Abhi Sinha provides some of the more light-hearted moments on ABC Family's "Chasing Life," a welcomed relief for a show that revolves around the difficult topic of cancer. His character Danny stays competitive with co-worker April as they vie for the best stories at the fictional Boston Post even though she's dealing with leukemia.
"In the beginning, Danny's just kind of always a jerk to April and trying to one up her," Sinha tells Headlines & Global News. "But as he learns about her disease and her cancer progresses, he not only gains more and more respect for her but their relationship and their dynamic changes. She begins to see a softer side to him."
Danny also saw another side of April in last week's episode. While at her house party, he witnessed a drunken April performing her best rendition of the 80s classic, "I Think We're Alone Now." Sinha felt a little apprehensive about filming with characters that he rarely interacts with on a regular basis, but it helped him get into character as Danny, who also comes to the party as an outsider.
"It kind of set the character perfectly because I felt awkward doing it as a person. So it kind of works for the character who feels out of place as well," the 24-year-old actor said.
On a positive note, the party scene did allow Sinha to ditch his usual business suit attire that has dominated his season one wardrobe. "He hasn't even changed outfits. He's been in that same suit," Sinha laughs.
The 24-year-old actor would like to see less suits moving into season two, which begins filming this spring, as well as a possible love interest for Danny. "I'm looking forward to him having some sort of personal relationship with someone who's not April," Sinha says.
Danny did form a new professional relationship with the reporters' new boss, who April has butted heads with since returning from her four-month absence to undergo chemotherapy. He has taken advantage of his newfound situation, which allows him to "dictate to April for once," but he realizes his returning co-worker may need a little help to get back on her feet.
"At this point, given everything that April has gone through, I can't even imagine what kind of person [Danny] would be if he didn't help her in any way that he could," Sinha says. "But I think Danny is still going to maintain that façade that he is one-upping her and that he doesn't care even though, deep down, he does."
The role of Danny came somewhat naturally to Sinha, who originally attend the University of Southern California to study sports journalism. It also has allowed him to play an Indian-American character that does more than drive a taxi or own a bodega.
"I feel like 80 to 90 percent of the auditions I go out for are the really 'bobbi' accented parts like a cab driver or a character who will do your taxes. Danny couldn't be further from that kind of a character, says Sinha, who was born in India but moved to America before his first birthday.
"The character is more like me as person and I try to take certain qualities in my life and completely exaggerate them for Danny. I feel Danny is very different than most Indian characters you would see on TV or in movies and it's one of the reasons I love playing this character because he's not so stereotypical."
As for the serious subject matter on "Chasing Life," Sinha gives full credit to the writers for balancing those tough moments with scenes that are more light-hearted. He looks for them to continue that in season two.
"I think the writers and the showrunners have done such an amazing job of keeping, what I always thought as such a heavy-themed show, light-hearted and fun. I've never really enjoyed filming something as much as I do this show," Sinha says.
"Chasing Life" airs on Mondays at 9 p.m. on ABC Family.
