Anirudh Pisharody Discusses Ravi’s Journey on ‘9-1-1’ [Interview]

Anirudh Pisharody returned as Ravi on 9-1-1‘s milestone 100th episode, and it won’t be the last we’ll see of him. 

Pisharody first joined the series during 9-1-1 Season 4. As a probationary firefighter, his character, Ravi, was first known as Probie on 9-1-1 Season 4 Episode 6, “Jinx.”

Ravi returned for two more episodes during 9-1-1 Season 4, then became a recurring guest star in 9-1-1 Season 5. He appeared in five episodes of 9-1-1 Season 6 and made his big return during 9-1-1 Season 7 Episode 4, “Buck Bothered and Bewildered.”

I recently spoke with Anirudh Pisharody about his character’s journey on the show and some of his favorite moments since joining the 118.

Pisharody said joining the cast of 9-1-1 in Season 4 was like joining an already established family, wondering what to do and where to fit in.

“I think the testament of everybody on the cast is that they were so welcoming,” he said. “[They were] so open to me when they didn’t even need to be before I had this extended character. I was just a probie. They are really welcoming and made me feel like a proper member of the 118.”

Just like Pisharody has to find his place in this already established family, Ravi must figure out where he belongs in the 118. As an actor, Pisharody used some of his personal experience joining the cast to portray how Ravi found his way around an established firefighter family.

As the youngest member of the 118, Pisharody said the “little brother energy” is present at all times. That dynamic naturally bleeds into the character, bringing the same energy onto the screen every time Ravi shows up.

Aside from watching Ravi learn to fit into this firehouse, I asked Pisharody if there were any hopes he had for his character or if there was anything he wanted to see Ravi go through. He shared that he might like to see more physicality when it comes to his character on 9-1-1.

“We’ve seen a lot of the emotional side of his backstory and the psychological turmoil. I would love to see more of the character’s physicality,” he said.

“He is a nervous wreck, but he’s got that confidence back and saves lives even when he is off duty, so I’d love to explore that physicality.”

Pisharody shared that every time he has an extended scene with a character, he spends multiple days working closely with them. So he couldn’t name just one person he has worked with as his favorite because they have all been warm, open, and giving as scene partners.

However, he did note that it was particularly great to work with Kenneth Choi on 9-1-1 Season 6 Episode 14, “Performance Anxiety.”

“It was awesome,” he said. “I learned so much. I definitely count him as a mentor in life, in the industry, and on the show.”

Just like working with Choi stands out for Pisharody, one particular scene has stuck with him. The episode happened during 9-1-1 Season 5.

“We were shooting in Santa Clarita, and there was a truck that had a bomb in it that was careening down the highway. We had to rescue the family from it, and I just remember the visceral body-type reaction,” he recalled.

Filming was the coldest Pisharody had ever felt as they were buffeted with winds. He was at the top of the firetruck getting hit by strong winds, thinking, “Oh my gosh” to himself the entire time.

“I felt like I was going to die for a minute,” he laughed. “But it really helped with the whole scene. It really helped the stakes, but I still feel it in my bones, the level of cold from those nights.”

If you’re wondering whether or not you’ll see more of Ravi this season, the answer is yes. Pisharody confirmed that he will return for more episodes.

“Honestly,” he said, “post-strike, we’re just happy to be shooting. We’re happy to be working again and working with close friends and basically family at this point.”

Though the series has moved from FOX to ABC, Pisharody noted that, at least for him, changes have been minimal. The cast, crew, and filming lot have remained the same, so it’s business as usual.

“It feels like ABC is very supportive of us,” he said. “They’re doing their best to make sure the show’s momentum from FOX to ABC. Moving into Season 8 they want to keep that energy going, and I really respect them for that.”

As an Indian-American actor, representation is something that really matters to Pisharody, so we discussed the impact that Ravi’s existence in the 9-1-1 has on viewers.

“I don’t think there’s been another Indian-American firefighter on TV or movie, and I think that’s really, really great,” he said. “I think it’s great for kids, for people, to see someone that looks like them doing a job that isn’t traditionally portrayed by a person like them in the media.”

When it comes to Ravi, Pisharody described him as an earnest person. He is earnest and sincere, always thinking with his heart.

“I think the anxiety and all that stuff comes from a place of wanting to do his best. When he’s not doing that, it’s kind of like, ‘Could I have done something better?’ And the reality is you can’t, but you’ve done fine.”

This idea of wanting to do the best you can, but accepting that you have done what you can and you have done fine is something that Pisharody has taken for himself. It is something that he wishes everyone would take from his character.

It will definitely be exciting to see Ravi back on our screens on upcoming episodes of 9-1-1 Season 7.

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9-1-1 airs Thursdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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