I had to prove to myself and my directors that I deserve to be here: actor-singer Lisa Mishra

Lisa Mishra is on cloud nine. The Indian-born, American-bred singer-turned-actor recently appeared in the Netflix show The Royals, sharing screen space with an ensemble cast that included Zeenat Aman and Sakshi Tanwar. This was certainly no child’s play, but Mishra showed promise and conviction in her act. 

This is only her second acting stint—after Call Me Bae—where she played channel producer, Harleen Babbar, and was paired opposite actor-comedian Vir Das.  

Besides OTT roles, Mishra continues to focus on music. Last year, the musician who has previously worked on Bollywood songs like The Wakhra Song (Judgementall Hai Kya), Naadaniyaan (The Sky is Pink) and Chandigarh Mein (Good Newwz), dropped her debut album Sorry, I’m Late. 

2025 started on a “surreal” note for the singer-songwriter who opened for global sensation Ed Sheeran at a concert in Gurugram, and then performed at Mumbai’s Lollapalooza music festival. 

In a chat with YS Life, Mishra speaks about her character in The Royals and her preparation for it, besides her upcoming music. 

Edited excerpts from the interview:

YS Life [YSL]: How challenging was it to play the character of Nikki in The Royals? 

Lisa Mishra [LM]: It was certainly one of the most challenging sets I have been on. It was the second acting project in my career, because I look at it as a trajectory. I have to do more and bigger things. 

It was much tougher, not to say Call Me Bae wasn’t difficult. When you start out, everything is new and exciting. Once you watch yourself on screen, you realise what you need to improve. So, the tonality, delivery, and understanding of how to act grows.

Plus, this was a bigger arc than in Call Me Bae; so expectations were much more. It was a long and strenuous shooting schedule across multiple cities. 

YSL: How important was it for you to portray a same-sex character with depth and sensitivity?

LM: I don’t think one should try to make a caricature of what one believes is a same-sex part. In that case, it is a token and we aren’t here to put it in the storyline just to get viewers. I believe authenticity comes from exposure—you have to know the lifestyle, you have to be surrounded by people in your real life who live these characters. The more you gain exposure, the stronger the acting will be.

The other thing is, all of this is love. It shouldn’t feel any different than being opposite a man. It’s not a task to be in love with another person on screen; in Call Me Bae, it was Vir, and The Royals had Kavya. I didn't treat them differently at all. 

But if I had been given a character who was coming out or figuring out to be gay in a world that’s heterosexual, I would have to do even more preparation and research about how to be as authentic as possible.

YSL: With a large and respected ensemble cast in The Royals, did you have any initial apprehensions or concerns, if you’d stand out?

LM: Honestly, my job isn’t to stand out. It’s about acting and delivering what is on page and bringing the director’s vision to life.  

I wasn’t particularly apprehensive but very intimidated about sharing screen space with some of the industry’s best and most regarded actors. I needed to prove to myself and my directors that I deserve to be here. 

YSL: Was acting always a part of your plan?

LM: I have always been an entertainer. Since I was a little kid, I have been singing and participating in musical theatre. I have experienced performing for people. 

The difference between doing something on stage and theatre, versus doing something on screen, is that you get more takes. But the audience isn’t live—yet, you have to be able to emote. 

You have to understand how to imbibe a character and convey what they are thinking and feeling. I have grown up knowing how to do that my whole life as a musician. 

To anyone who knows me, acting wasn’t a surprise. I have been auditioning for acting projects since I got to India seven years ago.  

I have always auditioned for a part as an actor, not as a musician who has an audience. I will always separate the two spaces as distinct parts of myself until there’s a project I get to play a musician in. 

YSL: You sang two versions of Yaara Tere Bin in Call Me Bae. Will we see more such projects where you will act and also compose songs? 

LM: Absolutely. I think it’s important I keep doing both. I don’t see myself leaving one career for another, or vice versa. Music is a wonderful way for me to keep my two worlds together, because everything that we see on screen requires a score or a soundtrack. In Bollywood, we have musicals. I hope I always keep doing more of what I did in Call Me Bae. 

YSL: It's huge that you opened for an Ed Sheeran concert in Gurugram. Has that led to bigger and better opportunities?

LM: What’s great about the last several opening acts for international artists, the majority of them have been women—be it for Dua Lipa, Coldplay or Ed Sheeran. It's high time the industry recognises women in the independent space who are bonafide composers, writers and singers. Luckily, we are getting to see a lot of people on stage, who have a deserving exposure to the mainstream in India.

For a long time, these spaces were reserved for men. We hardly saw anything other than playback singing coming from women. Today, there are many more composers and songwriters, like myself. It’s so important that we continue to showcase that women can do it all.

YSL: What kind of music are you working on now?  

LM: Moments like the Ed Sheeran concert offer you an impetus to keep growing as a musician. I want to set up the next few years to go back to an organic sound, less production, less electronic sounds, more real instruments, and beautiful ballads and love songs, which is what I have always been known for. 

I have music coming out in less than a month. The opening act with Ed Sheeran inspired me to go back to songwriting. I am excited to present that side of myself again.

YSL: And when do we see you acting next? 

LM: We’ve got the green light for the second season of Call Me Bae. It isn’t on the floors yet but we will start filming soon. It’s very exciting. 

Otherwise, I am up for grabs… Directors take me! (laughs). I hope I keep growing and get more chances to be on camera prominently, so that I get familiar in spaces like this. I want more challenging roles.