This week on Pop Culture Unplugged w/ Elias, I had the pleasure of chatting with rising star Sway Bhatia about her role as Vera in the newest Disney Channel installment, Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires. Known for her work in The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers and Succession, Sway opens up about stepping into a world she once admired as a fan herself.
Here are some highlights from our conversation:
🧛♀️ Becoming Part of the Zombies Universe
Sway shared how surreal it felt joining Zombies 4 after growing up watching the franchise and admiring its dance numbers:
“I grew up loving Zombies, always dreaming I could be like them… It’s weird knowing that now I’m going to be the person that kids are going to be replicating their dance moves from.”
📝 Landing the Role of Vera
Despite having past Disney credits, she auditioned for Vera through a whirlwind process:
“I think I got an email at midnight on Monday, auditioned Tuesday, tested Thursday, and booked it by Friday. It was the quickest audition process I’ve ever had.”
💃 Tapping Into Her Vampire Alter Ego
To portray Vera’s confident, spunky energy, Sway leaned into her sassier side:
“I brought out my bossing, sassy alter ego… She’s a proud vampire who makes mistakes but always tries to fix them.”
👗 Collaborating on Vera’s Look and Dance Numbers
Sway revealed the costume process was extensive but collaborative, and as a dancer since age 2, she had a strong hand in choreography:
“I’ve always wanted to teach dance, so I’d drill the cast after five hours of rehearsals. I was like Abby Lee off set!”
🦇 The Tension Between Vampires and Day Walkers
Discussing Vera’s arc and the long-standing feud in the film, Sway teased:
“It’s been years of tension… We’re all different, but we know the necessity of coming together, which Zombies always portrays so well.”
💜 On Working with Malachi Barton (Victor)
Their on-screen chemistry as Vera and Victor mirrored their real-life dynamic:
“I was always momming him in real life too, like ‘Should you be doing that?’ It’s funny because that’s how our characters were.”
🧚♀️ Future Zombies Installments?
When asked what she’d like to see next, Sway shared her top picks:
“Sirens, fairies, or witches would be so cool… Scenes underwater with sirens would be interesting!”
🎶 What She Hopes Fans Take Away
“It’s about unity and coming together, but also learning about different people’s cultures, languages, and religions. Zombies teaches that to kids in such an entertaining way.”
🎓 What’s Next for Sway
Beyond acting, she teased upcoming music and shared that she’s starting college in the fall to major in filmmaking:
“Maybe we’ll see some films by me coming out soon.”
⭐ Final Thoughts:
Sway Bhatia’s energy, grounded perspective, and passion for storytelling shine through both on and off screen. Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires premieres soon, and fans can’t wait to watch her slay as Vera.
Stay tuned to Pop Culture Unplugged w/ Elias for the full interview and follow us for more cast spotlights from Zombies 4 and beyond.