Global Indianstory Global Indian ExclusiveIndian-British actress Priya Kansara is breaking stereotypes in the English film industry

Indian-British actress Priya Kansara is breaking stereotypes in the English film industry

Written by: Team GI Youth

(April 25, 2023) Till early 2021, Priya Kansara was still working in healthcare communications for a pharmaceutical company, while nursing her childhood dream of becoming an actress someday on the side. The youngster became an overnight star after she appeared in season two of the period drama Bridgerton for Netflix as Miss Eaton. Her critically-acclaimed in the period drama was followed by another great performance in Netflix’s The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself. And quite recently, the young actress gave another stellar performance in the recently released British action-comedy film Polite Society from Nida Manzoor.

Actress | Priya Kansara | Global Indian

Referred to as the “Stars of Tomorrow” by Screen International, the British actress portrayed the part of a stunt woman in training and London schoolgirl Ria Khan, as she attempts to kidnap her older sister from her own wedding in Polite Society. “Ria is a character I would have waited for my entire career to play — it felt like she already resided in me,” the actress said in an interview, adding, “There were moments when I was playing Ria where I thought, ‘I wish I saw this growing up’.”

Chasing her dreams

As a young girl, Priya would quite often find herself staring at the TV at her home, mesmerised by the actors and actresses on screen. In fact, her passion for acting and dancing was ignited by watching Bollywood films with her mum. She started working on numerous commercials, television series, and independent films, however, despite her talent she wasn’t able to score a substantial role.

Priya played the part of Miss Eaton, in Netflix’s period drama, Bridgerton

Soon after earning a bachelor’s in science from the University College London, the youngster took up a job in the healthcare communications department of a global pharmaceutical company. Not losing faith in her dreams, Priya started attending night classes at the Identity School of Acting in London, which she continued for three years. It was quite a challenging period for the actress, who shared during various interviews that “keeping on track despite the failures” took a lot of strength. “It was nerve-wracking jumping into a career that you don’t know is going to work in your favour, but it was never a choice, it was just about timing. Acting is all I ever wanted to do,” the Global Indian said.

A scene from movie Polite Society

Encouraged by her friends and family the actress left her job in March 2021 and made it straight to an audition being held for season two of Bridgerton. While she didn’t have much hope, the actress stepped out of the audition venue after bagging an important role in the series about a few hours later. “People would say, ‘Maybe one day you’ll do something like Bridgerton.’ I felt very lucky for that to be the start,” said the actress.

A stellar journey

Though it was a small role, it was an impactful one – and having got the part after such a long wait, Priya put all her efforts into ensuring that her performance spoke volumes about her talent. And of course, it did. The young actress landed the role of Flo in Netflix’s The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself. The show got a positive review on the OTT platform, and again Priya was the talk of the town for her amazing performance. And that was the turning point for Priya.

The actress who was, till now, only getting character roles in various shows and movies, got a call one morning from the writer and director Nida Manzoor, who was quite impressed by her previous performances and insisted on casting Priya in her upcoming project. That afternoon, the actress found herself in Nida’s office where the two discussed the story and script of Polite Society. After a formal audition, the actress ended up securing the lead role of Ria, a teenage girl with aspirations to be a stuntwoman, who embarks on a heist to try to stop her sister from getting married.

“It felt like she (Ria) already resided in me,” the actress said during the premier of the movie, which was held at the Sundance Film Festival. Praising her performance, several media houses described her as a “delightful newcomer”. In fact, Nida referred to Priya as “the next Tom Cruise”, as she chose to do so many of her own stunts.

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Currently basking in the Los Angeles sun, the young actress is working through the many scripts being sent her way. “I would love to do things that are versatile and interesting and fresh, and grow as an actor,” she exclaimed when asked about her future plans.

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Published on 25, Apr 2023

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Bishal Dutta: Unearthing Indian American experiences and ghostly tales

(Aug 13, 2023) Indian-origin filmmaker Bishal Dutta boasts an impressive creative repertoire spanning diverse mediums, including short films, digital series, music videos, and broadcast commercials. His short film 'Life in Colour' gained recognition as an official selection at the American Pavilion’s Emerging Filmmaker Showcase during the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. With his cinematic accomplishments celebrated at nearly two dozen international film festivals - including esteemed events in Italy, Austria, and France, Bishal has secured six Best Director awards for his proficiency in both narrative and documentary filmmaking. Adding another milestone to his career, the US-based filmmaker marked his debut feature film 'It Lives Inside' with a world premiere at SXSW 2023, receiving rave reviews and an audience award. The horror movie, set to hit theatres in September, has ignited intrigue with its trailer. In an interview, Bishal shared, "Horror is the most expressive of all the genres." [caption id="attachment_32523" align="aligncenter" width="566"] Bishal Dutta[/caption] As both the director and writer of the film, he draws inspiration from a blend of sources. The twenty-six-year-old has included elements of Indian folklore, a ghost story that he heard from his grandfather, and his own Indian American background, to shape the film's thematic essence. Making an Indian

inspiration from a blend of sources. The twenty-six-year-old has included elements of Indian folklore, a ghost story that he heard from his grandfather, and his own Indian American background, to shape the film's thematic essence.

Making an Indian horror film in America

'It Lives Inside' is not solely about ghosts but also a reflection of the Indian American experience. The narrative revolves around Sam, a young girl of Indian American descent, navigating the challenge of harmonising her cultural identity with the dynamics of her peers. The plot takes a darker turn when her close friend, Tamira, falls under the sway of a Pishach (a mythological demonic spirit). "Making this movie was a surreal experience. I was fortunate to have incredible collaborators and partners throughout the entire process," the Global Indian revealed in an interview.

The filmmaker artfully incorporates elements of his upbringing and cultural heritage, including the unique superstitions prevalent in Indian society, into his debut feature. Through the horror genre's prowess, he makes his film a medium to establish cultural connections while highlighting the distinctive aspects that set cultures apart.

Among the film’s cast are actors such as Megan Suri from 'Never Have I Ever,' Betty Gabriel, known for her breakout role in 'Get Out,' and Indian Canadian actress Neeru Bajwa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5xUbuYHdi8

Inspired by his grandpa’s ghost story

In interviews, Bishal has credited the story idea to his grandfather, who used to narrate stories to him when he was a child. Many scenes of 'It Lives Inside' stem from his favourite ghost story, which was based on his grandfather's actual experiences. The tale involved encountering a young girl who carried a jar and appeared to converse with an unseen presence in it. Bishal reminisces, "This story was a favourite of mine growing up.”

The jar and other elements like eerie noises, the sound of a galloping horse, and other unsettling occurrences in the darkness of the night have all found a place in Bishal’s cinematic narrative.

As a filmmaker, he has used the concept of being influenced by an evil spirit to metaphorically depict inner turmoil. The Pishach embodies the inner conflict of Indian-origin teenagers growing up abroad. "They feel torn between their Indian culture and their new life in America," Bishal remarks.

The spirit symbolizes a hidden aspect of the protagonist Sam's identity that she conceals, mirroring her apprehension that being from a different culture might hinder her acceptance.

[caption id="attachment_32526" align="aligncenter" width="511"] Poster of 'It Lives Inside'[/caption]

Love for horror

“After I moved to North America from India at the age of four, a lot of my social education came from watching American horror films,” the filmmaker shared.

He watched his first horror movie ‘Terminator 1’ as a five-year-old. In it, I saw a guy’s heart getting ripped out in the first two minutes. That really stayed with me.” Later movies like ‘Alien’, ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’, ‘Poltergeist’ and ‘The Conjuring’ built his appetite for horror movies in his growing-up years.

Now as a horror filmmaker himself, Dutta even managed to scare his parents with his own film. “They watched the whole thing and now my dad doesn't go in the basement anymore when it's too dark. But it's a dual experience because while they're scared, this film in so many ways is so personal, and I think it meant a lot to them to see these moments that are really from our life.” Bishal shared adding, "It Lives Inside’ is a story about what happens when you change who you are to fit in. It makes you think while also giving you chills.”

The filmmaker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Media Studies from the University of California, Berkley.

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The grandmaster’s gambit: Chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa is making India proud

(May 18, 2022) The sooner we get the correct pronunciation of Praggnanandhaa (meaning delight of the intellect), the better it is; as we embark on the long journey of cheering and celebrating the achievements of the aptly-named chess prodigy who is all set to conquer the world in the war of checkmates. On February 21, 2022, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa defeated reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen in the Airthings Masters Rapid Chess Tournament. With this the 16-year-old from South India became a (difficult-to-pronounce) household name. The coveted ‘Grandmaster’ title; that Praggnanandhaa has earned, makes him the fifth youngest person in the world to achieve it, after Abhimanyu Mishra, Sergey Karjakin, Gukesh D, and Javokhir Sindarov. Setting the benchmark  Praggnanandhaa earned the title of FIDE Master at the age of 7, winning the World Youth Chess Championship Under-8 title in 2013. The champ went on to win the under-10 title in 2015.  The following year, 2016, marked another major milestone for the young prodigy, who became the youngest international master in history, at the age of 10 years, 10 months and 19 days. [embed]https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1495759508177571843?s=20&t=Cq4k2SIwGYWX5UKnNmasJg[/embed] Becoming a grandmaster requires winning three ‘norms’. Praggnanandhaa achieved his first norm at the World Junior Chess Championship in 2017, finishing fourth with

ship Under-8 title in 2013. The champ went on to win the under-10 title in 2015.  The following year, 2016, marked another major milestone for the young prodigy, who became the youngest international master in history, at the age of 10 years, 10 months and 19 days.

[embed]https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1495759508177571843?s=20&t=Cq4k2SIwGYWX5UKnNmasJg[/embed]

Becoming a grandmaster requires winning three ‘norms’. Praggnanandhaa achieved his first norm at the World Junior Chess Championship in 2017, finishing fourth with eight points. He gained his second norm at the Heraklion Fischer Memorial GM Norm tournament in Greece in April 2018. In June 2018 he achieved his third and final norm at the Gredine Open in Urtijëi, Italy at the age of just 12 years, 10 months, and 13 days. 

The discipline of champions

Always a call or text away is the iconic Viswanathan Anand, India’s first chess grandmaster and a five-time world chess champion. The prodigy is also associated with Anand’s Westbridge Anand Chess Academy.

“If I have a doubt, all I have to do is message him. It’s a very big opportunity for me to get guidance from him,” Praggnanandhaa mentions in a conversation with Global Indian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvXgXqfyV1k

His first coach, he says, was S Thyagarajan, who had already been training Praggnanandhaa’s sister. “GM RB Ramesh became my coach after that,” he says.

Life and the chessboard…

He's not the only genius in the family. By the time he was three-and-a-half, 'Pragg' would hang around watching his sister, female grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu play. Although chess was never a 'plan' per se, it seemed only natural that he would be drawn to the game. "It came to me naturally and became a part of my life," Praggnanandhaa says. The brother-sister grandmaster duo love discussing chess moves but their practice sessions remain separate. It hardly needs to be said that Praggnanandhaa rarely misses practice. “The duration might vary based on tournament schedules and exam timetables but I always manage to give it my time.”

[caption id="attachment_16788" align="aligncenter" width="779"] Praggnanandhaa with his mother, Nagalaksmi and sister, gradmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu[/caption]

Always by his side, especially as he travels for tournaments, is Praggnanandhaa’s mother, Nagalakshmi. His father, Rameshbabu, a banker at Tamil Nadu State Corporation Bank, takes care of all the details involved in managing the household’s two grandmasters. He finds support at school, today – he is a class 11 commerce student at Velammal in Chennai. “My school supports me immensely and allows me to take leave to play tournaments and practice,” he says. “I will spend this month studying as the 11^th standard board exams are in progress.”

Impressive journey...

Praggnanandhaa began traveling abroad for tournaments at the tender age of seven. "I have lost count," he says, pausing to think about it. "I have probably visited 30 countries." No matter where he goes, his focus remains unwavering, concentrating on one thing only – the game he is there to play. There is hardly time for trivialities like sightseeing. To emphasise this, Praggnanandhaa says, “My favourite place? Any place where the tournament went well becomes a good destination for me.”

[caption id="attachment_16794" align="aligncenter" width="891"] Photo courtesy: ChessBase India[/caption]

At 16, Praggnanandhaa has seen more of the world than most people will in a lifetime but is an undoubted homebody. He loves being home in India and whenever he has the time, likes to watch Tamil films. The typical boy-next-door in every other way, Praggnanandha loves Indian food more than any other cuisine and plays with one mission: To make his country proud. “I started playing tournaments when I was very young but there is lots more to achieve,” says the courteous and down-to-earth champion.

Follow Praggnanandhaa on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

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Prarthana Murugavel: First Indian woman racer to win gold at Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship

(January 21, 2024) Racer Prarthana Murugavel describes herself as “an ordinary person with an extraordinary dream.” Her achievements are anything but ordinary, however. All of 23, she is the first Indian female racer to win gold at the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship. An open-wheel 4W racer, Prarthana made the nation proud with her winning performance in the Karting Slalom category at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, back in October 2023. She clocked in a best of 52.350 seconds in the fourth round of the finals, after coming in first in the semi and quarter finals. Her journey in motorsports began in 2014, when she watched the 2014 Monaco Grand Prix. “I was in grade 9 and I watched the last ten laps of the race,” Prarthana Murugavel says, in an interview with Global Indian. The excitement, the speed and the precision captivated her and she began following the races closely over the years, finding an idol in Sebastian Vettel. Things took another turn in February 2021, when she attended her first training program with Momentum Motorsports. “I knew there was no looking back after this,” she recalls. [caption id="attachment_35363" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Racer Prarthana Murugavel[/caption] Striking Gold Prarthana took to

35363" align="aligncenter" width="655"] Racer Prarthana Murugavel[/caption]

Striking Gold

Prarthana took to the sport instantly. In 2021, she participated in a talent hunt by Ahura Racing, an all-women’s racing team, and came in second. That year, she also won the Best Rookie Trophy at the MRF MMSC FMSCI National Car Racing Championship (Round 2), came in fourth at the Driver Development Program conducted by Momentum Motorsports, and was recognized as the Most Promising Female Racer at the JK Tyre FMSCI National Car Racing Championship.

In 2023, Prarthana became the only female driver to compete in the Meco FMSCI National Karting Championship, 2023. She completed all five rounds, placing 13th out of 31 competitors. In 2023, however, she made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win Gold in the Karting Slalom Category and the first Indian woman to win Gold at an international/multinational motorsports event when she participated at the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship 2023, representing India. “I was so pleased when I managed to top the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals. On my last attempt in the finals, I set a time limit that was one second faster, winning me the gold medal.”

What’s the secret to her success? “You’re only as good as your last race. I believe there is always room for improvement,” she says, quoting Oprah Winfrey. There’s still a lot of room for improvement – “You can never stop and say I’m happy right here,” she says. “Consistency is of the utmost importance.” It led her to win the first karting slalom championship for India. “It was also extremely special to have had my first win in motorsport on an international platform,” she says.

Roller Coaster Ride

Her journey in motorsports has been a roller coaster ride, and she believes that it will continue to be so. The main challenge is holding her own in a male-dominated sport. “More often than not, I’m the only girl in a group of 25-30 drivers,” Prarthana says. That makes the competition even tougher, but it hasn’t been without its positives. “I have made some amazing memories and the best of friends along the way.” Among her most cherished memories are when she earned points and a rookie award in the first time she drove on a track and when she held the Indian flag at the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship and heard the Indian National Anthem play.

Her family has stood by her through it all, constantly believing in her and encouraging her. “It takes a lot to participate in a championship,” Prarthana admits. It requires travelling, attending practice sessions and going to race weekends. “If I can attribute all my success and strength to one individual, it’s my dad. He has been by my side since the beginning,” she smiles. “He’s my biggest pillar of emotional support. Whether it was celebrating victories or navigation challenges he has been a stable and understanding foundation for me. It’s only because of them am I able to overcome so many challenges.”

Training Hard

While motorsport may be mechanically assisted, physical training is just as important in this field. The importance of being physically fit can be easily underestimated here but it is as vital as in any other sport. Her training regimen comprises physical fitness (strength training, cardio, endurance), mental preparation (focus, reaction - reflex training), skill development (simulator training) and recovery (nutrition and rehabilitation).

She has to stay on top of her game physically, and make sure that she enters every competition at peak fitness levels. “I train five days a week, moving through a cycle, working on different areas,” she says. “Giving equal importance to all this is what helps me to be a better overall athlete,” she says.

Sporting Lessons

In a world that is so incredibly competitive, and in a sport that is primarily a male domain, one huge takeaway for her has to be mental toughness. Learning how to handle pressure, staying focused in challenging situations, managing stress, and most importantly learning how to shut all the negative comments out have been her biggest takeaways from her sport.

“I learned to be mentally tough, setbacks and failures are a part of the journey and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them,” Prarthana says. “Learning to bounce back, adapt, and maintain motivation in the face of adversity is something that I am still working on. I am sure there are many more lessons left to learn.”

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Balancing Act

As someone who understands the importance of maintaining a healthy work life balance, she enjoys watching films, tv shows, reading, baking, solving puzzles, and spending quality time with friends. She is an avid reader, a habit she began as a toddler – “I can’t fall asleep without reading at least one chapter from a book,” Prarthana remarks. “I also love glass painting, which I started by helping my mum when I was around 11. I now conduct workshops and teach glass painting to others. I have been wanting to try my hands on some macrame and crochet,” she says.

Looking ahead, in 2024 she is hoping to take part in more championships, including a few international events. Currently, she is in the process of looking for sponsors and is training to complete a full season in the F1600. She hopes to break a couple more records by becoming the first girl to win a race in that category. “I would also like to represent India in the FIA Motorsport Games 2024 that is happening in Spain. I aim to secure a seat in the Indian Racing League resulting in being one of six female drivers,” she signs off.

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Reading Time: 5 min

Sritej Padmanabhan’s algorithm can help diagnose Parkinson’s Disease

(January 25, 2023) When Sritej Padmanabhan's grandfather visited the family in the US, the teenager encountered, for the first time, the devastation caused by Parkinson's disease. A year later, at the age of 13, the North Allegheny student created an algorithm that can analyse videos of hand tremors and provide an accurate measure of tremor frequency to help diagnose Parkinson's disease, according to 3M. The teen innovator's algorithm landed him a spot in the top 10 finalists of the 3M Young Scientist Challenge in 2022. Lack of access to quality healthcare Parkinson's disease is a progressive disorder, which affects the nervous system and parts of the body controlled by nerves, causing uncontrollable movements and other symptoms that worsen with time. "Last year (2021) my grandpa was diagnosed with Parkinson's and I saw first how severe hand tremors can affect a person's ability to carry out daily tasks," the young Global Indian explained. "After research, I've learned that even in the United States, access to a qualified neurologist is a challenge for the rural population." [caption id="attachment_26882" align="aligncenter" width="344"] Sritej Padmanabhan[/caption] Although Sritej's grandfather was not lacking medical care back home in India, where he made frequent trips to his neurologist,

mage-26882" src="https://stage.globalindian.com/youth///wp-content/uploads/2023/01/sritej.jpg" alt="Sritej Padmanabhan | 3M Young Scientist" width="344" height="378" /> Sritej Padmanabhan[/caption]

Although Sritej's grandfather was not lacking medical care back home in India, where he made frequent trips to his neurologist, his symptoms went unmonitored during his two-month stay in the US. Eventually, he had to return to pay his doctor a visit. Sritej, who had known even as a child that he wanted to be in the medical field, either as a neurologist or neurosurgeon, decided to create a solution. He began his research, convinced that being able to measure and monitor hand tremors could play a pivotal role in enabling greater access to quality medical care, especially among rural and underserved populations.

The telehealth solution

"I had always wondered if there is a telehealth solution," he said, in an interview, adding that misdiagnosis is common and that rural folk can't always make the trip to see a doctor as often as is required.

Sritej Padmanabhan started out by analysing hand tremors using smartphones, videos and his computer. "I recorded 225 videos of simulated hand tremors from four family members," he says. He used Python and open-source software libraries, analysed and stored the videos and framed hand models. One platform, he found, could use machine learning to track finger movements. Sritej's algorithm uses the data from various platforms to calculate the frequency of the tremors. Users currently strap smartphones with devices called accelerometers to their wrists, which can measure vibration and movement.

[caption id="attachment_26881" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Sritej with other students from North Allegheny school who participated in the Broadcom Masters[/caption]

The 3M experience

In 2022, he decided to make an entry into the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, also motivated by the idea of being able to work with his mentor, a 3M scientist, over the summer.

The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is one of the most rigorous of its kind, with the top young talent competing for the $25,000 grand prize. "This year's finalists and honourable mention recipients feature outstanding innovations from young scientists, who submitted a one-to-two-minute video communicating a solution to an everyday problem in their community and the science behind their solution," according to 3M.

A Franklin Park resident, Sritej Padmanabhan is an avid participant in competitive robotics tournaments. He also enjoys chess and golf, saying, "Golfing involves an immense amount of focus and perseverance." Taking time out of his busy schedule, he makes the time to do community service, volunteering at local soup kitchens and visiting senior centers.

Reading Time: 4 mins

How Tanishq Joshi danced his way from Indore to LA

(October 28, 2022) A dance career came through a twist of fate, when Tanishq Joshi met with an accident in his hometown in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. It set in motion a new phase in Tanishq's life and since then, he has trained with choreographers like Devin Solomon, Samantha Caudle and Denzel Chisolm. In October 2022, Tanishq, or 'Taneesky', as he is known, became the first South Asian artiste to be signed by MSA (McDonalds/Selznick Associations). Now, the young dancer is among an elite group of global performers, including Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and Chris Brown, all of whom have worked with MSA. Taneesky is already a well-known name, both in India and abroad, as the Global Indian has quite a list of achievements to his credit. He grew up in India and went on to train extensively in New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. It has resulted in a unique style, a blend of western street techniques with Indian dance styles, that has allowed Tanishq to fit both with American and Indian audiences. Tanishq has performed as the lead dancer for Yo Yo Honey Singh and opened for the award-winning singer/rapper Pharrell Williams at the Something in the Water Music festival

pened for the award-winning singer/rapper Pharrell Williams at the Something in the Water Music festival in Virginia, before an audience of 100,000.

[caption id="attachment_23516" align="aligncenter" width="402"] Tanishq Joshi. Photo: Instagram[/caption]

From Indore to the United States

Growing up, Tanishq wanted to play soccer, like most boys his age. Although he showed a natural talent for dance, taking inspiration from Hritik Roshan and Ganesh Hegde to perform at school events, he never thought about it as a career. That changed when he was in the tenth grade. Tanishq was hit by a car, leaving him with multiple fractures in his left leg.

After a series of painful surgeries, which involved the insertion of metal rods and screws, Tanishq was put in an extended rehabilitation programme. "After a year of long recovery, I had been advised by the doctors to undergo physical therapy. Instead of signing up for a traditional physical therapy session, I joined a dance class in the area and that's where I discovered my passion for dance," Tanishq told VoyageLA. It was a slow, slow process. "In the beginning - and in a super-beginners'-level dance class, there was one step that took me three or four days to get," he told Dance Spirit.

A couple of years later, Tanishq moved to the United States to study Finance at Drexel University, where he had been awarded a full scholarship. "I even earned $25,000 from Live Mas Scholarship by the Taco Bell Foundation for showcasing my outstanding leadership in dance," he said.

Rising above challenges

Even with all the doors that had opened for him, life in the US was not easy. Tanishq devoted himself to training as much as possible, supporting himself with a 9 to 5, working at part-time gig as a barista in Starbucks and taking a full course load at university. It meant a packed schedule with half a dozen classes to attend, work hours till 10 pm and returning home to catch up with academics until midnight. Still, he would go out into the streets at night to freestyle, to choreograph and to learn.

Tanishq's hard work paid off when he was spotted by dance crew, Creative Reaction. Every weekend, he would hop on the bus from Philadelphia, where he lived, to New York city for classes on weekends. "My perseverance started paying off when I choreographed and danced for my team at World of Dance, Philadelphia and won second place," he said, in the interview with VoyageLA.

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However, his student visa prohibited him from working anywhere except the university itself. He was not allowed to earn money through dance. Instead, he hosted free classes, holding open sessions and putting out calls to dancers across the city. Tanishq wanted the dance circuit to know his name. And although his talent was appreciated, he was still stereotyped.

LA calling

When he arrived in LA, Tanishq had to deal with what is possibly another form of racism - the stereotype. "I was always seen as a good dancer 'for an Indian'," he says. "This notion bothered me until I started making this my strength." Instead of shunning his cultural heritage, Tanishq learned to lean into it. Now he teaches at some of LA's biggest dance studios but makes sure he fuses Bollywood music with Hip Hop or Popping.

"I'm challenging the stereotype in the baddest way I can," he remarks. "I'm proud to be an Indian and it runs through my veins." Indian he might be but Tanishq has found appeal among American audiences too, making a name for himself in the LA dance industries, starring in music videos and taking on other big projects. "I'm not just a really good dancer 'for an Indian'. I'm skilled and my craft speaks for itself. Period."

All this resulted in Tanishq developing a style that is uniquely his own. The boy who wanted to hide from the world - his culture, background, country and family - became his source of strength. He auditioned constantly for multiple agencies and failed to get into any. He learned then that it wasn't about skill, it was the fact that he wasn't 6'2, muscular black man. So, he leaned into who he was, rather than who he imagined himself to be and began dancing to Bollywood.

The entrepreneur

When he graduated from college, Tanishq decided to establish his own e-commerce business, Asha Creative, LLC, providing dance and choreography services to brands across platforms. The big brands came calling - "I worked as a choreographer and director for a social media ad campaign for Fanta," he said.

As his social media presence increased, Tanishq was invited to take classes and attend programmes around the world, including India, London and the Middle East. The pandemic hit around this time although he didn't let it get him down. "I trained at home and taught online via Zoom in multiple countries," he says. Tanishq's dance videos were reposted by superstars like Shakira, Missy Elliot and the Black-Eyed Peas. "I also became one of the first South Asians to teach at globally renowned dance studios like Tmilly TV, Snowglobe Perspective and the West Course Dance Theatre.

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