When you think of an action hero, who comes to mind? Selvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Lee? Vish Iyer, an LA-based actor, challenges this stereotype, making us reimagine action heroes. Vish will make his big break in Hollywood as a lead action hero in the award-winning indie film ‘American Warrior,’ inspired by his personal redemption story. This action-drama movie debuted in Asia on Sunday, November 24, at the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa — which is considered as the Cannes Festival of India. The film is a stunning display of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) interwoven with heart-wrenching struggles of redemption and identity, cleverly directed by Peruvian American filmmaker Gustavo Martin Benites. The movie includes big names like Danny Trejo and will be released in theatres in Spring 2025.
I met him in October at Cafe Hagen on Thomas Street in downtown Seattle’s South Lake Union area. He greeted me with a beaming smile. He had this Zen aura about him that I can’t describe in words; his light within shines through his eyes, and his spirit uplifts those around him. No wonder he’s also a motivational speaker, yogi, and a best-selling author.
“It takes a village to make a movie!” Vish exclaimed, “My team’s passion, inspiration, and enthusiasm paved the way.” He emphasized that the broader goal of his film is its impact on brown people. He said there are two billion of us, and we hardly have any say in the world, but if this movie succeeds, all brown people will succeed.
“It’s very challenging to find financing for any film with a South Asian lead. Most South Asians have done drama and comedy, but very few have ventured into action. This is my dream come true,” Vish said. His one-and-a-half year training with Jay Kumar, a real MMA fighter, was physically taxing; he also had a strict diet and exercise regimen, “training twice a day just took everything out of me! I ended up in the hospital right before shooting the movie!” Vish recalled.
The movie is currently making rounds at several renowned international film festivals. It is an official nominee in twelve festivals in the United States. “In every festival I go to, people have been coming out in tears and have come up to me, sharing how Jay’s character inspired them,” Vish shared pensively, “These are people from Indiana, middle America, and New Mexico.”
Vish grew up doing community theater in several languages including training in French theater and literature. He holds degrees in Biology, French and graduate degrees in Information systems and Business. He is fluent in five languages and has authored two books – with the first one ‘Yoga & Love’ making him a best-selling author.
His journey in the United States is a familiar immigrant story—full of challenges and struggles but also peppered with small and big wins. Getting laid off from a software consulting job was a blessing in disguise, allowing him to self-reflect and explore yoga and meditation more deeply. It helped him heal through troubling times, and he rose from the ashes. He has lived in India, Southern Africa, and the U.S. and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Deypika.
Vish is confident that his movie will be successful at the box office based on the audience’s reaction during these festival screenings. He is currently in Goa, India to promote his film on IIFI. “It’s emotional for the audience as they see it as an underdog story, and everybody seems to connect with it,” Vish said, “Ultimately, we are all humans, and we are going through the same challenges, trials, and tribulations – the human spirit and emotions are the same. Outwardly, we all look different. Emotions ground us and unite us.”
Maheen Mustafa wrote this feature and interviewed Vish. She is a journalist, global strategist and founder of MTG, a Seattle-based media outlet and production house that aims to elevate and amplify BIPOC and immigrant narratives and perspectives. Maheen’s beats are social impact, wellness, business, culture, climate, race and global news. Twitter: @MaheenM_.