If you grew up watching YTV or the Disney Channel in the early 2010s, you definitely know Sarena Parmar. You just might not realize it. For a lot of us, she was the quintessential "cool older sister" or the high-energy best friend who always had a scheme running in the background. But looking at the full list of Sarena Parmar movies and TV shows, it’s clear she’s moved way past the "teen star" label.
Honestly, it’s kinda wild to see the jump from her playing Chandra Mehta to showing up in gritty police procedurals and sci-fi sequels. She’s one of those Canadian actors who’s basically everywhere if you look closely enough. Whether it’s a guest spot on Suits or a main role in a Sundance-style indie flick, she’s been quietly building a massive resume for nearly two decades.
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The Disney and YTV Era: Where It All Started
Most people first clocked Sarena on How to Be Indie. She played Chandra Mehta, the older sister who was—let’s be real—a bit of a nightmare to Indie but also secretly brilliant at navigating their parents' traditional expectations. She played that "selfish but occasionally wise" vibe perfectly. It ran from 2009 to 2011, and if you rewatch it now, her comedic timing holds up surprisingly well.
Then came the big one for Disney fans: Radio Rebel (2012).
Sarena played Audrey, the "BFFTLEWE" (Best Friend For Truly Long Ever Whatever Ever) to Debby Ryan’s Tara. She was the high-energy, caffeinated spark plug of that movie. It’s a total nostalgia trip. Around the same time, she also popped up in Degrassi: The Next Generation. She played Farrah Hassan in a couple of episodes during Season 9. If you blink, you might miss her, but for Degrassi completionists, she’s a permanent part of the lore.
Breaking Into "Serious" Acting and Indie Film
After the bright lights of Disney, Sarena started taking on projects that felt a bit more... experimental. In 2013, she starred in The Animal Project. This wasn't your typical blockbuster. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and followed a group of actors doing performance art in mascot suits. It’s weird, it’s moody, and Sarena (playing Mira) showed a side of her acting that you just don't see in sitcoms.
She’s also had a steady stream of "prestige TV" guest spots. You’ve probably seen her face in:
- Flashpoint: She played Jasmine Amiri in the episode "Just a Man."
- The Border: She appeared as Mina Diwan.
- Suits: She had a quick role as a fiancé in the episode "Privilege."
- Kim's Convenience: A guest spot that many fans of the show immediately recognized.
Recent Hits: Skymed and Pretty Hard Cases
If you’ve been keeping up with Canadian TV lately, you’ve seen her in much meatier roles. In Pretty Hard Cases, she played Detective Breann Chattopadhyay. It’s a fun, female-led buddy cop show that gave her a chance to play someone authoritative and grounded.
Then there’s SkyMed. It’s basically Grey’s Anatomy but with planes in the Canadian North. Sarena joined the mix there, proving she can handle the high-stakes medical drama vibe just as well as the comedy stuff.
And for the sci-fi and action fans? She recently appeared in Code 8: Part II (2024) on Netflix. She played Stephanie Kingston, moving into that gritty, superpowered underworld that the Amell cousins built. It’s a huge shift from the Audrey Sharma days, and it shows she’s got the range for big-budget genre films.
More Than Just the Screen: The Playwright Era
Here’s the thing many people miss about Sarena Parmar. She isn't just an actor. She’s a massive force in the Canadian theater scene. She graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada and the Birmingham Conservatory, which is basically the "Ivy League" of acting in Canada.
She actually wrote a play called The Orchard (After Chekhov). It premiered at the Shaw Festival, making her the first South Asian playwright ever produced there. That’s a huge deal. It’s based on her own upbringing in the Okanagan Valley, where her family had a fruit orchard. When she isn't filming for Paramount+ or CBC, she’s usually working on commissions for major theaters like the Tarragon Theatre.
The Full Sarena Parmar Filmography (At a Glance)
Trying to track every single appearance is tough because she’s done a lot of voice work and shorts, but here are the heavy hitters:
Television Roles:
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- How to Be Indie (2009–2011) – Chandra Mehta (Main Role)
- Degrassi: The Next Generation (2010) – Farrah Hassan
- Pretty Hard Cases (2021–2023) – Det. Breann Chattopadhyay
- SkyMed (2022–Present) – Recurring roles
- Nurses (2021) – Guest appearance
- Flashpoint & The Border (2009) – Early career guest spots
Movies and Specials:
- Radio Rebel (2012) – Audrey Sharma
- The Animal Project (2013) – Mira
- Code 8: Part II (2024) – Stephanie Kingston
- Word on the Street (2009) – Various roles
What Most People Get Wrong
People often bucket Sarena as just a "Canadian TV actor." While she definitely is a staple of North American television, her work in classical theater (think Shakespeare at the Stratford Festival) and her playwriting is what actually defines her career lately. She’s transitioned from being the "sidekick" in teen movies to a creator who is literally changing the landscape of Canadian theater.
If you’re looking to catch her latest work, SkyMed is probably your best bet for high-octane drama, while Code 8: Part II is where you’ll find her in a more cinematic, dark setting.
To really appreciate her range, try watching an episode of How to Be Indie followed immediately by Pretty Hard Cases. The difference is night and day. It’s not just aging; it’s a total shift in presence. She went from being the high-pitched, energetic teen to a commanding, serious performer.
Actionable Next Steps:
If you want to support Sarena's work beyond just streaming her shows, look into her published play The Orchard (After Chekhov). It provides a ton of context for her background as a second-generation Sikh-Canadian and gives you a much deeper appreciation for the stories she chooses to tell on screen. You can also track her upcoming theater projects through the Tarragon Theatre or the Shaw Festival websites, as she frequently returns to the stage between filming seasons.