Rapper, drummer, dancer, former Dubai resident, and, most recently, star of the new Disney remake The Mighty Ducks, Sway Bhatia is a jack of all trades. And she’s only 13 years old! Naturally, we had to get the inside scoop on all things Disney and being such a ~talented~ star at such a young age. We spoke to Sway and let me just say, she’ll blow you away… (you reckon Disney give out roles for rhyming?)

P.S. the show is currently airing weekly on OSN, you’re welcome!

Cosmo ME: How were you introduced to this world? Is this something that you discovered once you found out about the possibility of the new TV show? 

Sway Bhatia: Honestly, as a figure skater, it was always recommended to me. I had never actually watched it before the audition. But as soon as I got the audition, it was the perfect chance to start watching the movies.

I watched the first movie before my first audition and got instantly hooked with the whole storyline. I think it’s a really empowering message about bringing the underdog team to the championship. And I think that’s super important. It honestly gave me the confidence [I needed] for the audition.

C: What did you like most about this character?

SB: Well, [it’s funny because] my first audition wasn’t for the role of Sofi, it was for a girl who honestly, I didn’t relate to as well as I do to Sofi. We were given the first script for the pilot when we had our first audition, so I was reading the script, and [that’s when] I saw the character of Sofi. It said, you know, an Indian, African-American mixed girl, but an Indian mix.

I hope I can be a role model to young girls, especially young girls of colour. And what’s so important about her is that she finds her voice and she finds the confidence to stand for what she believes in. Sofi has all these insecurities, which I’m so glad that Disney+ decided to highlight because [that’s] something that everybody deals with. 

C: You act, you drum, you code, you model. I don’t think we have time to list all the different things that you do with your life. Do you put a lot of pressure on yourself?

SB: Honestly, I’ve always been my own critic but I [can] honestly say there was never any pressure. It’s because I love everything that I’m doing. It all comes through passion, which honestly gets rid of that pressure. I think this is also seen in Sofi because she has this pressure [on her] but she loves hockey so much. 

C: What was the most challenging part of getting into hockey as an actor?

SB: This character and job taught me a lot that I didn’t know about the acting industry. I learned more about the whole pre-production and post-production side of acting because of all the other shows I’ve been on, this is my first series regular role. 

Struggle-wise, it’s definitely hard having to play hockey and stay in character because [while] you’re playing, you’re [focused] on what move you have to [make] and all the techniques that we were taught by NHL players. But then you also have to be like, “Wait, my character knows what she’s doing,” which is especially hard for Sofi because the other characters aren’t as good at hockey which you see in the pilot.

My character knows exactly what she’s doing and so I had to put this game face on [while] inside, I’m thinking “Okay, more weight on the right. Okay, now you have to make a shot.” While all of this stuff was going on inside my head, I had to also remember to keep my Sofi game face on because Sofi knows what she’s doing in the hockey industry.

C:  Has representation in the film industry driven you personally?

SB: I think that representation is super important right now, having a public figure like Kamala Harris, being Vice President right now is something that we really needed. Getting to be a person of my background in the industry is super special. I’m honoured to be able to play somebody who breaks the Indian stereotype. Because you don’t usually see a South Asian young girl being a strong hockey player.

C: You grew up in Dubai, is this when you really caught the ‘itch’ to become a performer yourself?  

SB: Dubai is everything to me. It’s where everything started. I mean, everything – all of my hobbies from drumming, piano, singing, dancing, and the modelling and all the acting and all came from there. Dubai is such a colourful place. I’m so comfortable there because representation is something that we don’t worry about. I always feel very [at] home and welcomed in Dubai.

My first performance was at the Meydan performing with Priyanka Chopra. And that is something that I cherish forever, having my first performance being my big biggest performance is something that you don’t see much.  

C: What else did you love to do in Dubai and what do you remember the most?

SB: I definitely remember the figure skating and dancing a lot, I did my first competition which was the Kidzania competition at The Dubai Mall. I love Kidzania, even to this day, I beg my family every year to go back there. I’m still waiting!  

My first ice rink was even [at] Al Nasr Leisure Land, which was a fun place that I always figure skate[d] at with my figure skating coach, Krystal Handsy. She was actually a real figure skater.

In fact, [even] my dad used to go there. I still think that’s a little crazy! I’m not sure if he was like a vigorous skater or if he [played] video games there, I have no clue. Dubai is his home and everything about Dubai’s so amazing. Every time I [visit], there’s something new to see, which is so amazing that it never gets old. It’s such an amazing place [and] I miss it so much.

C: What else do you want to do when you come back?

SB: Besides seeing my family, one of my favourite places is IMG Worlds of Adventure, the largest indoor [theme] park. I’m obsessed with rollercoasters and Dubai is filled with them now which is amazing.

C: Do you think that growing up with so many diverse friends and people around you really affected you and changed your outlook on things?

SB: Oh, for sure. Honestly, when I moved [to America], and like we mentioned representation is a little more highlighted here in a way where you have to think about representation. While in Dubai, you don’t really think about that, it’s already there. It’s honestly blind to people there, but I came here, and [people were] like ‘Oh, you’re an Indian girl.’

Bollywood is definitely a big part of Dubai and Indian culture is super huge there. But [when people] come up to me like, ”Oh, you’re a dancer. That’s cool.” But here, they’re like, ”Oh, you’re a dancer. Do you do that Bollywood dance?” Which is a question that I don’t enjoy getting. Just because I’m Indian doesn’t mean I do the Bollywood dance. I’m a dancer and I love doing all different styles of dance.

And yes, I do love the Bollywood dance but I shouldn’t be stereotyped as someone that does the Bollywood dance. I love hip hop and ballet.

C: Do you want to add new interests in your life or would you want to pursue acting long term?

SB: Honestly, you never know where life is going to take you. I definitely have my hobbies that I know I’m going to be with for a while [and] acting is one of them. 

Coding is something I’ve definitely been working on. If I don’t go to university for directing and writing, I hope to go to university and study computer science like my uncle did. 

C: Who inspired you to want to drum in the first place? 

SB: For me, it was definitely Questlove. I love the Jimmy Fallon show and I got the experience to be on it twice. In fact, as an extra, where I had to like throw stuff at Jimmy which was fun. But I definitely love Questlove. There are many other young girl drummers that I’ve looked up to as well.