Profiles

Madhur Jaffrey, Always the Perfectionist

The chef, actor, and writer showed the West that Indian cooking was worthwhile and Indian women had bite. And she still has several projects up her sleeve.

Raymond Ablack is Heating Up

The actor started on ‘Degrassi’ and made fans swoon in ‘Ginny & Georgia,’ ‘Maid,’ and multiple rom-coms — but he’s still getting used to it.

Deepika Padukone is Ready to Build an Empire

The launch of 82°E, her self-described “self-care” brand, is only the start for the Bollywood superstar.

How Sabyasachi Found Himself

As a young designer at New York Fashion Week, Sabyasachi Mukherjee was told to go back to India. He returned to one of his favorite cities on his own terms.

Young the Giant is Changing the Face of Indie Rock

With album ‘American Bollywood,’ frontman Sameer Gadhia fuses Indian and American music, adding a new sound — and story — to a predominantly white space.

The Fierceness of Poorna Jagannathan

We talked to the star about starting her acting career in her 30s, playing fearless women, and why she almost said no to ‘Never Have I Ever.’

Alia Bhatt Refuses to Be Predictable

Critics dismissed her after her debut. Peers now call her the best actor in Bollywood. We chatted with the ‘Darlings’ star on how she pulls off powerful character-driven roles.

Nik Dodani is Making Hollywood His Own

Luck helped the actor and writer, known for ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ and ‘Atypical,’ break into Hollywood. But he’s not leaving the rest up to chance.

You Don’t Know Jay Sean

For two decades, the British artist had a carefully curated image. Then, he got on TikTok.

In Urvashi Vaid’s World, All Were Welcome

The Indian American LGBTQ activist fought for equality for all, and made queer South Asians feel seen, heard, and loved.

How Aditi Shah Built a Following By Teaching People to Be Still

Peloton’s only South Asian instructor is bringing yoga and meditation to the digital space while honoring their roots. And now, she’s Puma’s latest ambassador.

Simone Ashley on Who Gets to Be Seen as Sexy and Desirable

The Bridgerton star chats about shifting narratives, *that* haldi scene, and why she keeps her Kate Sharma-inspired playlist close to her chest.

Arooj Aftab Creates Music As if it Were a Living Thing

The Grammy-nominated artist leans into intuition, experimentation, and improvisation to make music that isn’t meant to be a quick hit, but something deeper.

Love is Blind’s Sita Aunty Shares Her Secret to a Successful Marriage

Shake’s mother, the dating reality show’s unlikely hero, explains her secret to a successful marriage (hint: it isn’t meeting someone on a reality show).

Charithra Chandran on the Bridgerton Moment that Made Her Tear Up

The 25-year-old British Tamil actor shares how the Regency-era show has accelerated inclusive casting, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, and more.

What Sarita Choudhury Wants You to Know About ‘And Just Like That’

The actor sat down to chat about her favorite scenes from the show, the Diwali episode, and how she never had a ‘Mississippi Masala’ for herself.

Indra Nooyi is an Optimist

We chatted with the former PepsiCo CEO about crypto, support structures for thriving families, how she came to love pizza, and much more.

How Fazlur Rahman Khan Engineered the Modern Skyscraper

The prolific Bangladeshi American structural engineer set the new standard for tall buildings all over the world, from Chicago’s Hancock Center to Dubai’s Burj Khalifa.

How Falu Created Two Grammy-Nominated Children’s Albums

Answers to her son’s questions about immigrant life led to ‘Falu’s Bazaar’ and ‘A Colorful World,’ which pay homage to the singer’s Indian and American roots.

Aasif Mandvi Wants You to See Him as an Actor, Not a Comedian

The actor, writer, and future director chats about playing Ben Shakir in “Evil,” becoming a father, and why you can’t put him in a box.

Artist, Feminist, Detective: How Shahzia Sikander Disrupts Art History

The Pakistani American artist and manuscript painting historian asks us: who gets to determine what is “tradition”?

Amrit Kaur of ‘Sex Lives’ Has Arrived, and She’s Not “Playing Around”

“I don't take it for granted that I'm lucky. But I have also worked a s*** ton.”

For The Great British Baking Show's Crystelle Pereira, Passion Means More Than Perfection

We sat down with the finalist to chat about focaccia, the one spice she can’t live without, why she didn’t kiss Mr. Spatula, and what’s next.

Bilal Baig's ‘Sort Of’ is a Love Letter to Brown, Queer, and Trans People

The queer, transfeminine playwright and performer is challenging the status quo with their latest CBC and HBO Max series — and not without a little bit of fear.

How Ajay Bhatt, Co-Inventor of the USB Port, Became a Rockstar

Twenty-five years ago, the universal port changed computing as we know it — but the inventors never profited. We interviewed him to find out why that was intentional.

In Poet Natasha Rao’s "Latitude," Nature is Sublime

The debut collection — winner of the First Book Prize — is a meditation of the natural world, full of “Krishna-skin skies” and “snow that melts to milk.”

Prateek Kuhad Isn’t Obsessed With Being “Different”

We spoke to the singer-songwriter, whose fans include Barack Obama, about what hasn’t changed with fame.

“An Icon, A Star, A Diva”: How Priyanka Made Drag History

We talked to the reigning queen of “Canada's Drag Race” about her drag, coming out to her dad via the show, sharing gowns with Priyanka Chopra, chicken nuggets, and changing the world.

“Femininity with a Bite”: Why Prabal Gurung Gets Political

The Nepali American fashion designer sat down to chat about dressing everyone from Kamala Harris to Deepika Padukone, why strong women inspire him, and the enduring fashion of 'Rangeela.'

Talking Shop with Ankiti Bose

The co-founder and CEO of Zilingo talks about her startup, sustainable supply chains, and of course, Sabyasachi.

How Riz Ahmed Stretches Culture

The multi-hyphenate actor and musician consistently produces the deep cuts when it comes to Brown culture and history — and, now, he’s creating for himself.

Pursuing Happiness with Ravi Patel

We interviewed the comedic actor to find out how entertainment became a Patel family affair.

The Love and Irreverence of Mira Nair

The director — whose films have launched careers, won international awards, and dazzled audiences with their earthy sensuality — looks back on four decades of “riling people up.”

Why We Love Sarita Choudhury

Nearly 30 years after her sizzling debut in “Mississippi Masala,” Choudhury plays the role of a mother in the latest Blumhouse horror flick with sensuality and aplomb.

Dating is a “Hot Mess,” Says Vyasar From Indian Matchmaking

The Texas college counselor argues that, while dating, people have only one job: be real.

Aparna Dishes Truths About “Indian Matchmaking”

The Houston lawyer shot to fame for her one-liners and brutal honesty — but she’s fine if you forget her in six months.

Behind the Scenes with “Indian Matchmaking” Creator Smriti Mundhra

The executive producer and filmmaker talks about the reactions to the first season and what’s next.

Ten Years of Dishoom

Co-founder Shamil Thakrar shares what it takes to build a food institution — deepen, don’t dilute.

The Evolution of Padma Lakshmi

Her latest show “Taste the Nation” is just the culmination of who she’s always been: an authentic food writer, history nerd, and steward of culture.

Pramila Jayapal Goes Against the Grain

The first Indian American woman in the U.S. House is not afraid to fight for progressive policies.

The Random, Solitary Path of Sumit Nagal

Pursuing a tennis singles career in India is a lonely, expensive, largely anonymous journey.

Alok V Menon and the Power of an Image

What does it take to celebrate one's highly contested body?

Amitav Ghosh, Weaver of International Tales

The writer — out with Gun Island, a novel about the impact of climate change via the lens of a 17th century Bengali folktale — shares his thoughts on dictionaries, migration, and technology.

Gurinder Chadha’s Supreme Reign

The prolific director talks about support systems, encouraging diversity, coming of age as an outsider, and her new feature film, Blinded by the Light.

Qasim Rashid’s Uphill Battle for State Senate

He’s running to be Virginia’s first Muslim American state senator. Death threats and Islamophobia can’t keep him down.

Julie Sahni is Doing Just Fine

New York’s — if not the country’s — preeminent cooking teacher has eschewed fame for a simpler cause: making Indian food accessible without dumbing it down.

Joy Crookes is Taking on the World

The Bangladeshi Irish singer, whose rich voice has been compared to that of Amy Winehouse, chats with us about compliments that are “too big,” writer's block, and London's best South Asian food.