In this episode of The Business of Modelling, Tessa Dewing is joined by Saaj Raja – actor, dancer, writer, and former stockbroker whose journey spans Bollywood stages, corporate boardrooms, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

 

From performing for the Queen to teaching Bollywood dance on his lunch break, Saaj shares his remarkable pivot from high finance in Hong Kong to a creative life on stage and screen. He speaks candidly about cultural identity, imposter syndrome, and the childhood experiences that shaped his sense of belonging as one of the only South Asian kids in his school.

 

This wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation explores what it means to come home to yourself, the power of mentorship, and why embracing your roots can unlock your greatest strengths.

 

Saaj Raja’s path into the world of acting, writing and choreography is anything but typical. A former stockbroker turned artist, he has carved a multifaceted creative life that blends dance, storytelling and South Asian heritage – with a résumé that includes Britain’s Got Talent, a Marvel blockbuster, and performing for Queen Elizabeth II.

 

We met in London to record an episode of The Business of Modelling, and over the course of our conversation, Saaj spoke openly about navigating cultural expectations, burnout, and the joy of reclaiming his roots.

 

Born in Crawley to Indian parents from Uganda, Saaj grew up immersed in Bollywood music, community events, and dance, all while attending a predominantly white school.

 

“I was raised with Gujarati values at home, but at school I was just trying to fit in,” he told me.  “I was the only brown kid in my year group. It made me both hyper-visible and invisible at the same time.”

 

As a teenager, he started dancing with a Bollywood troupe, performing internationally before he’d even finished his A-levels. But when it came to next steps, his parents were clear: university first.

 

“In my culture, every living room had the same photo – the eldest child with a graduation scroll. My parents literally had the space on the wall ready for mine.”

 

Saaj studied International Relations at Queen Mary University, then stumbled into journalism and finance, writing for a fintech publication before landing a high-pressure role in stockbroking in Hong Kong.

 

It wasn’t until a chance meeting with a monk in a skyscraper boardroom that something shifted. “He looked at me and said, ‘We’ve met before.’ And he was right, I’d met him a decade earlier. That moment cracked something open in me.”

 

A period of deep self-reflection followed. He left banking, shaved his head, spent time in an Ayurvedic retreat in India, and completed a 10-day silent meditation. “I had to get quiet enough to hear what I really wanted, and it was to perform.”

 

His return to the creative world brought new clarity and old doubts. “I remember telling people I wanted to be an actor and seeing the hesitation in their eyes. Even friends in the industry would say, ‘Are you sure?’”

 

But for Saaj, representation wasn’t just important, it was personal. “I never saw dancers or superheroes who looked like me so stepping onto a Marvel set, surrounded by 50 South Asian dancers, felt like history. I felt proud.”

 

Another standout moment was performing a Gujarati folk dance in front of the Queen during her Platinum Jubilee. “That was the perfect synergy of my two identities – British and Indian. And my family were in the audience.”

 

Saaj is now writing a one-man show called Bad Indian, which explores identity, expectation, and the messy in-between. “It’s based on all the ‘only happens to you’ stories I’ve collected. And there are a lot.”

 

He speaks Gujarati, practises meditation, and hosts Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2, weaving ancient philosophy into everyday life. “I try to tell stories that are human, accessible, and rooted in something bigger.”

 

His time in finance, it turns out, taught him more than spreadsheets and sales. “An acting school principal once told me: the best actors aren’t just talented, they’re business-savvy. I realised I’d spent years brokering deals. Now I just needed to broker myself.”

 

That entrepreneurial mindset helped him land work, stay resilient through rejection, and create his own opportunities. “I auditioned for drama schools knowing I couldn’t afford them, but I wanted to be in the room.”

 

When I asked what advice he’d give to others considering a big leap, Saaj didn’t hesitate:

 

“Dip your toe in. Talk to people. Get in the room. You don’t have to jump in like I did – quitting everything. Start with a weekend class or shadow someone. The clarity comes from movement.”

 

His story is one of many pivots, but a single through-line: authenticity. Whether dancing at age four with handkerchiefs tied to his fingers or standing on a film set with superheroes, Saaj Raja has always been moving toward truth, one step at a time.