When Rachna Khatau walked onto the set of The Big Bang Theory as Kathleen, she wasn’t backed by film school credentials or industry connections, just persistence, strategy, and the belief that she belonged in the room.

In this episode of Chai with Champs, she shares exactly how she broke into one of the most competitive auditions in television, what actors never hear about surviving the waiting game between paychecks, and why she started building her own stages through theater, South Asian Happy Hour, and mentorship.

Rachna also takes us inside the post-SAG strike reality: how budgets, and typecasting are reshaping opportunities, and what South Asian actors must do to demand multidimensional roles instead of stereotypes. If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate uncertainty as an actor, build your own platforms, or push the industry toward authentic representation, this conversation is full of the insider truths you won’t hear anywhere else.

Chai with Champs is the Center Stage for South Asian Cinema Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithchamps/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RitikaAgrawalll

[00:00] - Welcome to the Episode
[01:10] - Who is Rachna Khatau
[05:40] - Wearing Many Hats: From Singer to TV Host to Hollywood Actor
[10:00] - From Agent Hunt to The Big Bang Theory: How Rachna Landed the Role
[16:45] - The DIY Process: Storytelling on Your Own Terms
[20:10] - Staying Relevant in Hollywood & Building Financial Security
[27:30] - Creating Community Through South Asian Happy Hour
[34:00] - Shattering Stereotypes: Authentic South Asian Representation in Hollywood
[43:45] - Spill the Chai: Rapid-Fire with Rachna
[48:30] - Advice to Her Younger Self & The Legacy She’s Building
[50:55] - Bringing South Asian Cinema to Center Stage