Manali Datar is a Marathi multi-disciplinary artist, actor, musician, singer, writer and director. Her creative practice is driven by a passion to share Queer, South Asian perspectives, contributing to authentic intersectional representation in the arts and media.
Working across television, film, music and theatre, Manali is currently part of the all-female South Asian cast of The Wrong Gods by S. Shakthidharan. Her other theatre credits include Fangirls, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Part 1 & 2, Death of a Salesman, White Pearl, Emilia, Vivid White and Flat Earthers.
In this Colour Box Studio interview, Manali talks about finding a love for the creative arts at age 3, the joy of releasing her debut single temple, and the personal significance of performing in The Wrong Gods at Belvoir (3 May – 1 June) and The Arts Centre Melbourne (6 June – 12 July), 2025.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do.
My name’s Manali (she/her) and I am a Marathi actor, singer, musician, writer and director. I am passionate about Queer, South Asian stories and love sharing new perspectives through my art.
I also enjoy reading, painting, making mixtapes for the people I love AND playing games on my phone because, like everyone, I have an 8 year old living in my brain lol
How did you start your creative practice and why?
Like many of us, I was singing and writing poems and making up skits and short films with my brother and friends from a very young age. My parents put me in music, dance and drama lessons from around 3 years old onwards which was great for everyone as I had somewhere outside the house to be extremely loud !! I am very, very grateful that learning and creating opportunities were available to me and encouraged so early in my life and I owe that to my family :)))))
Where did you grow up and how has it influenced your practice?
I grew up in a lot of different places. I was born in India and continued to move around a lot after migrating to Australia. I have always been exposed to a variety of films, visual art and music. I’ve been shaped by Bollywood and Indian classical as well as jazz, music theatre and The Beatles.
At school, I was afforded countless opportunities to perform and create and was very supported by my teachers. My affinity for existing in my imagination has always been stronger than my attachment to the present hahah and many of my mentors were able to recognise this and encourage my creativity and curiosity.
Tell us about your past creative projects. What has been your most treasured creation /or a highlight so far?
Don’t make me pick just one !!!
What does come to mind is my debut single, temple. I wrote it quite quickly, but it took over a year to produce – a real labour of love which I had a blast working on with my partner who is an absolute creative force of nature who I have learned so much from. Finally releasing music was so exciting and I can’t wait to share more!
Tell us about your current project?
Currently, I am working on The Wrong Gods with Belvoir x MTC! It is an incredibly powerful South Asian story about a mother and daughter’s relationship over time, set in a world which requires us to interrogate our relationships with capitalism, environmentalism, colonisation and revolution.
This play is so meaningful to me, as for the first time in my career, I am working in a majority South Asian room which has been so freeing and grounding. It’s going to inspire a lot of thought and conversation in our audiences and I’m so grateful to have been a part of it! We open on the 7th of May, hope to see you at Belvoir. And if you’re in Naarm, see you at The Arts Centre Melbourne in June!
Who or what inspires your practice?
I usually make something because I enjoy doing it or have the need to say something in a specific way. However, when I’m in thinking about who else might be interested in my art, it’s always the people who I love, who’ve shaped me into who I am. Their support and constructive criticism means the world to me.
I’m inspired by many creative role models, but also by random things like funny shaped rocks and putting my finger between two magnets and the rhythm of people’s foot falls hahaha
I am also always thinking about young people like myself, growing up with very little (and mostly inauthentic) intersectional representation in media, so I hope to create work that makes them feel seen and feel like they belong.
Where do you feel most creative and why?
I’m always most creative in nature. However, magic can strike literally anywhere so I try to take care of the ol’ brain so it’s a nice home for ideas to grow no matter where in the world I am.
What’s the best feedback you’ve received from a show or work?
The best compliments usually come from other Indian people feeling proud and happy to see me in something, which always makes me feel humbled and hopeful.
What gets you through creative challenges or tough industry times?
I’ve learned that engaging in a creative or novel activity that has nothing to do with productivity or my career is so essential to my happiness! It’s so important for me to just be a beginner at something and enjoy using my hands and brain and body to find a flow state that is completely separate to the creative things I do for work.
I’ve taken up pottery, archery, boxing and Rubik’s cubing to name a few – still trying to beat my best solve time so if anyone has tips pls let me know !
What future projects are you looking forward to?
In July, I am directing a new Australian play called threadbare by Tomas Parrish-Chynoweth! It’s about queer identity, family, dementia and self actualisation and has deeply resonated with our past audiences. I am incredibly excited to work with the stellar team we have assembled and if you’re around St Martin’s Youth Arts Centre between the 14th and 20th of July, come see our show !!
Whose work are you digging at the moment?
I am deeply inspired by and excited about the work that Sarah Fitzgerald is making. They are a South Asian performer, writer and activist with the most incredible mind and interesting ideas to share; a rare artist who leads with their values. Their work is intentional, political and inclusive, not to mention hilarious and moving. Sarah has just finished touring their new show, Hell On Earth with their collaborator Aquilla Sorensen (a duo which is heavenon Earth) and I hope they bring the show to Naarm soon 
Currently they are working on a documentary series centring the experiences of BIPOC and their identities, ancestry and relationship with self which is going to be so eye opening and inspiring.
Where can we find and follow you online?
@manali.mp3 (but I only check it quarterly xoxo)
manali on spotify/apple music/tidal/youtube <3
The Wrong Gods is presented by Belvoir and co-produced with Melbourne Theatre Company, showing in Sydney (3 May – 1 June) and Melbourne (6 June – 12 July).
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