For our season finale, you will not want to miss this riveting interview. If you love the hit Netflix show Delhi Crime as much as I do, you must catch this interview with Tanuj Chopra, the brilliant Director and Showrunner of Season 2 and 3 of this true crime fiction drama that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats with the excellent writing, acting and directing! \

Tanuj talks about his connection to Delhi- how the city has its own heart and soul and yet, an amazing director can capture the essence of a place without having a personal connection. He suggests that there are no rules in this industry- one can go to film school or make it without any formal training. Tanuj is open to whatever may come his way in the future, including Bollywood, and would happily embrace the opportunity! 

Hearing Tanuj’s journey as writer, then moving into being the first South Asian film, Punching at the Sun, in Sundance, to his range with genre including comedy, Chee and T, and then directing incredible actors, will have you agree-Tanuj is at the top of his game! I just may have saved the best for last!

Sharbari is a writer in every sense of the word! From playwright, Raisins Not Virgins, that was produced, to a published author of novels, The Ocean of Mrs. Nagai and Dust Under Her Feet, to a Writer on the ABC Network hit TV show Quantico, starting Priyanka Chopra, Sharbari is a trailblazer as a Bangladeshi-American writer! Sharbari speaks on what she brings to her writing- from layering with past experiences as well as cultural background. She also is a reader on a South Asian Fellowship Mentorship Program called 1497 and encourages writers to submit their pilots and feature films to this prestigious platform. Sharbari has several exciting projects on the horizon dealing with adapting her various work into screenplays. Sharbari advises to stay tenacious and disciplined. I intend to take her advice as I admire her greatly!

Seril started out as an actor with strong TV credits on shows like Silicon Valley and Westworld but has found his entrepreneurial spirit and formed a healthy snack company Chakka Chips- inspired by the jackfruit that grows natively in his homeland of Kerala, India. Seril reveals how he met a guide of sorts that asked him to consider what was something else he loved besides acting-anything that might be able to generate an income. Since Seril loved food, he decided to take this fruit that he enjoyed since he was a child, and introduce it to the western world, and voila, his brand was born! Seril remarks that there are many similarities between being an actor and an entrepreneur- His acting background gave him thick skin and prepared him for rejections as they came up. Most importantly, his storytelling skills made him shine when delivering his pitch! Because at the end of the day, he was not selling a product, people were connecting to his story!  If you want to try these delicious vegetarian, vegan and gluten free snacks, click here to order: https://chakkachips.com

As a Director, Zoey, a graduate with an MFA from NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts, has an impressive resume- you can see her work on Showtime, HBO, ABC, Disney and Hulu. Most recently, she was featured on Max’s Project Greenlight, that highlights the Top 10 up and coming Directors. Zoey recently wrapped on a short film turned feature film “The Fisherman”, that she wrote, which will premiere at the Venice Biennale Film Festival. Zoey’s tip is to ask to be a director’s shadow on TV if given the opportunity, as most ask to jump in straight to director before they are ready: it is important to respect the industry enough to know where you belong at any given point in your career. Check out this interview to hear more deep advice like this- or mic drop moments as I like to call them!

Anjul is considered a pioneer in the South Asian entertainment community as his career spans 40 years!  He graduated from NYU’s Tisch School for the Arts. Select TV Acting credits include True Detective , Grey’s Anatomy and Never Have I Ever. Most impressive is that he wrote, produced and starred in a coming-of-age feature film called “Growing up Smith” starring Jason Lee. Also, Anjul co-founded a production company with Alec Baldwin called Persona Entertainment. Tune in to hear all the great advice he gives-perhaps my favorite is be kind to people and things will come back full circle! Another word for karma? And with all the good-will Anjul has lined up, I have no doubt wonderful things will keep coming his way!

Kimberly got her start through improv and sketch, her first big project being a staff writer for the 2018 CBS Diversity Sketch Comedy Showcase. She has since gone on to write and produce her own sketch comedy videos and live shows which have been seen at San Francisco Sketchfest, Upright Citizens Brigade LA, Comedy Central Stage, The Second City Hollywood, and Flappers Comedy Club. Kim’s advice to writers: know when to let go, and when to focus. As of late, Kim has shifted her focus to more dramatic pieces, and has created (written, produced and starred in) the audio drama, Babalu. She shares the journey of her inspiration for writing this story, and her process from idea to production. Season One of Babalu drops this Fall but the pilot episode is available to listen to on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1BdB0nAeu3XlnUNJwrbWYw?si=556f9b8137a54dc5

This week's episode is dedicated to my high school acting teacher, Frances Rose Kondziela. Thank you for all your support, love and encouragement through the years.

I coined the term “Entertainment-Prenuer” to describe Andy: with a MA in Playwriting and being the Head of the Writing Program for the famed Improv Troupe “Second City”, Andy had the skills to co found the company Fairplay Communications. (www.fairplaycommunications.com)They teach employees of corporations to develop tools ranging from sales enablement, fast feedback and adaptability. Andy’s work took him all the way to India where he visited the Taj Mahal! Conveying his experience beholding this majestic sight made him emotional. Andy and I agree, that in business as with the arts, the skill to pivot, is the most valuable one. After you hear our discussion, you might want to call him to help your business improve and grow!

Bonus Interview with  A.J. Briggs: (Musician and Composer)With over 3 decades of experience in the music industry, starting as a promoter, working at Virgin, and currently at Amoeba Records for 20 years, AJ really knows his music. As a huge fan of the 60s and 70s era, AJ was once asked, “What would your theme song be when you walk into a room?” He reveals that his song, hands down is, “Let it bleed” by The Rolling Stones. Give it a listen, kids!

If you watched the TV show “The United States of Al” by creator Chuck Lorre, you had a chance to enjoy a joke or two written by Ursula, who was part of the writer’s room for both seasons of the show’s run. Ursula shares her journey from being an actor, to making her own award winning short film, “The Brownlist” and how that landed her the job of her dreams as a writer on the above mentioned comedy. A woman of many talents, Ursula penned a thought provoking article that was recently published by the LA Times. In our interview, Ursula shares words of wisdom pertaining to representation and writing from a place of authenticity. Her vulnerability is refreshing and the information she imparts is invaluable. 

This engaging interview with the charming actor and aspiring writer will start you off laughing but then leave you thinking deeply. Mayank and I start by discussing the cringe worthy negative stereotypes actors that actors of color faced in the past, discuss how nothing beats putting in the hours of training in any craft and end by lamenting the evils yet necessities of social media. Time just flies when listening to Mayank's words of wisdom! You will stay captivated till the very end!

Ami Sheth has many talents - she started out on a traditional path as a South Asian woman, becoming a Veterinarian, but could not resist the calling of the Arts and soon changed paths to following her dream and became an Actress. She achieved a successful career, recurring on the hit TV show "Blindspot". Ami recommends saying “Yes” to opportunities as they come. From Play Readings with Tony Danza, playing the leads in Independent Films (all while juggling Motherhood and helping organize Diwali Parties), Ami makes multitasking look easy! You will enjoy this conversation as much as I did.