Sharon Johal Is The Role Model Australian Television Needs

Sharon Johal is an actor, fashion influencer, and former lawyer constantly paving ways that had previously been blocked off.

As an Indian-Australian woman in entertainment, Johal’s experience in the acting industry hasn’t always been easy, but she has consistently made the most of it.

In Joval’s latest production, she plays Parvinder Sangar in Binge’s second season of the television drama The Twelve as the first turban-wearing Sikh.

The role was one Johal loved portraying and was able to connect to Parvinder being Punjabi herself.

Johal said the show ended up being “the best production I’ve ever worked on”, with the set embracing inclusivity and diversity.

“It wasn’t just that Parvinder came there; it was ‘you have to be this’; it wasn’t tokenistic,” Johal said.

“They’ve done the demographic research, and they’re like, ‘there are people like this who exist in society.

“I’m Punjabi, Sikh too, so this is obviously close to home.”

In this chat, Johal also talks about the impact on her career since calling out racism and her experience on reality TV show The Block – which she said almost broke her.

You can hear Sharon Johal’s full interview with Antoinette Lattouf on The Briefing via the LiSTNR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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