isn’t the “norm” in a South Asian household and looked upon as an ‘’unstable” career choice. I had to make sure I was confident with my decision to want to work in this industry and not really care about exterior factors and what others think- as sometimes the South Asian community can be judgmental. Most people see the success, not the struggle.
Another challenge has been finding work that is gratifying to you and sometimes booking mainstream roles or jobs. As South Asian talent- we are still at a place in
Hollywood where more roles and opportunities need to be created for us, where we are looked at as talent and not just as South Asians!
a great thing to be able to bring authentic Bollywood Dancing to America. I have been dancing since I was 5 years old and trained in Jazz, Ballet, and Bharatnatyam (Indian classical dancing) and he had been working in Bollywood with celebrities on movies, stage shows, tours, etc. With both of our backgrounds, we thought it would give us the opportunity to share our expertise and talent with those interested in the Indian Culture – and how much closer could you get to Bollywood then with an actual trained choreographer and dancer from Mumbai, India. We founded Bollywood Step Dance, our dance company in Los Angeles. We teach dance classes at several locations and provide professional performances for stage shows, film, TV, weddings and events. We created a buzz in Hollywood with performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, the Hollywood Bowl, E! News, Cupcake Wars and much more!
Watching you on TV and listening to you on the radio, Tinseltown Talkies, you bring so much enthusiasm, what keeps you going when you are having rough day?
A shot of espresso and tequila! Just kidding. I just have this zest for life! Life is too short as it is…and there is so much I want to accomplish! The energy just keeps coming. I take rough days as a challenge and it actually creates more excitement for me. take rough days as a challenge and it actually creates more excitement for me.
Tell us a little about Bollywood Step Dance, how did you come about with the fabulous idea?
Dance is a universal language of movement that all of us can relate to. Over the years it has become even more popular with dance reality shows! At the time I met my husband Yogen Bhagat (on a Bollywood US Tour with HrithikRoshan) , we felt it would be a great thing Roshan) , we felt it would be a great thing to be able to bring authentic Bollywood Dancing to America. I
Rasha's Dance Company, Bollywood Step Dance