Avan Jogia Unveils “Mixed Feelings”: An Intimate Journey Through Identity and His Hilarious Turn in “Zombieland: Double Tap”

Acclaimed actor Avan Jogia has added a significant new chapter to his multifaceted career, transitioning seamlessly into the role of a published author. His debut book, Mixed Feelings, which hit shelves on September 17th, is far more than a simple collection of prose; it’s a profound exploration of identity, culture, and the deeply personal experiences of individuals with mixed-race heritage. The book masterfully intertwines Jogia’s own heartfelt poems with authentic narratives shared by a diverse group of people, creating a tapestry of vulnerability and understanding. HollywoodLife had the exclusive opportunity to delve into Jogia’s journey as he navigated the creation and release of this incredibly personal work.

During our conversation, Jogia shed light on the unique and modern approach he took to gather the stories that form the backbone of Mixed Feelings. He revealed that all contributors were discovered through the power of the internet, a testament to the digital age’s ability to connect like-minded individuals across geographical boundaries. “The great thing about living in the internet age is the access that we have to each other,” Jogia explained, highlighting a often-overlooked positive aspect of online interaction. “Usually, we don’t use it for any level of good. Usually, it’s people trolling each other, but the good thing about it is you can contact people who are like-minded or share a similar experience.” This realization spurred him to action, leading him to put out a simple yet powerful call online: “I literally put out that I wanted to talk to mixed kids and waited to see who responded.” The response was overwhelming and deeply moving. He established a dedicated email address where people could submit their stories, and he personally engaged in back-and-forth correspondence, carefully selecting the narratives that resonated most strongly with the book’s overarching themes. This organic, communal process, as Jogia described it, was precisely how he envisioned the project unfolding. “It grew into this communal experience that me and the audience had, which is cool. I mean, that’s how you want anything to happen, organically and have a communal experience with them.” This collaborative spirit underscores the very essence of Mixed Feelings – a shared exploration of what it means to belong, or to exist between worlds.

The artistic vision for Mixed Feelings extends beyond just the written word. Jogia, himself an artist, personally created the striking imagery that accompanies the text, adding another layer of personal expression to the project. He described the book’s completion as a process “done in stages,” culminating in a feeling of profound “catharsis” upon its finishing. Jogia offered an insightful glimpse into his unique creative methodology, characterizing himself as “the kind of artist that works in a maelstrom of sound and fury.” This intense, almost chaotic approach seems counterintuitive to the measured process of writing a book, yet it perfectly aligns with his method. He candidly admitted, “If there’s a deadline, then I’m not touching it until two weeks before the deadline. You won’t see me for two weeks. I think that’s how most people operate. That’s why deadlines are important.” For Mixed Feelings, this intense period of creation was structured into “three really heavy stages.” During these intense bursts of activity, Jogia immersed himself fully, simultaneously crafting all the visual art and poring over the submitted poems and stories. This concurrent process of creation and consumption of the material not only kept him motivated but also allowed for a symbiotic relationship between the visual and textual elements, ensuring that each aspect enhanced the other. The act of bringing these diverse voices and artistic expressions together proved to be an incredibly transformative experience for the author, allowing him to process and articulate complex emotions related to identity and belonging.

While the journey was immensely rewarding, Jogia confessed that “being my own boss” presented the most significant challenge throughout the entire experience. This autonomy meant bearing the full weight of responsibility for every decision, every inclusion, and every omission. He emphasized the unvarnished authenticity of Mixed Feelings, asserting that “nothing” in the book has been edited or filtered. “There’s nothing that I didn’t include in the book. It’s incredibly personal,” he stated, a declaration that resonates powerfully with readers on every single page. In an era dominated by social media, where “everyone’s got a manicured version of themselves,” Jogia consciously chose to defy this trend. His objective was to present a raw, unfiltered truth, offering a refreshing counter-narrative to the often-curated public personas. He seamlessly integrated his own deeply reflective poems with the intimate personal stories he curated from his online connections. For Jogia, poetry serves as a conduit for genuine self-expression. “Poetry for me is about being vulnerable and open and exposing yourself to the audience as who you really are,” he explained. This ethos of honesty extends to every corner of the book. He continued, “Whether that’s someone who’s not vulnerable and not open, fine. But it’s about being honest. And I just wanted to be honest.” There were moments of hesitation, poems he considered omitting due to their raw intimacy. However, he ultimately chose courage over caution. “I guess the most challenging thing about this was reminding yourself that in my vulnerability in being open, I can maybe inspire somebody else to do the same about themselves,” he reflected. This profound commitment to authenticity makes Mixed Feelings a beacon of genuine connection and a powerful invitation for readers to embrace their own complex identities.

Beyond the current success of his book and its accompanying tour, Avan Jogia is already envisioning a broader scope for the impactful message of Mixed Feelings. His dedication to the themes explored in the book is so profound that he refuses to be limited by a single medium. “I might have a record coming out that’s relating to this book,” he teased in our conversation with HollywoodLife. This potential venture into music underscores his belief in the universality of his message and his desire to reach an even wider audience. “The message is so important to me that I don’t think that I want to limit myself by medium,” Jogia affirmed. He recognizes that not everyone connects with literature in the same way, stating, “If someone doesn’t like reading, I want to get this message through their ears.” This innovative approach demonstrates Jogia’s commitment to fostering understanding and connection around the complex experiences of mixed identity, utilizing every artistic avenue available to him. The expansion into music would offer a new emotional dimension to the narratives, allowing the stories and poems to resonate through melody and rhythm, further deepening their impact and accessibility.

In parallel to his literary endeavors, Avan Jogia is also gracing the big screen in the highly anticipated sequel, Zombieland: Double Tap, reprising his role as a captivating actor. In this action-packed zombie comedy, he portrays Berkeley, a distinctively free-spirited survivor whose path hilariously intersects with that of Abigail Breslin’s character, Little Rock. Jogia openly discussed the intriguing audition process for this role, revealing a humorous industry connection. “It’s funny, the producer of Zombieland hilariously is the producer of Twisted,” Jogia disclosed, referring to a previous project. This familiar connection provided an unexpected gateway. “He was like, ‘I got this part, so come and audition for it.’” Despite the inside track, Jogia still underwent the rigorous audition process alongside “thousands of people who were auditioning for that part.” The character of Berkeley is particularly unique as he is a musician who plays guitar, allowing Jogia to showcase a different facet of his talents. He was able to perform original comedy songs during his audition, a key element of Berkeley’s charm. Berkeley’s shtick involves covering famous songs and audaciously presenting them as his own compositions. In the post-apocalyptic world of Zombieland, where “there’s no Google, who’s going to fact-check him?” this deception becomes a source of great comedic relief. This act is primarily employed in his attempts to woo Abigail Breslin’s character, often leading to hilarious, scolding reprimands from the seasoned zombie slayer, Woody Harrelson. Jogia fondly recalled the experience as “a fun gig,” emphasizing the enjoyment he derived from this departure into comedic acting.

The opportunity to fully immerse himself in the world of comedy and collaborate with such an esteemed cast was an invaluable experience for Jogia. “It was really cool to work with them and riff off them,” he remarked, highlighting the improvisational and dynamic nature of the comedic environment. Jogia expressed a genuine affection for the genre, stating, “I love comedy. Comedy is great.” However, he was quick to acknowledge its inherent difficulty. “It’s very hard, though. It’s either funny or not funny,” he mused, pointing out the unforgiving binary nature of humor. Despite the challenge, the collaborative spirit of comedy truly captivated him. “But I do like the environment of riffing with people and trying to create an environment for humor to come out of.” This process, he admits, doesn’t always guarantee success, but the pursuit itself is rewarding. “Maybe humor never comes out of it, but hopefully we’ve done that,” he concluded, reflecting on the collaborative effort to bring laughter to the screen. Working alongside cinematic legends like Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin provided a masterclass in comedic timing and ensemble acting, allowing Jogia to hone his skills and contribute to a beloved franchise. The film Zombieland: Double Tap, which offered audiences a fresh dose of zombie-slaying humor and memorable characters, hit theaters on October 18th, giving fans a chance to see Jogia’s comedic chops in action.