For New York actor Anand Ray, launching into character or being in the spotlight means looking camera-ready at a minute’s notice. Luckily for him, playing dress-up is a natural act.
Shakespeare said eyes are windows to the soul — with style you get a bigger window. It is a medium that hints at our individuality and identities.
Anand Ray
Anand, who recently appeared on Season 2 of the web TV comedy Hack My Life, has played a range of roles in short indie films. He has also performed in a sketch comedy segment at Carolines on Broadway, played Friar in a Bollywood rendition of Romeo and Juliet, and played the lead role in Post Office, an iconic play written by Rabindranath Tagore, which was featured at the 2015 South Asian International Performing Arts Festival. He received his training from Anthony Vincent Bova, Terry Schreiber Studios and the People’s Improv Theater. He is currently an acting resident at the Hypokrit Theater Company and a member of the South Asian Film Lab.
most worn piece // Dark denim jeans or dark corduroy pants during New York winters.
least worn piece // The usual suspect — a white shirt.
biggest splurge // A 3 piece custom-tailored khaki suit with peak lapels on both the vest and jacket.
biggest regret // Buying shirts and suits off the rack. There are places in NYC where you can get custom-tailored shirts for cheaper than what you buy off the rack. They look way sharper and last longer.
can’t part with it // A corduroy sports jacket that I’ve had for over 12 years. It’s been with me through thick and thin.
most sentimental value // A blue chambray shirt — it’s my lucky shirt and I wear it to almost every audition.
something every guy should have // Dark brown shoes or boots (without the square toes). They go with almost everything. And if you can afford it, a good tailor. Almost anything can look good if it fits perfectly.
best bang-for-buck item // A manbag I bought online for $30 that is $300+ at most stores. I’ve had it for 4 years now and think it still has a couple of more years left on it.
most complimented item by women (or men) // It’s a toss up between the blue knit tie and red fish-print pocket square.
style crush // Justin Timberlake. I am a big fan of mixing formal and casual pieces together and he is one of the best at doing that.
Anand might not always know what's his next onstage or onscreen role, but he has a firm grasp on the classics that look good on him in his day-to-day life.
Almost anything can look good if it fits perfectly.
