Praneet Akilla is a multi-talented individual who has made a significant impact in the entertainment industry as an actor and producer. He is recognized for his outstanding performances in various television shows, including The CW's Nancy Drew, Disney Freeform's Motherland Fort Salem, and Netflix's October Faction.
As a series lead, Praneet has appeared in the Canadian Screen Award-nominated medical drama Skymed, which airs on CBC Gem and Paramount Plus. Over the past three years, he has successfully transitioned into producing a range of critically acclaimed short films and digital series through his production company, Akilla Express.
Praneet's production company focuses on creating unique, genre-bending stories that represent the experiences of Third Culture Global Majority individuals. He has produced and starred in the critically acclaimed short film "Mom vs Machine," which has received six Leo nominations, including Best Short Drama.
The short film premiered on the Sci-Fi Streaming Platform DUST in 2023 and has been showcased at several prominent film festivals, including Fantasia Film Festival, Whistler Film Festival, Reelworld Film Festival, and Brooklyn Horror Festival.
Praneet has also produced a Telus-funded short film entitled Not For Us, which premiered at the Whistler Film Festival in 2023 and received a nomination for Best After Dark Short Film at the Vancouver Short Film Festival.
In addition to his film projects, Praneet is in development on a TV adaptation of the celebrated Canadian novel Junie with 100 Dragons Media Inc. and a new comedy/musical series called Raksha, which is funded by the IPF and Canada Media Fund.
Praneet is a recent graduate of the National Screen Institute of Canada's Access BIPOC Producers program, which provides training and mentorship to underrepresented producers in the Canadian film and television industry.
