Sharon Johal: A Career in Resistance

Sharon Johal didn’t just want to act. She wanted to be seen. The Punjabi-Australian actor left behind a career in law to fill a gap she’d long noticed on Australian screens: someone who looked like her. First seen on SBS’ Bollywood Star, Sharon has gone on to appear in the cult-classic Neighbours, The Block, and more — becoming both a familiar face and a vocal force for change. But visibility has come at a cost, with Sharon facing racial abuse off-screen and online. In this conversation with Suhayla Sharif at SBS Sydney, she reflects on 15 years in front of the camera and what it really means to take up space. Listen now on SBS Spice, wherever you get your podcasts.