Paras Patel on Stepping Up as Matthew in ‘The Chosen’ Season 6 and Florida Roots
Before audiences around the world knew him as Matthew on The Chosen, Paras Patel grew up in a coastal town in Central Florida and earned a finance degree with a real estate minor from the University of Florida. Though his early love for performing initially took a back seat to practical academics, a tough post-graduation job market nudged him toward Atlanta’s growing film industry. There, he worked behind the scenes on production crews and as background talent to pay for acting classes, building his career from the ground up.
Over the past decade, that persistence carried him from his television debut in Freeform’s Teen Spirit to appearances on Nashville and Fresh Off the Boat, alongside roles in Ray Donovan and the comedy The DUFF. Everything shifted when he stepped into the sandals of Matthew in The Chosen. What began as an independent historical drama has grown into a global phenomenon with more than 300 million viewers and a #3 theatrical box office showing. Now, as Season 6 arrives on Amazon Prime Video on November 15, Patel prepares audiences for the series' heaviest chapter yet, chronicling the days leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.
In this new season, viewers meet a version of the disciple that Patel playfully calls "Matthew 6.0," a character who steps forward with unexpected boldness when his peers need steady leadership most. Beyond the flagship drama, Patel continues expanding his presence within the franchise, voicing his character in Prime Video’s animated series The Chosen Adventures and testing his outdoor grit in the unscripted adventure series The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls.
Off camera, Patel uses his growing platform, including an Instagram community of more than 707,000 followers, to champion causes close to his heart. As an Indian-American actor of Gujarati descent, he speaks candidly about replacing outdated Hollywood stereotypes with nuanced South Asian leads. Just as meaningful is his work as an outspoken ally for the neurodivergent community, a responsibility he embraced after The Chosen chose to portray Matthew on the autism spectrum. Despite international recognition, Patel stays anchored by his tight-knit family and his beloved dog.
Ahead of the Season 6 premiere, Patel caught up with Miami Living Magazine to reflect on Matthew’s transformation and share how he plans to spend his next day off along the Miami coast.
Season 6 and the Evolution of Matthew
Miami Living (ML): You are returning as Matthew in Season 6 of The Chosen. What felt different about portraying him as the story moves closer to the crucifixion?
Paras Patel: Every season I always look forward to reading through the scripts to create a more evolved, and growing Matthew adding more layers to his depth. I like to say each season a new version of Matthew appears, like an app update. This season is Matthew 6.0, and I am so excited for you all to see Matthew step up and take the lead when he and his brothers need guidance the most. Matthew's journey throughout this emotionally heightened season is one I personally loved portraying. I don't think audiences expected to see this in Matthew, and I know they will feel proud of him for stepping up when it mattered the most. I guess I would say what felt different this season was that I did not expect Matthew to be so bold and strong this season and I was all for it!
ML: Matthew has become one of the most beloved characters in the series. What part of his journey has stayed with you the most personally?
Paras Patel: The only way I know to portray a character with full honesty and authenticity is if I bring pieces of myself into them. A piece of me lives in my portrayal of Matthew and I will always carry him with me. I've learned a lot about myself through portraying Matthew particularly with how passionate he is for the things he loves. What will always stay with me is his determination and inner strength, and always wanting to be the best version for himself and for others.
ML: The Chosen has reached a massive global audience. When did you first realize the show had become bigger than a traditional TV series?
Paras Patel: I remember this moment so fondly. It was in March 2020, when the pandemic began. I woke up one day and my phone kept buzzing and I was getting constant notifications of comments about the show and new followers on all my social media to the point that my phone shut off and restarted! I remember texting the showrunner Dallas Jenkins about it and he said “yeah the show is going viral.”
ML: Season 6 deals with some of the most emotional events in the life of Jesus. How did the cast prepare for that weight on set?
Paras Patel: The interesting thing about a TV show of this subject matter is that you know what is to come down the line. We had years to get to this moment, and we prepared our audience for this very moment each season as well. Working with my cast and crew for so many years and sharing so many highs and lows together made it pretty seamless to prepare for the emotional journey we faced in season 6. We are all so close so it was pretty easy to drop into these vulnerable moments. This season and every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears made us even closer.
Representation, Advocacy, and Community
ML: You have been an advocate for the neurodivergent community through your work as Matthew. What responsibility do you feel when representing that experience on screen?
Paras Patel: I felt like it was my calling. As an actor who is not neurodivergent, I never wanted to take space from another artist who was more appropriate for the role, so I made it my mission to not only be an ambassador for this community, but to put my all in and portray Matthew as authentically as possible to make the neurodivergent community feel seen, heard and validated. The impact the creative liberty The Chosen made in portraying Matthew as neurodivergent has not only changed so many lives globally, but also given me my own purpose as an artist.
ML: As a proud Indian-American actor, how has your background shaped the way you approach your career and the roles you choose?
Paras Patel: I grew up not really seeing actors from my community portrayed authentically, rather they were caricatures or stereotypes. It has been great to see so many new stories and bold characters shown in the media now. Though change is slow in the industry, it would be great to see some Indian-American actors as leads in high budget content and franchises. As an Indian-American actor, I know how important representation is, especially since I grew up not really seeing much of that. There is this feeling of immense pride you feel when you see someone who looks like you or comes from the same background as you appear on your TV or theater screen, because it feels like you know them. I always try to find projects with that intent, whose stories or experiences are similar to mine. On the other hand, knowing what it feels like to not be represented or seen, I love fleshing out characters whose character journey is like that, because it's personal to me, just like how I portrayed that with Matthew on The Chosen. Regardless, what will always drive my passion for any project is the writing.
ML: Miami is such a multicultural city, with strong faith communities and a diverse audience. What do you hope Miami viewers take away from this new season?
Paras Patel: Miami is such a beautifully diverse city rich with culture, resilience, vibrance, and unity! Those would be some of the takeaways I hope viewers see in this new season. Amidst tension and turmoil, I think unity, strong support, and sticking with your community will bring light to any darkness. You see that with the disciples navigating through all their obstacles this season. Despite their conflicts, they still stick together. For The Chosen series as a whole, I always hope the viewers feel a renewed sense of hope and love towards one another and to love thy neighbor.
Life Beyond the Set and Personal Reflections
ML: If you had a day off in Miami while promoting The Chosen, what would your ideal day in the city look like?
Paras Patel: Just one day off?! There is so much to do! Having grown up in Florida and visited Miami often, I would most certainly spend my day off at the beach! I would also rent a bike by the beach and just enjoy the outdoors. I would also connect with my friends there and go to one of the many nice food spots around town. I hope my day off promoting The Chosen would be around Art Basel, because that is a fun time!
ML: Beyond acting, what is something personal that keeps you grounded as your platform continues to grow?
Paras Patel: Having carved my way into this industry on my own, I know what the struggle feels like, and the lows that come with that. I will never forget it. I don't take anything for granted, and I will always remain that young kid at heart with a dream in his eye, that is now fortunate enough to be actually living it. The three things that keep me grounded and humble are my family, friends, and my dog. They are my world.
ML: What has this stage of your career taught you about patience, purpose and choosing meaningful work?
Paras Patel: I like to think that I am always learning, but at this stage in my career, something I reflect on often is that timing is everything. So I make sure to just focus on the present (the good and the bad) and to continue to be my authentic self. It's important to embrace your uniqueness and be bold in asking for what you want. I believe that is meant for you will not pass you, but will only come to you when you are ready. So make your passion your purpose, stay determined, and always continue to work on yourself.
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