You’ve probably seen his face on a massive Netflix banner or scrolling through Apple TV+, but there is a specific energy to a Lucian-River Chauhan interview that you just don't get from your average "child star." Honestly, it’s kinda refreshing. While most kids his age are worried about algebra or their TikTok following, River—as he’s often called by those close to him—is busy navigating the complex moral dilemmas of shape-shifting and Earth Kingdom physics.
Born in Calgary, Alberta, this kid is basically a veteran at this point. He's been doing this since he was five. That’s a decade of experience before most of us even figured out how to use a lawnmower. He started in workshops in LA and then moved into the gritty world of Calgary theater. If you want to understand why he feels so "grounded" on screen, you have to look at those early days.
The Reality Behind the Me Interview
When the show Me dropped on Apple TV+ in mid-2024, it wasn't just another superhero project. It was weird. It was atmospheric. And the Lucian-River Chauhan interview circuit for that show revealed something pretty interesting about his process. He plays Ben, a 12-year-old who discovers he can literally become anyone.
"I’m actually an only child," he’s mentioned in past chats. This is a huge deal because, in Me, his chemistry with Abigail Pniowsky (who plays his stepsister Max) is the literal heart of the show. He had to learn how to "be a brother" in real-time. They spent hours off-camera playing Uno, arm-wrestling, and just hanging out at pool parties.
That’s the secret sauce.
You can’t fake that kind of sibling rivalry/bonding. He’s admitted that as Ben was learning to navigate a blended family, River was learning how to share space with a "sister" for the first time. It's those little human details that make the show work.
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What He Really Thinks of His Voice Changing
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: growing up on camera. It's awkward for everyone, but imagine doing it for millions of people. In a recent late-2025 reflection, River and the cast of his various projects joked about how they can’t even watch their old footage.
"It’s weird to have that part of my life documented... our voices were a lot higher, which is really cute," he’s joked about his earlier work.
His voice has noticeably deepened, and he's taller, but he still carries that same "idealistic" vibe he brought to his role as Teo in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Why the Avatar Role Was Different
Most fans found him through the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix. He played Teo, the high-flying son of the Mechanist. It’s a role that requires a lot of "acting against nothing" because of the heavy VFX.
But here is what most people get wrong: they think the CGI does the work.
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In a Lucian-River Chauhan interview regarding the Netflix series, he pointed out that while the VFX are incredible, the real challenge was the isolation. Unlike his time on Me, where he was surrounded by a "built-in friend group" of kids his own age, Avatar was a different beast. He had to build a rapport with veteran actors like Danny Pudi.
- He’s been a fan of the original Avatar since he was 9.
- He performed in The Secret Garden as Colin Craven before hitting the big leagues.
- He actually did "superhero training" to handle the physical demands of his more active roles.
Mistakes and the "Perfection" Trap
One thing that stands out when you listen to River talk is his stance on failure. He’s surprisingly philosophical for a teenager. He’s gone on record saying that "perfect doesn't exist."
He believes that as much as you try to be perfect on set, it’s just not going to happen. You have to lean into the mistakes to find the authentic moments. That’s a heavy lesson for a 16-year-old. It's probably why he doesn't come across as a polished PR machine. He’s willing to admit when things are confusing or when he’d rather just use superpowers to finish his homework faster so he can play for the rest of the day. (Relatable, honestly.)
The Technical Side of His Career
If you’re looking at his trajectory, it’s not just luck. It’s a mix of Canadian theater roots and a very specific casting process. Barry L. Levy, the creator of Me, scoured half a dozen countries for six months before finding River.
The kid has range. From the sci-fi intensity of Encounter with Riz Ahmed to the heartfelt drama of Heartland as Luke, he’s not sticking to one lane.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Actors
If you're following River's career or looking to get into the industry yourself, here are the "real world" takeaways from his journey so far:
Don't skip the stage. River’s foundation in Calgary theater (Alberta Theatre Projects, Theatre Calgary) gave him the stamina for 10-episode TV shoots. Stage work teaches you how to stay in character when there's no "cut."
Connection over craft. His best performances come from the off-screen bonds. If you're an actor, don't just hide in your trailer. Play the "Uno" games. Build the relationship. It shows up in the eyes on camera.
Embrace the "awkward" years. Growing up in the public eye is hard, but River handles it by acknowledging the change. Your voice will drop, you'll look different—don't fight it. Use it.
Stay a fan. He was an Avatar fan before he was an Avatar star. Keeping that "fan energy" helps maintain the excitement when you're doing your 15th take of a scene.
The biggest takeaway from any Lucian-River Chauhan interview is that he's a kid who actually likes what he does, but he isn't defined solely by the "actor" label. He’s just a guy from Calgary who happened to find a way to turn shape-shifting and air-gliding into a day job. Keep an eye on his 2026 projects; the "legend" phase he joked about might be closer than he thinks.