the music plays a crucial role in maintaining the emotional atmosphere for the cast in between camera set up.
When asked what the power of storytelling means to him, Neil responds with, “culture building.” He reflects on how music, fashion, TV, and film influenced him growing up, shaping his identity in ways he didn’t fully realize at the time. Now, he finds great joy in the ability to influence and create culture, particularly through Heartbreak High, “I felt it was the most DNA I've ever put in a show, it was a great opportunity for me to showcase music, fashion, comedy, all those elements that I love”.
Neil Sharma is, of course, talented, cool, and funny, but it was truly humbling to see how grounded and friendly he is—and how deeply he loves storytelling. It was heartwarming when he again emphasized how it’s all about affecting emotions. “If I know that I've affected someone, it's kind of everything to me,” he shared. Yup, excuse me while I grab a tissue.
When I finally asked what he’s excited about, Neil spoke passionately about the significant shift in the industry—how there’s a growing focus on diverse stories and representation. I can confidently say he’s been a trailblazer in driving this change. As a proud advocate for the South Asian community, Neil is not just a remarkable source of inspiration but a true pioneer.
Oh, and he was also excited for lunch!
Keep up to date on Neil's projects and awesomeness:
Special thanks to Made in India Magazine
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