Maulik Pancholy is an award-winning actor whose career has spanned hit television shows (Only Murders in the Building and 30 Rock), animated favorites (Phineas and Ferb, Sanjay and Craig, and Mira, Royal Detective), the Broadway stage, and films. He served on President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and he is the co-founder of the antibullying campaign Act To Change. Maulik lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his husband, Ryan, and their dog, Arlo. His debut novel, The Best at It, was a Stonewall Honor Award winner.

I had the opportunity to interview Maulik, which you can read below.

First of all, welcome to Geeks OUT! Could you tell us a little about yourself?

Thanks so much for having me! And yes! I’m an actor whose career has spanned TV shows like 30 Rock, Weeds, and more recently Only Murders in the Building. I’m the voice of Baljeet on Phineas and Ferb and the voice of Sanjay on Sanjay and Craig, and my theater career includes shows on Broadway and off-Broadway. My debut novel, The Best at It, received a Stonewall Honor, and my second novel, Nikhil Out Loud, just came out on October 11, 2022. I’m also a co-founder of the Asian American and Pacific Islander anti-bullying nonprofit acttochange.org.

What can you tell us about one of your latest books, Nikhil Out Loud? What inspired the story?

When I was on book tour with The Best at It, kids really responded to my voiceover work – they were big fans of the cartoons I work on. There was a particular middle school, where I spoke to 700 kids, where the students also literally burst into applause when I showed them a picture of my husband and me, and applauded again when I said that my book was about a twelve-year-old, Indian American boy who’s just beginning to realize that he might be gay. It was so energizing. But three days later, a group of parents retaliated against my visit. They were angry that an openly gay author had spoken to their kids, and they lobbied to change the school’s policies on assemblies. Kids at the school started reaching out to me on social media wondering what they could do, saying they didn’t agree with the parents. At the time, I didn’t feel comfortable communicating with twelve and thirteen-year-olds in the midst of this controversy. But it got me thinking – where are the voices of the kids in all this? Who’s listening to them?

That was the inspiration for Nikhil Out Loud. It’s about a thirteen-year-old, gay, Indian American boy – the star voice actor on a hit animated series — who learns the power in using his own voice to stand up for himself.

Nikhil Out Loud is said to feature a queer Indian American protagonist. What does it mean to you writing this into your work, especially as a queer Indian American person yourself?

Growing up, I never saw myself in the books I read. So, getting to write stories that reflect my identity is incredibly meaningful. I often hear from kids of color or queer kids just how validating and impactful it is to see themselves in a book. But I’ve also been gratified to see how universal my books are. Ultimately, they are stories about kids who are trying to find themselves, to belong. And I think that’s the great power in storytelling – when we realize that we have a shared humanity.

What drew you to writing, particularly queer middle grade fiction? Were there any favorite writers or stories that sparked your own love and interest in storytelling?

As an actor, I’ve always fought for greater representation in TV and film. One day, I was having lunch with some friends in the publishing world, and they shared with me that there was a need for greater diversity in books for young readers as well. They sent me home with a bunch of MG and YA novels, and the more I read, the more I remembered just how much I loved books in this space. I also realized that I had a story to tell…and that no one else seemed to be telling it. So, I figured, why wait for someone else to write my story? Maybe it’s time to just write it myself.

How would you describe your writing process? What inspires you as a writer?

My writing process varies a lot depending on what’s going on. If I’m in rehearsals for a play, or on set, I have to be diligent about carving out limited, specific times to write. When I’m not as busy with acting work, I’ll throw myself into my writing and write for several hours a day.

I try to dig deep into myself for inspiration, especially with my lead characters. And sometimes that takes a willingness to face uncomfortable things head on. For example, like Rahul in The Best at It, I struggle with obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Or like Nikhil in Nikhil Out Loud, there was a time when I wasn’t always comfortable speaking out. But I find that the more honest I get about my own experience, the more readers seem to relate to it.   

What are some of your favorite elements of writing? What are some of the most challenging for you?

I love it when characters start to leap off the page. For me, there’s always a moment when a character moves from who I “think” they are, to who they actually want to be. They start telling me who they are. And that’s exciting! But that doesn’t always happen in the first draft. So, the challenge for me is to keep showing up to the page and trusting it will come.

One of the hardest parts of writing a book is finishing one. Were there any techniques/ strategies/ advice that help you finish a first draft?

This might sound trite, but writing really is revising. And you can’t revise something if it’s not on the page. So for me, the first draft is really about throwing it all out there, as messy as it is, and knowing that it’s only after that’s done, that the real work begins. When a first draft is feeling tough, or the ideas aren’t coming, I remind myself to just keep going – that I might discover something along the way.

What’s a question you haven’t been asked yet, but wish you were asked (as well as the answer to that question)? 

Being a pretty nerdy, artistic type, people rarely ask me about my gym routine! But it’s an important part of my life, and I always feel better when I’m being disciplined about lifting weights or doing yoga. And who doesn’t like a cardio endorphin boost?!

Besides your work, what are some things you would want readers to know about you?

Outside of writing and acting, I’m really passionate about the antibullying work I do with the nonprofit I co-founded, acttochange.org. I’m also very lucky that my husband, Ryan (who founded and owns the catering company Dish Food & Events), is an incredible chef. He makes the best dinners for me! What else? We have a puppy named Arlo who is pretty much the cutest thing ever. When I take him on walks, everyone wants to stop and play with him. So, I’ve met a lot of our neighbors through him.

What advice might you give to other aspiring writers?

Write. Keep writing. Do everything you can to turn off the voices of judgement in your own head. And then write some more.

Are there any other projects you are working on and at liberty to speak about?

Yes! My debut YA Romance, WILL THEY, WON’T THEY releases January 12, 2027 from Kokila Books/Penguin Young Readers.

Finally, what LGBTQ+ books/authors would you recommend to the readers of Geeks OUT?

I’m in awe of Kyle Lukoff’s Too Bright to See, and I loved Mark Oshiro’s You Only Live Once, David Bravo, which just came out!