RAJIV SHAH

Rajiv Shah brings a thoughtful, grounded approach to his work as an actor, drawing from a rich foundation in theater and a deep appreciation for authentic storytelling. His journey began in the vibrant Bay Area theater community, where he had the privilege of working alongside talented ensembles at Campo Santo, Asian American Theater Company, The Lorraine Hansberry Theater, and San Jose Stage Company.

Shah's theater work culminated in a particularly meaningful experience performing in Terrence McNally's A Perfect Ganesh at the beautiful Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga, where he was honored to receive the Outstanding Featured Performance in a Drama award from StageSceneLA. His theater background has profoundly influenced his approach to storytelling that would later inform his screenwriting and filmmaking work.

As a screenwriter, Shah's work has been recognized by multiple industry organizations. His script Run the Tide was a finalist in the 2012 Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest and won the Grand Jury Prize for Project Catalyst at the 2013 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. The film was brought to life with a cast including Taylor Lautner (Twilight saga), Constance Zimmer (House of Cards, UnREAL), and Kenny Johnson (The Shield, Sons of Anarchy), produced by 1821 Pictures and distributed worldwide by Orion Pictures and Momentum Pictures. 

Shah next co-write, produced, and directed, Carry Tiger To Mountain, which premiered at the Motion Picture Television Fund (MPTF), where CEO Bob Beitcher selected it for its powerful exploration of caregiving and aging - themes central to MPTF's century-long mission of supporting entertainment industry members. The film was awarded the Showtime Networks' Tony Cox Screenwriting Award at the Nantucket Film Festival and received a Best Dramatic Short nomination at the USA Film Festival. His writing and film work has been recognized by additional organizations including HBO, The Academy Nicholl Fellowship, Austin Film Festival, ScreenCraft, and The Page Awards.

Shah continues to develop compelling projects, including 808, a Hawaiian street gang film co-written with Jared Asato, with Rena Owen (Once Were Warriors, Disney's live-action Moana) attached to star, and Kenny Johnson (CBS's SWAT). Separately, he co-wrote The Failed Prince with Soham Mehta, a period epic exploring the early life of the Buddha.

After dedicating a decade to writing, filmmaking, and family, Shah recently returned to acting with renewed perspective and gratitude. His recent projects include, The Comic Shop (2025) where he acted opposite Jesse Metcalfe and the upcoming feature film, Night Driver (2026) where he acted opposite Armie Hammer. Additionally, Rajiv will appear in the Ivo Raza directed crime thriller, The Subscriber (2026).

On stage, Shah most recently played Trigorin in Ellen Geer’s evocative retelling of Anton Chekov’s, The Seagull (2025) at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Los Angeles. India West wrote of Rajiv:
“This summer's production breathes new life into the classic, in no small part thanks to Rajiv Shah, who plays the brooding writer Trigorin, renamed Trigger Hale for this 'retelling' set in 1970s Malibu… In Shah's hands, Trigger is less of a literary cliché and more a man grappling with the weight of expectations, both societal and personal. His performance feels lived-in, grounded by the very real struggle of an artist who wonders if the work is ever enough…Shah's background as a writer adds emotional depth to Trigger's exchanges, particularly when he speaks about the burden of constantly needing to produce, to stay relevant, to be both consumed and consumer…Chekhov doesn’t give us dramatic confrontations under pouring rain—but he gives us something just as powerful: a mirror to our own hopes, failures, and yearning to be understood. Thanks to Rajiv Shah's compelling performance, that mirror feels not only timely, but deeply personal.”

Shah had the honor of serving as Chair of SAG-AFTRA Northern California Conservatory and as a board member from 2023-2025, where he worked to support educational opportunities for fellow performers as Chair of the Conservatory. Shah advocated for authentic storytelling and representation in film and television on the national level through his work on SAG-AFTRA’s Asian Pacific American Media (APAM) Committee. 

Whether on stage, on screen, or behind the camera, Shah approaches each project with curiosity, respect for the craft, and a genuine desire to serve the story. His intention is to connect with audiences through authentic, emotionally resonant storytelling.