Avan Jogia says his two decades in entertainment have taught him to take control of his career and choose projects that reflect his creative instincts. The 34-year-old actor, who began in children’s television on Nickelodeon’s Victorious before moving into the teen series Twisted, said his early career felt like being processed through the “kids’ television program machine.” Over time, however, he realized he could shape his own path as both an actor and a director.
Jogia explained that after Twisted ended, he entered a new phase in which he could decide where his career should go next. He said that realization came after years of working in front of the camera, and that he eventually understood he had the right to define what he wanted to make and how he wanted to make it. That shift pushed him toward directing and toward writing roles for himself and others that felt more expansive than the limited parts he felt were available to him earlier in his career.
He said he is especially drawn to stories that build worlds and give characters room to be unusual, intense, or larger than everyday life. That interest helped attract him to projects such as the Prime Video romantic psychological thriller 56 Days, in which he starred opposite Dove Cameron, and the horror-fantasy film Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons. Jogia praised Parsons as a young filmmaker with a strong sense of lore, myth and depth, saying he wanted to support that vision and be part of something built around detailed world-building.
The actor also discussed his upcoming collaboration with fiancée Halsey on the film Replacer, which he is set to direct and co-write. He said the two have a strong creative chemistry and similar writing sensibilities, making the process feel natural. For Jogia, the project is also a chance to create a role for Halsey that lets her explore a different side of her artistry after years of working in music and other demanding creative spaces.
Jogia reflected on the success of 56 Days, saying he was drawn to the role because it offered emotional depth and tension rather than a simple romantic lead part. He said he enjoyed playing a character with internal conflict, and added that the series’ strong response on Prime Video was humbling. At the same time, he noted that success in a mainstream romantic project can lead to more similar offers, which is one reason he prefers to keep moving toward directing and more distinctive material.
Asked about fan interest in him playing Xaden in a possible Fourth Wing adaptation, Jogia said he would be open to fantasy work and has long wanted to be part of imaginative worlds. He said fantasy, adventure and large-scale storytelling were the kinds of things that inspired him as a child and still excite him now.
Ultimately, Jogia described himself as passionate, curious and committed to creative collaboration. He said the most meaningful part of filmmaking is the sense of community on set, where people work together to build something larger than themselves.
