Success Story: Teja Chillara Talks Booking a WhatsApp Commercial, Dressing the Part for Auditions

October 18, 2024 | Chris Butera
Photo courtesy of Teja Chillara.

You don’t always pick your profession. Sometimes, your destiny chooses you. Teja Chillara was a shy kid, but life pushed him in a creative direction. His parents put him in dance classes to break out of his shell, which later turned into theater and eventually acting—a leap Chillara made while studying dentistry.

Today, the actor has booked several commercials on Casting Networks, including a commercial for WhatsApp. Chillara shares the story of how he got started, what the commercial was like, and audition advice for his fellow actors.

How did you decide to become an actor?

Growing up, my path wasn’t exactly straightforward with acting. I was actually very shy. When I was little, my parents put me in a dance academy because I was very nervous and not social.

In middle school, I broke out of my shell because of dance. That’s when I started doing a little bit of theater. In high school, I did film club and all that stuff, but I was more behind the scenes. Because there’s a lack of South Asian representation in media, it was difficult for me to picture [becoming an actor] as a reality.

In 2020 I had this light bulb moment. I was studying dentistry and decided that I wanted to be an actor in the middle of [the pandemic]. I was watching sci-fi shows and I was like, “All right, I’m going to take a leap of faith and just go for it.”

Two years later, after I finished college, I decided to take my first acting classes and headshots. I ended up getting signed by an agency. This all started within a year.

How did you first discover Casting Networks?

My agent introduced me to Casting Networks and it changed my life. She emailed me saying “Sign up for Casting Networks because it’s a good platform for applying,” and I did. She always sends a bunch of auditions through Casting Networks, so I knew it was a reputable source.

You mentioned that you booked a WhatsApp commercial on Casting Networks through Damian Bao Casting. What was that audition process like?

[The casting call] was [for] an industrial film for an instant messaging app. I had no idea that it was for WhatsApp. They were looking for an early 20s man. That’s the only information I knew.

When I got the callback, they just told me to do different emotions and act out different parts of the instructions. I think it was a week and a half later when I heard back from Damian Bao Casting and they texted me like, “Hey, check your email.” I checked my email and he’s like, “You’re on hold for a WhatsApp commercial.” I was like, “What? This is crazy.”

A few days later, he reaches out to me and he’s like, “You booked it.” That was the process. It was crazy because I would never expect it to be for WhatsApp. I use WhatsApp all the time.

What happened when you got on-set? What was the actual shoot like?

The shoot was surreal. I was in Times Square. They booked out this whole lot. This was one of the few times I went to New York, so it was already like I was in that tourist vibe. I was the first one up and they told me to stand in the middle of the podium in the middle of Times Square, and everyone’s just kind of watching because someone’s filming.

There was a moment when they told me to just pretend to be surprised and in awe of the city, and I didn’t need to act for that. He yelled “Three, two, one… action,” and I remember everyone staring and seeing what was happening in the middle of the set in New York City. It was such a cool experience.

What are some other jobs you’ve booked off of Casting Networks?

I booked my first job ever as an actor [for] a Drexel University commercial. That was through my agency and Casting Networks.

It was a great experience, too. I was talking about mental health, which was a perfect beginning. After that, I also booked a commercial for Born Shoes. I got to go in the middle of Connecticut, sit on the couch and talk about comfort and how comfortable I am [in the shoes].

What would you say helps someone who’s on Casting Networks succeed?

Never give up. Although I [only] started last year, I was able to make a lot of connections through Casting Networks and I was able to notice that even though there are rejections, there is always a way to succeed because casting directors do notice you.

I remember there was a casting director that would reject me, but then she emailed me and she was like, “Hey, actually, I think you’d be perfect for this part. Do you want to submit for this role?” For that reason, I believe you should never give up. Realize that rejection will only lead you to success.

Actor Teja Chillara smiling in a white shirt with brown plaid stripes. Photo courtesy of Teja Chillara.

Do you have any audition advice you can share with your peers?

When it comes to outfits and how you dress or how you go about it, it doesn’t matter. The most important thing that you should do is to follow the directions of what the casting director says.

If they ask for an outfit, I would go for the outfit. If they ask for you to do something, follow everything [they say]. I went to a class [taught by] a casting director [who] said the most important thing is to just follow directions. If it’s meant for you, they’ll pick you.

Funny story—all the commercials I’ve booked, I didn’t dress the part, but for all the commercials I didn’t book, I dressed the part. For the WhatsApp commercial, I was supposed to be a New Yorker, but I just wore a little jacket because it was nighttime and a sweater and I ended up booking the part. I think that just shows that outfit never matters because the casting director sees your acting skills and how you fit the role.

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