Adri Mehra

He played in Bryan Steenerson‘s Stationary Bike Dollar Baby film as Sifkitz.
SKSM: Could you start with telling me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?
Adri Mera: My name is Adri Mehra. I am an actor, musician, and writer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
SKSM: How did your desire to act come about?
Adri Mera: When I was growing up I was a movie buff and I always enjoyed entertaining my family and friends so in 10th grade I auditioned for an outdoor Shakespeare show for my high school, and I was cast in the lead role. After more shows I went to college and majored in theatre, and since then I’ve done dozens of plays and several films.
SKSM: How did you become involved in Stationary Bike Dollar Baby film?
Adri Mera: I had worked with the director Bryan Steenerson and the production company Three Headed Monster on several other films, and so it was easy to work together on something new.
SKSM: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?
Adri Mera: I was asked by Three Headed Monster to play the role based on our previous work together.
SKSM: You did a great performance. Are you happy with the result or is there anything you would have done differently now?
Adri Mera: It was great fun and the film looks wonderful! Every actor looks at their work and questions some of their own line readings and decisions in the moment but I wouldn’t change the experience for anything.
SKSM: How did you prepare for the role of Sifkitz?
Adri Mera: I had to wear body padding for a lot of the filming and so I had to adopt the mindset of someone who is trying to lose some critical weight rather quickly. There were also some very dreamlike sequences where I wanted to distinguish between the character’s reality and his powerful imagination.
SKSM: How much creative control did you have over your character?
Adri Mera: As an actor trained in the theatre I am very text-based, and when you are working with material written by someone as gifted as Stephen King, you really want to honor the words on the page. That said, the director Bryan Steenerson always brings a specific vision and aesthetic to his own work, but he is also very flexible with the actors in shaping their own organic reactions on set and in front of the camera.
SKSM: Did anything unexpected come up during filming? If so, how did you motivate yourself to overcome it?
Adri Mera: The weather, as we know, can be a surprise! I recall that it started to rain while my character was biking on the road. Also, when the sun is setting and dusk is approaching, there can be a sense of urgency to finish shooting, but this also can result in some of your best work because you are aware that time is limited.
SKSM: What do you think it is about the story that attracts people so much?
Adri Mera: I think the story is compelling in that it blurs the boundaries between your real waking life and your subconscious, which can feel just as real. Also, the story has that classic Stephen King flavor of storytelling, which uses that sense of anxiety that motivates all of us, whether it is to lose weight or to overcome our psychological obstacles.
SKSM: Was there any funny or special moment when they made the movie that you would like to tell me about?
Adri Mera: The three “worker” characters each had their own regional American accents, which made all of us laugh. One of them had more of a Boston-sounding accent than the other two and we called him out on it.
SKSM: You worked with Bryan Steenerson on this film, how was that?
Adri Mera: I’ve been working with Bryan since 2018 on many films as well as musical projects and it is always a pleasure. He is always very generous with his collaborators and he always brings his own excitement and vision to each project.
SKSM: What are you working on nowadays?
Adri Mera: I have been busy touring with an American rock band called 12 Rods over the past year and it has brought me to nearly every state in the U.S. and even Toronto, Canada. I also try to find time to appear on the theatrical stage a few times a year, if possible. I am also currently working with a Bryan on another upcoming film project.
SKSM: What else do you do besides acting?
Adri Mera: Besides my full-time job I play bass guitar with several musical projects. I also give occasional poetry readings. I also going out to see films and live music shows.
SKSM: Are you a fan of Stephen King’s work?
Adri Mera: Yes, there is no doubt he is one of the most talented writers of the past century. I am particularly impressed some of his medium-famous works like The Running Man and The Langoliers, as well as The Shawshank Redemption.
SKSM: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Adri Mera: I am a big sports fan, especially NBA basketball and World Cup soccer. I am mostly devoted to Minnesota teams like the Timberwolves (NBA) and the Twins (baseball).
SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything you want to say to the fans that read this interview?
Adri Mera: It was wonderful to be a part of filming a story written by the legendary Stephen King and I hope you enjoyed watching!
SKSM: Do you like to add anything else?
Adri Mera: It’s been a crazy few years for the planet Earth but always look for the helpers – they’re always somewhere!