OFFSCRIPT with Ritika Agrawal

What happens when a consultant at Accenture trades spreadsheets for screenplays and ends up directing, producing, and starring in her own films?Today on Chai with Champs, we're joined by Sujata Day, a multi-hyphenate creator, star of HBO’s Insecure, and the force behind the critically acclaimed film Definition Please.From navigating Hollywood without connections, to rewriting the narrative for South Asian characters on screen, Sujata shares how she transformed early challenges into creative leverage and why building your own table is sometimes more powerful than asking for a seat.This is a conversation about strategy, identity, and storytelling and what it really takes to thrive in today’s entertainment industry.

[00:00] - Intro
[01:15] - Who is Sujata Day?
[08:53] - Balancing Film & Consulting | How a career in consulting sets you up for success?
[14:45] - Auditioning & Finding an Agent | How to build your network when you start out?
[16:52] - How a tweet got Sujata to work with Issa Rae
[20:12] - South Asian Stereotypes in Media
[26:25] - Shoutout to Sunblue Sound! - Our Official Show Sponsors
[27:14] - The reality of Hollywood & the Power of DIY
[31:15] - No Film School to Netflix
[37:56] - How Mindy Kaling became EP for Sujata's first film
[45:55] - How to get Sujata Day to be your mentor?
[49:00] - Spill the Chai | Chai with Champs' Rapid Fire
[53:29] - Advice to your younger self
[54:52] - Gatekeeping in the Industry & Finding Inspiration
[57:25] - How do you bring South Asian Cinema to Center Stage?

Chai with Champs is the Center Stage for South Asian Cinema Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithchamps/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RitikaAgrawalll

From Delhi’s radio studios to Cannes red carpets, Sucharita Tyagi has built her voice into one of the most fearless in cinema. In this episode of Chai with Champs with Ritika Agrawal, Sucharita shares her journey of carving space as a South Asian woman in film criticism and the cost of being unapologetically bold.We also dive into the bigger picture, what it really takes to stay relevant in Indian cinema today, how global film festivals shape opportunities, and where the industry is headed in an era of OTT platforms and evolving audiences.

[00:00] - Intro
[00:45] - Who is Sucharita Tyagi?
[04:37] - From Radio to the Cannes – How Does One Carve a Career in Film?
[16:32] - The Truths of Being a South Asian Woman in Entertainment
[28:35] - Shoutout to Sunblue Sound!
[29:26] - Bridging the East and West in South Asian Cinema
[31:33] - The Rise of Independent Cinema vs Bollywood | Distribution
[36:08] - What Should the East Learn from the West About Cinema & Vice-Versa
[38:02] - Spill the Chai | Chai with Champs' Rapid Fire
[41:48] - Advice to 18-Year-Old Sucharita Tyagi
[42:54] - Building Your Personal Brand
[45:24] - How Do You Bring South Asian Cinema to Center Stage?

Chai with Champs is the Center Stage for South Asian Cinema Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithchamps/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RitikaAgrawalll

Welcome to the Chai with Champs Podcast; The Center Stage for South Asian Cinema. I am your host, Ritika Agrawal, where I sit down with Oscar-nominated producers, directors, award-winning directors, actors, composers, influential film critics and more who are shaping the future of South Asian Cinema. New episodes drop every Tuesday starting September 1st!

Follow us on @chaiwithchamps

Ankur Rathee is an Indian-American actor and dancer best known for his roles in the Amazon Prime series Four More Shots Please (2019), Zoya Akhtar's Made in Heaven (2019), the Hindi films Thappad (2020) and The Tashkent Files (2019) opposite Naseeruddin Shah, and as a finalist on Dance India Dance (2013).

He graduated from Princeton University where he trained under artists like Tony Award winner John Rando, Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman, and Academy Award nominee Christina Lazaridi. He also briefly studied filmmaking at USC School of Cinematic Arts.After moving to New York City, he continued his training with Alice Spivak in the Stanislavsky Technique and began doing off-Broadway theater. His notable performances include "Jade Emperor" in the martial arts opera "Journey Beyond the West", an Iraqi soldier in "Between the Tigris and the Euphrates", and an ancient Cordoba poet in "My Heart is in the East" at the historic LaMaMa Theater.

In 2018 he found his way back to the stage as the lead in Ila Arun and K.K. Raina's rendition of "Baby's Blues".Ankur began training as dancer at the age of 8 in styles including Bollywood, hip-hop, contemporary, jazz, and acrobatic adage. He discovered his passion for singing and acting in his teens through musical theater. In 2015 he became a dance faculty member at "Steps on Broadway".

Tanpreet is a passionate mental health advocate, focusing on promoting self-love and

acceptance. Her diverse background encompasses modeling, acting, public speaking and

hosting, alongside her career as a Human Resources professional. As a speaker and educator

with the registered Canadian charity, Stigma Free Mental Health Society, Tanpreet works with

youth all over Canada to raise awareness about mental health and combat stigma. Drawing

from her own experiences, struggling with perfectionism, body image, anxiety, and depression.

Tanpreet sheds light on the harmful effects societal and media pressures can have on our

mental health, empowering both men and women to navigate these challenges and prioritize

self-love, acceptance, and body positivity.

Tanpreet is dedicated to using her platform to combat the harmful effects of unrealistic

standards perpetuated by modern society and mainstream media. Tanpreet firmly believes that

genuine self-love is essential for radiating love and positivity into our communities and the

world. She emphasizes how it enables individuals to achieve their goals, showcase their true

strengths, and embrace their true potential without self-doubt. Tanpreet's story is a testament to

the power of persistence and the importance of never giving up on your dreams.

Rianjali is an award winning, NYC born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter/composer with a mission to change South Asian musicians’ perspective in the diaspora. Rianjali was a former domestic violence case-worker until she found her ‘pinch me’ moment when she caught the attention of Oscar award-winning musician A.R. Rahman’s and was asked to work alongside him. Rianjali has collaborated and performed with internationally acclaimed artists like U2, Bishop Briggs, Shawn Mendes. She has worked with A.R. Rahman as a composer and music supervisor for multiple projects such as the Award-Winning Netflix original documentary Daughters of Destiny, Amazon Prime’s Harmony, Le Musk (A.R Rahman’s virtual reality film) and penned songs for films such as Blinded by the Light and Love Sonia (directed by the producer of Life of Pi). She was Oscar shortlisted in 2017 and was also featured on Broadway World as a notable female songwriter to watch. Rianjali has performed at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show in 2018 as a part of the Shawn Mendes band, performed with U2 in 2019 as a part of U2’s Joshua Tree Tour, and sang the National anthem at Barclay’s center for a Nets v. Pacers NBA game. She recently composed for Seeing God - which won Best Documentary at the South Asian Film Festival of America, Saltwater - officially selected for Wisconsin Film Festival and Chicago South Asian Film Festival of America, Sifter - an official selection at the Tasveer Film Festival, Upside Brown, a comedic TV series in production, and is slated to compose her first feature film in 2025. Rianjali continues to surround herself with all things film and music, making her mark in a space she never saw herself in.

Season 2, episode 5 drops September 30th!

️Praised as an “extremely sensitive and inspiring performer who touches souls,” award-winning pianist Jenny Huang has appeared in North America, Europe, and Asia as a featured artist at international music festivals, competitions, music salons, and master classes.

Jenny is also an exceptional brand marketer! Her exceptional accomplishments have earned her prestigious honors in the marketing industry, including recognition in Campaign Magazine US’ “Inspiring Women”, Ad Age Rising Stars, multiple Gold Lions in the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity, and serving as a judge for esteemed awards such as AAF American Advertising Awards, The Shorty Awards, and ANA (Association of National Advertisers) B2 Awards. was left inspired after listening to this podcast!

Season 2, episode 4 drops September 16th!

Born and raised in Durham, NC, Vybhav Jagannath donned the alias VJDAMUSICMAN in early 2018. The singer-songwriter began his journey with Young Enough To Know Better, a YouTube exclusive project that allowed him to explore the genres of pop and ballads while trying his hand at songwriting for the very first time. MusicMan (short for VJDAMUSICMAN) used beats he found off of YouTube and wrote and recorded to them using GarageBand. This fifteen track album was well-received and pushed MusicMan to take himself more seriously and expand his sound.

Jagannath worked with his younger brother, Amith, under the duo name JagzBros. This duo allowed Jagannath to try his hand at the genres of hip-hop and rap. Together, they crafted two projects - D.E.S.I (Don’t Ever Stop Indians) and REIGN, both of which showcased the passion and drive Jagannath had to mix elements of his Indian roots to the tune of underground hip-hop beats.

Following these two records, Jagannath set sight on writing his debut album. After researching the process behind releasing music as an independent artist, MusicMan worked with producers in North Carolina, California, Virginia, New York, South Carolina and beyond to create Escape The Retrograde. This album would allow Jagannath to use his platform to advocate openly to break down the barrier between mental health and music, while delving into the genres of mainstream pop music, hip-hop, electronica, and R&B. Despite being written, recorded and released during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, Jagannath’s debut album broke major streaming numbers without promotion, touring, or radio play. This was Jagannath’s first album to reach all streaming platforms, including but not limited to Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, TikTok, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and YouTube.

MusicMan released his second studio album, KINKS & TRAUMA, that tackled the deep-seated psychological beliefs behind starting, building, and ending a relationship in the digital age. It went on to become MusicMan’s most streamed body of work to date. His fourth album "Mind Altering Substance" dropped this Summer and has already crossed 3M streams! In this episode, we dive into his story and the WHY behind his dream!

Season 2, Episode 3 drops August 19th :)

Neha Joy is a Host and Producer at The Hollywood Reporter, where she reports on the latest in film, television, and pop culture through THR’s daily news videos and conducts interviews with some of the biggest names in Hollywood. She also led production on THR's monthly video series Heat Vision Breakdown. Before joining THR, Neha worked as a television host for MLB, The New York Mets, Sports Illustrated, Billboard, PeopleTV, and was nominated for a New York Emmy Award for her work on SNY. She previously worked as an Associate Producer for Good Morning America.

New episodes are every other Monday at 6pm CT! S2 Ep2 drops Monday, August 5th

In this engaging episode, we have the pleasure of sitting down with the incredibly versatile Sangita Patel, a true testament to the power of determination and following one's passions. Sangita's journey is a fascinating blend of engineering expertise and her rise as a prominent television personality in Canada.Sangita's career took a remarkable turn when she transitioned from her background in engineering to becoming a beloved television personality in the Canadian news landscape. In 2014, Sangita joined ET Canada, where she not only covered breaking entertainment news but also traveled the globe to interview some of the biggest stars in the industry. From Julia Roberts to Dwayne Johnson, Viola Davis to George Clooney, and Helen Mirren, Sangita has left her mark in the world of entertainment journalism.Her talents expanded beyond reporting when she took on the role of host for HGTV Canada's home renovation series, "Home to Win," leading the show for four successful seasons and earning a Canadian Screen Award nomination for her exceptional hosting skills.Sangita's influence also extends to the world of beauty and representation, as she was named the Canadian spokesperson for COVERGIRL's Simply Ageless Collection in 2019, becoming COVERGIRL's first Canadian South Asian ambassador.Beyond her career achievements, Sangita is a passionate supporter of education and philanthropy. She is actively involved with organizations such as Pathways to Education, Children's Wish, and ONE Campaign, demonstrating her commitment to giving back and making a positive impact.Join us for an inspiring conversation with Sangita Patel as we explore her journey from engineering to entertainment, her unforgettable moments with Hollywood's elite, and her dedication to causes close to her heart.

** This is episode was recorded before ET Canada announced they were ending after 18 seasons. **