IN CONVERSATION WITH ARYAN SIMHADRI

interview by JANA LETONJA
photography by ART STREIBER/DISNEY

Aryan Simhadri returned as Grover Underwood in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’, the global Disney+ phenomenon that has captivated audiences and one of the most passionate fandoms in contemporary television. As the loyal satyr protector with a huge heart, Aryan brings warmth, humor, and emotional depth to the role, helping ground the epic mythology in genuine friendship. Now 19, Indian American, and already part of a cultural touchstone, he stepped into Season 2 with growing confidence, creative curiosity, and a deep appreciation for the community that has embraced both him and the series.

‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ has an incredibly passionate fanbase. What does it feel like to be part of a world that means so much to so many people?

Every single moment has been incredible. I’ve been so grateful for that love that people have poured into our project, and it’s the only reason we’re still going, so thank you guys. One of my favorite things to do is talk to fans of the book about the show whenever they come up to us, things that they’re excited to see, their ideas for the show, how they’ve interpreted what we’ve put out. It’s been such a mind blowing experience, and again, thank you to everyone who’s rooting for us, because we hear it and it grounds us and lets us tell the story that you and us both want to see.

Grover is the emotional heart of the trio—loyal, empathetic, and quietly brave. How do you personally connect with him?

I think Grover and I have a lot of similarities, in that we both want to be there for our friends. However, I’m not nearly as level-headed as he is, and something I’ve always admired about him is the fact that he sees the world for what it is, and how it’s changed, and yet still chooses to be good and to persevere with the hope that things will always get better. I think I admire him more than I connect with him, but it’s hard for me to say because I can’t really speak on it objectively.

Season 2 raises the stakes emotionally and physically. How did your approach to Grover evolve this season?

The biggest challenge coming into season 2 was the intensity of the situation that Grover was in. In season one, while he does go through it, he’s still got his friends and the closest that they ever really get to dying is during monster encounters. In season 2, however, the slightest error could result in Grover joining the bones of his family that litter the floor of Polyphemus’ cave. I wanted the tension in every movement to feel palpable, and the biggest thing for me was being able to fully lean into the fear that Grover should feel after Polyphemus reveals his plan. I watched a lot of films and read some books about what life in captivity is like, and I took a little bit of that to inform the end result too. Hopefully it translates on screen.

You’ve been playing Grover during some really formative years of your life. How has growing up alongside this character shaped you?

This is always a difficult question for me because it’s hard for me to separate myself from my own point of view and the character’s at times, and look at my growth objectively. However, I will say that the biggest influence of Grover on my life has been the desire to be “of service.” Grover, if I could sum up his essence in two words, is most aptly described as being “of service.” For his friends, for Pan, for his people, and for the world. As an actor, I’ve slowly begun to understand how important being “of service” is. For my friends, for my people, for the script, for the fans, for the people I work with, for the books. Basically, I’ve found myself wanting to be there for the people I care about so much more because that’s who Grover is as a person, and it’s what makes him the soul of the trio, and such a good person.

The show blends mythology, action, and humor, but also themes of belonging and identity. Which themes resonate most with you personally?

Something that I really struggled with when I was a little younger, and even still to this day, is needing external validation. When I originally read the books, something about Grover’s story that really resonated with me was how he would always hold fast to what he believed and knew was the truth about Pan, in spite of what his elders would constantly tell him. He continued to pursue his quest in his own way, and that was incredibly inspiring to me. I think the magic of the books is that there’s a character for everyone to resonate with, and one person can see a little bit of themselves within every character.

As an Indian American actor in a massive Disney franchise, what does representation mean to you at this point in your career?

Oh man, what a fantastic question. I’ve said this before, but I feel like it’s unfortunately difficult for Indian American actors to be taken seriously in this industry. We’re always cast aside as comic relief, or the nerdy side character, or the unathletic kid who complains a lot. We’re always labeled as “misfits.” And while I do believe there is power in that, getting the opportunity to be a part of such a huge project as not just a character to be laughed at, but a character with a purpose and drive and passion and real, weighted story is the most incredible thing I could ever ask for. 

Even the word representation holds so much meaning to me, because even being considered as someone who could be chosen to represent the people who look like me and the people I grew up with and around in the most, in my opinion, beautiful form of art is ridiculous. I’m so grateful to be a part of such a sweeping movement that’s finally bringing the much needed attention to Desi actors in Hollywood, and the people that I get to stand alongside in that movement are some of the most sickeningly talented people I’ve ever met in my life. One of my childhood friends, Avantika, is making such huge strides for the Telugu community, and people like Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Megan Suri, Saara Chaudry, Nik Dodani, people whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and working with are finally getting the recognition they deserve in the industry. Long story short, I’m so happy Indian American actors are finally being taken seriously on the big screen.

How have fans’ reactions—especially young fans—impacted the way you think about your role and responsibility?

I don’t like thinking about it too much, otherwise I start freaking out about the fact that millions of young kids around the world have their eyes on us. That being said though, I do like to always keep it in the back of my mind, because more than anything, it’s a responsibility. Rick has done such an incredible job helping so many kids navigate life through his books, and now it’s up to us to try and do the same with our show. Whenever I get to set and I have to be covered in dog slobber, or dragged through the sand, or bound and gagged by my wedding dress veil in a broom closet, and I start thinking about how difficult the day is going to be, I always think about the fact that I’m doing it for the kids who haven’t read the books yet and are experiencing the world of ‘Percy Jackson’ for the first time. These books helped so many kids when they first came out, and it’s our responsibility to pour our hearts into the show so we can do the same for even more kids now.

With Season 3 already in production, does the world of ‘Percy Jackson’ feel like home now?

The more that I think about it, yes and no. I grew up with the books, and I’ve read them so much the spines have fallen off of my original copies. So the world in those books is so familiar to me, but only through Percy’s perspective. The more that I look at the world through Grover’s lens, the more I realize that I don’t have Percy’s internal monologue to help me out. Grover’s internal monologue, from what I’m realizing, is a lot more focused but branches off quite a bit until he’s reigned in again. To Grover, he doesn’t really know too much about the real world, at least not like Percy did. His upbringing is totally different, his larger purpose is so different to that of Percy or Annabeth, and even the way he walks affects how his energy projects itself. Also, while the series is pretty accurate to the books, there are a lot of minor changes to the world that make it slightly different to the one that I grew up with, so it’s been a strangely new process stepping into that world.

You’re 19 and part of a hugely successful series. How do you stay grounded when everything feels so big?

That’s an interesting question. I think for me, staying grounded revolves around two things. The work, and my family. When I say family, I don’t just mean my mom and my dad, though they are and always have been my anchors when I have trouble with navigating through life. I mean the people I grew up with, the incredible cast I get to work with today, the crew who is always there with us, and, obviously, my parents. All of these people are family to me, and they remind me of who I am, and who I was when I met them. They remind me that acting is about being “of service,” and that that’s the way I want to live my life. When I say the work, I always feel that it’s easy to remain grounded when you don’t lose focus on the work that you need to do. 

For example, we just went on a huge press tour for season 2, and while it was the most incredible experience I’ve ever gotten to be a part of, all I could think about was how excited I was to return to Vancouver and bring season three to life, for myself and the fans. I don’t know if that made sense, but that’s what keeps me grounded.

Outside of Percy Jackson, what kinds of stories or roles are you curious to explore next?

I was actually just talking to Charlie, who plays Luke and is one of my best friends, about that the other day. I think after ‘Percy Jackson’, I’d like to step away from fantasy for a little bit, unless it’s to play Spiderman India. I’d love to do a film as opposed to a TV show, and something that is slightly more grounded in reality. I love fantasy, and it’s one of my favorite genres, but I’d love to do something with weight that really pushes my comfortability as an actor. Something I struggle with is kind of waiting for all the stars to align to finally sit down and work on a script, so I’d love to do something that demands depth and attention and space in your body constantly. I’d also love to play Spiderman India if they ever made a live action movie. A rom-com would also be tons of fun.