Parvesh Cheena Stars in NBC’s “Connecting”

As social distancing continues to be the new norm, people are still trying to adapt and navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic. The same is happening for the characters in NBC’s new show, Connecting.

This coronavirus-era half hour comedy series follows a group of friends trying to stay close, and sane while being locked down in quarantine. Communicating entirely through iPhones and video chat, they comfort each other while sharing the highs and lows of these extraordinary times.

Created by Blindspot creator Martin Gero and executive producer Brendan Gall, Connecting begins shortly after the shelter-in-place orders began and brings us through just before the election, covering several topics that happened throughout 2020. All of the actors shot in their individual homes while being directed on Zoom, and production provided “shooting kits.” The cast was also responsible for their set design, lighting, wardrobe, and other production aspects.

OUT FRONT had the opportunity to chat with actor Parvesh Cheena who plays Pradeep, an openly gay PR professional who loves his kids, but it not used to being around them this much. An NBC alum, Cheena previously starred as Gupta in Outsourced. He also had recurring roles in CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, CBS’ All Rise, and ABC’s The Goldbergs.

Cheena told OUT FRONT more about Connecting, the challenges of filming at home, and how a show reflecting today’s times will appeal to viewers.Hi, Parvesh! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me. How have you been doing during these unprecedented times?
You know, I have a TV show on network coming out, so I think I am doing okay! I am fully in awe and respect the circumstance I am in, let alone regular, everyday Americans. My actor friends, they are like, of course Parvesh, only you would book a network TV show from home. I’m like, you’re right, I did, didn’t I? I know there is a lot going on out there in the world. Trust me, I know, but Parvesh Cheena, personally, I am doing pretty damn good right now.

That is great to hear. Can you tell us more about Connecting, the new NBC show you are starring in?
Obviously, we are all having the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, stay-at-home element right now. Connecting is specifically about these seven or eight friends, and for me personally, this is pretty much like the closest to my regular life. This show has a more diverse group of friends than TV sometimes shows us, and it is nice to be a part of that. Being in the arts and in different cities, of course I have multiple friends from different background, ethnicities, and orientations. So, I love that this show represents that. Connecting is about this group of friends communicating online in this new world. It’s topical, and we actually go there on a lot of issues.

And who do you play?
I play Pradeep. He has his own public relations firm; he is married and has two kids. His partner’s name is Ritchie, and our children’s names are Ross and Visage. Yup, they went there.

The cast and crew shot Connecting from the comfort of their own homes and was directed via Zoom. Was this easy or challenging for you?
You know, I forget how pampered we actors are, especially in TV, film, and commercials, where there are unions and all these different jobs. Like, don’t touch that prop; that’s someone else’s job. The hair, makeup, everything. But when you work in stage, like doing improv comedy, stand-up, or just regular theatre, you have to do your own makeup and everything else. Like, I will do a play at night and do everything myself but go in the next morning for a film or TV show, sit in a chair, and let others do the work. So, that part was a little difficult. Also, learning technical stuff like camera lighting. I never understood any of that before.

What has been easy for me, and even right now, I just realized I’m doing it. When we are filming, I know that the other person is there on screen, but what we do for the show, this little illusion which can be tricky to some, we look at the camera instead of looking at each other. When we perform, we do it like that. I can see you in my peripheral, but we have to look straight at the camera. That little bit of muscle, I think I am okay with it because of my work in voiceover. I don’t need to stare at you directly to work. It’s just audio, and it’s one or the other. If I can’t see you, but I can hear you, I’m good. If I can’t hear you, but I can see you, I’m good. I don’t need to see you directly to still make a connection.

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Be honest, how many of you were not wearing pants while filming?
I’m not wearing pants right now! [Laughs]. I think there was one time I did film without the proper pant bottoms, and I was lucky that I didn’t do any adlib or get up and move because they are very strict. We will literally go into breakout Zoom rooms. There will be like Mike’s wiring station, camera prep, hair, and makeup. They will see it on Zoom, and I will even take a photo on my good camera and send it to them to make sure everything passes.

You said your character has a husband and two kids. Will we see them, or are they just mentioned and talked about?
It’s funny. When I first got the role, I was asked, as well as everyone else, who else is at home. Who else is sharing our spaces? So, I said my partner, Eric. You know, obviously, we live together, and I did have that moment of like, is he going to be on TV? Are we going to be a married couple on TV? They were like no, he is not a professional actor. However, Eric did play a background character, so I told him this was his chance to join the union! Without giving too much away, you might see his hand in the frame. He plays, like, a Postmates driver. So, that was fun, but he does not play my husband. I do have some dream casting choices, though! As for the kids, they will use a simple sleight of hand, kind of low budget way to explain them. It is very sweet, and you’ll go with it.

What do you hope audiences take away from this show?
There is a lot I wish for that audiences in 2020 during a global pandemic will take away from this. Personally, and selfishly, I have rarely been a part of shows where there can be two of the same kind. Two Indian people who are not related. Two gay people who are not dating or always talking about gay stuff. As much as I am a white, suburban woman from Chicago, Illinois at heart, I forget sometimes that this is my color, and this is what I look like. Even though I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, you cannot help but see that this is a diverse group of people, and the show isn’t about that. We have finally gotten to that point where it’s like look, there are many of us. We are diverse; we are different, and we are not just going to talk about it 24/7. We are just going to be here and be.

Shakina Nayfack is a trans actress, loved her on Transparent; she and I are on this show. A brown, gay man and a white, Jewish, trans actress existing. We have our cis moments and everything, but it is not about that all the time. I know what the statement will be to have two out people, three black people, a Latina. Like, this matters. My whole career has been about being this. I have to be the gay one, or I have to be the Indian one. I can now be the gay Indian one and just be. Selfishly, I know how much this visual representation will matter to so many people.

Universally, we are all going through this. Think of all the universal things that we all do. Eat, sleep, poop, and now we are all staying at home trying to deal with this virus. You will find yourself in one of these characters, just like any art or story. Like, oh shit, I am a mom in Phoenix. I relate with Pradeep hiding from his kids in a room. I relate with him yelling at his friends or yelling at the Postmates/Door Dash driver. It is a comedy, but we tackle serious subjects. So, if I’m not crying, I’m laughing. I think the rest of us will relate to that too, especially the queer community. We have to laugh because if we’re not laughing, what else are we doing? Drinking?

Do you think a show that reflects what we are currently going through will appeal to viewers?
Yes. It has to appeal to viewers because this is what’s happening to their lives. As much as escapism fantasy exists, there are things that you sometimes must see and not ignore. Can you imagine if there was no media? What are we doing to do, ignore 2020? As much as we sometimes want to, it does not take a break. This year will matter. It’s not like, do you remember 2020? No, we went from 2019 to 2020. So, I appreciate that the show goes there and tackles issues like Black Lives Matter, George Floyd, protests. We went there.Do you think there will be more shows focused on the pandemic and quarantine?
I know there have been a few. Like on Freeform, Netflix, HBO, they all had theirs. The thing that is different about Connecting is that it is an ongoing series. It’s not a special, limited series, or movie event. This is because our lives will continue. It is not a time capsule. Currently, right now, we are supposed to go to about, I think Election Day. I think the story goes from March to Election Day.

How drastically will this pandemic change Hollywood and the entertainment industry?
We are already finding it. We are already seeing how it is shaping. We are getting a lot of stuff from our union and the guilds about safety requirements. With voiceover, for example, I have a mix right now. I am still recording some stuff, even like for Disney. T.O.T.S, I record from home still. Mira, Royal Detective, same network, I go in a studio.

It has been a little easy with voiceover because I can just be alone. The only other person there is the sound guy in a booth, and we never physically come into, like, 10 feet of each other. I bring my script on my phone or iPad, and that’s it. Other friends, like Danny Pudi from Community fame, he is on Mythic Quest for Apple TV+, and they are getting ready to go back. So, shows are stating up again, but the rules will be stricter. I am a little mamby pamby in the sense that I would rather hang out with everyone socially this way so I can go to work. I am very lucky in my career, but it is still not easy for gay, brown people to work. I just don’t want to be that one guy. Like, we love Parvesh! He tested positive for COVID. Alright, let’s go to the next one!

Besides working on Connecting, what else have you been doing to keep yourself busy and sane while in lockdown?
I have watched every episode of Drag Race and All Stars, again. Plus, everything on CBS All Access, VH1, and we got World of Wonder so we can watch Drag Race in Canada, Thailand, and now we are watching Netherlands. My great uncle actually lived in The Hauge, and I have been to Amsterdam eight or nine times. It is very nice. So, that has been my comfort, watching RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Before we wrap up, is there anything else you would like to mention or any other upcoming projects you would like to plug?
Not really. I am just excited, nervous, and I hope Connecting is well-received!

To stay up-to-date with Cheena, following him on Instagram and Twitter. Tune in Thursday, October 8 for the series premiere of Connecting on NBC.

Photos Courtesy of Bjoern Kommerell