Sway Bhatia can currently be seen starring in the highly anticipated Disney+ series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. Appearing as Sofi Hanson-Bhatt alongside an impressive cast that includes Emilio Estevez and Lauren Graham, this Mighty Ducks reboot has been a pleasant surprise amongst original fans and new viewers.
Photo Credit: Corinne Louie
We spoke with Sway about what viewers can expect from the final few episodes of season 1 of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, something “shocking” happening to her character Sofi, the OG Mighty Ducks cast member that was supposed to appear, her role in season 3 of Succession, and what inspires her in her acting career.
Read on for our exclusive interview with Sway Bhatia below:
Thank you so much for chatting with us today! We are loving Game Changers!
Thank you!
Can you talk a little about what initially inspired or motivated you to pursue acting as a career?
Ever since I was real young I was obsessed with Bollywood. I think all of the aspects to the Bollywood movies from the dancing, singing, and costumes, I think all of that really inspired me. I grew up in Dubai, I used to reenact the scenes in little mini Indian outfits and props from around the house. From then my parents just really realized that I really loved the entertainment industry and really wanted to be in it.
I started dancing and my first dance was with another Indian actress who is also in Hollywood her name is Priyanka Chopra-Jonas. I had such a great time performing with her. I was so excited to perform.
Photo Credit: Disney Sway Bhatia in ‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’
I think with booking The Mighty Ducks it’s really proven to me that any character can come your way. I used to be a figure skater in Dubai so you never know what hobbies would come in use with acting. The characters vary so much and who knows when you could be playing someone exactly like you or the exact opposite. That’s what’s so special about it.
I am loving Game Changers and of course I grew up with The Mighty Ducks. Were you familiar with the original movies before you got the part? If so, what did you think of them?
As a figure skater everybody recommended the movie to me. As soon as I got the audition I was like “This is the perfect time to watch the movie.” I watched the first movie and I was so hooked to the storyline and I think that really drove me in my audition. I realized what a beautiful message it is bringing the underdog team to the championship. When I got my audition I was like I really want to do this, I’d really love to work with Emilio Estevez and get back on the ice. I’ve seen all three movies now and I understand why so many people love the franchise.
Did you have to do anything special to prepare for your role in The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers? Was there any special training you had to do?
When I found out I booked the role, I went to my old ice rink that I used to train at and a bunch of memories came back, it was so nice to be back on the ice. I trained a little bit on the figure skating side when I got there. When we got to Vancouver to film the pilot we had two weeks of hockey training and we were getting trained by real NHL players. They ended up being hockey coordinators and choreographers for the rest of the show. We got great training and the whole cast being on the ice was such a great bonding experience. We really had to become a team and work as one.
I would definitely injure several body parts if I attempted to do half of what you guys do on the ice.
[laughs] We have so much gear on so we aren’t getting hurt at all. We aren’t being so physical. We had stunt doubles that did some of our stunts but towards the end after we had had so much practice, a lot of us did get to do our own stunts which was a lot of fun.Emilio Estevez and Lauren Graham and the original cast members are so iconic to me because I grew up watching both of them and it would be so surreal for me to meet them one day. How has it been working with the cast and crew?
It’s been so special knowing that the creator of this show Steve Brill, who created the original movies as well, I think working with him was so special because he is almost like the Gordon Bombay of the Ducks for us. And working with Emilio himself, The Gordon Bombay was so special. I learned so much from watching him and Lauren Graham become their characters. All of us took so much advice from them. Emilio really welcomed us to The Mighty Ducks family. He’s so humble and kind, both of them. They’re so sweet and kind and we really bonded working every day together.
Photo Credit: Disney
Working with the OG ducks was so much fun. They brought them on the ice and we started skating together and they are good skaters! They came out on the ice looking like pros. We were super surprised how good they were. It was awesome getting to play with them. They’re all so sweet. It was a surreal moment working with them. We were all star struck.
So we have a few episodes left of the season and where we just left off, the Don’t Bother’s are finally starting to work together as a team. Can you talk a little about your character going forward in the season?
My character is Sofi Hanson-Bhatt. She is a strong hockey player. She comes from the Mighty Ducks which is a mean team that wins all the games and championships because they are pushed to their highest. It’s not “Just do your best and try your best.” You HAVE to win the games and that mentality didn’t feel so good for Sofi so she made the decision to move to the Don’t Bothers. I think she feels so much better playing with her friends on a team where she isn’t pushed as hard. She gets to play hockey the way she wanted to; for fun
Later on you’ll see how it’s not that Sofi is good at sharp shooting and Evan is good at skating. We’re all good together. You’ll see this more later how we all work together and we have to make some hard decisions.
What can you tease about what viewers and fans can expect from these last few episodes? What are you most excited for them to see?
Something shocking happens to Sofi. I can’t say what but I’ve been waiting for the moment to come out. Episode 10 is so special to me. I’ve gotten to do a lot of things I wanted to do. You’ll see what I mean. Later on you’ll see her really standing up for herself and wanting to push herself to the point where she has to make hard decisions but also be there for her friends. It’s going to be hard.
There’s something surprising coming! I can’t say too much but it’s going to be really exciting.
Photo Credit: Disney
Sway Bhatia in ‘The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers’
Assuming it comes back for season 2, as it should because it’s amazing, what are your hopes for the series moving forward? What would you love to see or get the chance to film?
Season 2 would be so awesome. Recently I’ve head that Steve Brill is pushing to get Joshua Jackson who played Charlie Conway and Kenan Thompson to come for season 2. In the OG episode, Kenan Thompson wanted to come back but he was busy filming The Kenan Show. Steve Brill really founded all of these Ducks and made them the superstars they are today.
I hope that if we come back for season 2 it takes it in a different route that we wouldn’t expect. Of course, it would have connections to the second movie but I think it would be special to bring back more OGs and it connects to the storyline in a deeper way. They’re part of the team now. I’d be interested where the writers take it.
Do you want to talk a little about your character on Succession and why you think viewers should tune in for season 3?
Succession has been such a big part of my acting career. This was my first real job. I got to work up close with so many actors, directors, writers, and producers. It’s a super intense show if that’s the right way to put it. I was 8 or 9 years old when I filmed the pilot and really just grew up on the show. Every time I’m on set I learn something new. I have so much fun playing Jeremy Strong’s daughter.
Season 3 is gonna be exciting because they’re bringing Sophie Roy and Iverson Roy, my brother on the show, they’re’ really bringing us out a little more! Season 3 is gonna be good! I’m not sure how much I’m going to be able to watch when it comes out but the current audience will really enjoy it. All I want to say is please don’t let your kids watch it. It’s not for them. [laughs]
Thank you so much to Sway Bhatia for taking the time to speak with us!
Be sure to keep up to date with Sway by following them on social media on Twitter and Instagram.
Tune in to The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers airing on Disney+.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
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