BG: Tell us a little bit about yourself – where you are from, your background, and what you do now?

My name is Mehmoona Mehmood, although everyone knows me as Moon! I am a Pakistani American, with an educational background in healthcare, research, and business. I studied at the University of Houston, and double majored in Biology and Sociology, with the intent to obtain my MD. Life thus far, has had a different plan.

While in high school and early college years, I had modeled for local designers and brands which later became my link into the world of media.  Media and Medicine are at very different ends of the career spectrum.  I am trying to maintain both – Clinical Research and run two Companies called Fluid Productions FluidiTee.

BG: You are involved in quite a few projects – FluidiTee, Fluid Productions, and some more. Can you tell us a little bit about how you started these projects and how you became interested in this area?

As I had mentioned, early on I was involved in modeling which became my link into media. I was approached by a group of friends here to model in a music video and also to star in a short film that was being produced, while I was in my last year of college. I thought, why not ! It’s my last year here, let me do these kind of projects while I still can. Little did I know, a couple of months later I was sitting with the same group of people, trying to lay down the blue print of Fluid Productions! From there, there was no looking back; we set out to make movies, commercials, infomercials, serials, etc. Very recently we made 2 very successful projects, one was an online series called Mookitab, Directed by Mr. Ubaid Seth, and another was an international airing on Express Entertainment Television in Pakistan called Teri Meri Dosti, Directed by Shahbaaz Anwerr. We are currently in pre-production for our next series and a feature film.

Once I saw Fluid was becoming a recognizable brand, I wanted to continue that brand, and look into the retail fashion market, but didn’t quite know how. Then one day, while sitting at a friends house sipping on come chai, we started speaking of what isn’t easily accessible in the market. One of those things was T shirts, which targeted the South Asian community. Instantly, I felt this would be prefect retail opportunity for Fluid to expand into, so we did just that, and FluidiTee was born. I put together a team brainstormed ideas and sayings that I felt would work with the target consumer and we were in production. Seeing the designs come to life from paper on our actual customers, was an amazing feeling.

BG: Where do the ideas for your creative shirts come from?

Inspiration for FluidiTee came from all avenues of daily life, from people, situations, politics, art, movies and much more.  We wanted to incorporate sarcasm, wit, and thought into fashion.  From “I run on DST (Desi Standard Time) to  wise words from Kareena Kapoor in Jab we Met “ Main Apni Favorite”, we’ve got you covered.

We kept two things in mind, one that it should be comfortable and make a statement with a few laughs to spare. We felt that t-shirts are a wearable message and a direct way for people to express themselves through words and art. Through t-shirts people can convey a message, loyalty to certain cultural groups, make political statements, or even their beliefs. Our designs are made from scratch by a team of graphic designers. Each shirt is handpicked from the color of the shirt to its material. The print quality is made to last.

BG: You’re putting together a massive talent show in Houston that features some of the best South Asian Talent. How has that experience been and what do you hope to get out of it?

Well, since we are in pre-production for our next series, Fluid was in need of new talent. I thought instead of going the traditional route of casting calls and going out and looking for talent, why don’t I let them come to me? Along with that, I saw other friends in the industry who were excelling in their respective genre of the arts and really making a mark, so I went ahead and took the initiative to bring everyone together on one platform.

So far, along with Fluid Productions and FluidiTee, we have UnMonde Music, Naach Houston, Neal Hamil Modeling Agency, Abiya Motifs, Poshak Houston, and Dr. Pavan Grover of Amit Films on board as Mentors and Judges. After having 3 rounds of rigorous auditions, we have scouted some amazing talent. Now until the show we will be working with these participants to help groom them and prepare them for their performance on stage for a chance to win scholarships from the associated companies. 

BG: What do you enjoy most about working within the South Asian community?

I think what I enjoy most is giving back to the community. Each South Asian American holds responsibility to their people to give something back to their community. I’m trying to do just that. I feel that people these days are always advising that politicians should “this” for betterment or our community leaders need to do “that”. I feel if every person felt that responsibility themselves and tried to do something about it, any which way they could regardless of big or little, we all collectively can most definitely make a difference. I believe everyone holds the ability; the difference comes in initiative, who takes it and who doesn’t.

In Mookitab and in Teri Meri Dosti we addressed issues that are affecting our community and brought them to light, while providing entertainment. With FluidiTee, people are able to wear a shirt that they can relate to and make a statement with a few laughs to spare. Lastly, with this talent show we will be able to see all the talent that our community holds. This I feel is just the beginning.

You can check out FluidiTee at http://www.fluiditee.net/.

The Oscar nominated movie Lagaan forever put Aamir Khan on our maps. It was his production company’s first movie and, boy, did he get it right. Since then he has become one of the most elusive and perplexing celebrities of Bollywood.  He avoids all award ceremonies and manages to stay under the radar for months at a time. We haven’t seen much of him since his small acting role in Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries) which was his wife, Kiran Rao’s, directorial debut in 2010. However, this past Sunday, Aamir Khan managed to push another boundary.

 SMJ Theme:

For months now, there are has been a lot of speculation surrounding Khan’s upcoming TV show. Until recently, it was unheard of for successful Bollywood movie-actors to return to TV. That was until the rise of reality TV which displayed a wide range of well known celebrities, from the likes of Amitabh Bachchan to Shilpa Shetty hosting some sort of reality show. Most assumed that Aamir Khan had decided to go the same way but he managed to stay true to his reputation and do the unexpected.

Satayamev Jayate (SMJ), which translates to Truth Alone Prevails, aired its first episode on Star World this past Sunday at 11 AM (IST). Khan started the show by saluting mothers and their undeniable love for their children. In all his humility and sincerity, he went on to touch on the most despicable of illnesses that Indian society faces today: Female Infanticide. Khan’s guests were everyday women that had been victims to these societal ailments and he didn’t shy away from shedding a tear or two for their adversities. It was painful and uncomfortable to watch. It was an hour and a half of soul awakening stories punctuated by statistics and scientific proof mentioned by Khan. In true Lagaan style, he ended his show by professing his love for his country and countrymen. He made sure to remind all that these problems were everyone’s and even showed how everyone could get involved right away. As the screen darkened, there was not a dry eye in all of India.

In a country where movie stars are treated like royalty, celebrities have long been used to endorse products and companies. Khan, in all his brilliance, has figured out the formula to apply his celebrity status to endorse morality. Depicting reality in a Bollywood movie has been a known ingredient for disaster at the box office, but SMJ manages to pull back the rug to expose the dirt that has been brushed under it. Stories regarding female infanticide and the skewed gender ratios in many parts of India have always been pushed aside for the hard hitting journalists to deal with. Khan has the nation not only talking about it but poised and ready to do something about it. It is only through educating and informing that change can be achieved and it is only fitting that the perfectionist of Bollywood is the one exposing the imperfections.

You can watch the full episode on SMJ’s official YouTube channel:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1vASMbEEQc

This past Friday, I had the great privilege of checking out a local production put together by the theater troupe Shunya. The Houston based group is one of the most active South Asian theater groups in the country and features some amazing talent. Through May 12th, Shunya will be showcasing Art, a humorous, sarcastic story centered around three best friends and an interesting piece of art.

I was able to catch opening night at the intimate Studio 101 and was immediately transported into a funny, relatable story. Imagine one day your best friend decides to buy a $200,000 all-white painting. She posts it up on her wall and begins to explain the details of the painting (it’s all white with a few grey lines upon close inspection), what attracts her to the artist, and how she dreams to take on the world of art collection. How would you react? Would you be shocked, angry, or supportive?

In Art, the friends of Serge (Prateek Karkal) react in very different ways. Marc (Asif Syani) is astounded and angered by Serge’s new purchase and quickly deems him as pretentious. Yvan (Karthik Chander), the third best friend, tries hard to be supportive of Marc and smooth over any tension that the piece of art my have caused. Even then, their 15 year friendship is in danger of quickly entangling on the basic premise of “do we have anything in common anymore?”

Though originally a French play, written by Yasmina Reza, I was surprised by how much I related to the characters and the story. My closest girlfriends and I are almost 10 years into our friendships and however close we may be, there are many times where I can easily see us drifting apart due to new passions, relationships, and travels. Art shows us friendships that struggle, yet survive in the midst of those changes.

I have lived in Houston most of my life and was disappointed to learn that Shunya was celebrating its tenth year, yet I had only heard of them recently! The actors were amazing and played their roles with enthusiasm and emotion. The play was wonderfully adapted and the location proved to be the perfect backdrop for the story. If you live in Houston, I highly encourage you to come out and see Art or watch a production by Shunya Theatre.

You can learn more about the production and the group on their website and facebook page.

Read the intro Brown Girl U: Mahila Facts

How many times have you blamed your latest acne break out on hormones? Or your irrational desire to cry over a restaurant not getting your order right?

Personally, I despise when a man tries to blame anything I do on my hormones but I’m usually more than ready to blame my own shortcomings to console myself. Hopefully, today you’ll learn exactly which hormones are active in your body and be able to blame the culprits by name.

It’s important for me to remind you that keeping track of your menstrual cycle is important. There are a few apps available that will help you do this. Using the calendar on your computer or your e-mail is also a good option.

A normal menstrual cycle is about 28 days long. A variation of 8 days is considered normal. Day 1 is marked by the first day of menstruation. Menstruation can last anywhere from 5-7 days. During this period all levels of hormones are low except for the Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH). While the uterus is busy with the excretion and shedding of its upper layers, the FSH is stimulating parts of the ovary that contain the eggs. Each of these tiny parts known as an ovarian follicle contains a single egg. Every woman is born with these follicles that become active upon reaching puberty.

Once menstruation ends, the Follicular Phase begins (also known as the Proliferative Phase). This can last anywhere from Day 5-7 to Day 12-13. The one follicle that has garnered the most attention from FSH prepares itself for ovulation. This dominant follicle continues to grow and can be called a Graafian Follicle. It begins to secrete Estradiol ,which is one of the kinds of estrogen present in our bodies (Yup, we do have a lot of it). This is a feel good hormone, you’ll probably feel more feminine and sexier during this time. Women also notice a mucus discharge during this time.

Towards the end of the Follicular Phase the high levels of Estradiol kick off the surge in Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and begins Ovulation. The LH surge lasts for about 48 hours and cause the maturation of the follicle and weakens its walls releasing the egg that promptly matures into the ovum. It is brushed into the fallopian tubes where it awaits fertilization for about a day as the Corpus Luteum.

The Luteal Phase (also known as the Secretory Phase) begins around Day 16 and occurs when the Corpus Luteum continues to grow after the end of Ovulation. It secretes high levels of Progesterone that is responsible for the increase in tissue and blood circulation in the topmost layer of the uterus known as the endometrium. This is done so that the egg will be well cushioned when it enters the uterus after being fertilized in the fallopian tubes in preparation for the following pregnancy. The Luteal Phase lasts about 14 days. If the Corpus Luteum is not fertilized, the luteum and the endometrial cushioning is destroyed and shed. It is removed from the body during menstruation.

Progesterone typically causes a sedative effect on the body. You are more likely to feel depressed and tired when these levels are high. This is also when you can expect PMS in full swing.

Different levels of hormones effect on everything from acne breakouts to hunger and cravings. Logging and keeping track of your menstrual cycle will help you understand yourself and anticipate changes. It will help you prepare yourself in advance and stock up on that Dutch Chocolate ice cream you love so much!

If you have questions or suggestions for topics you would like me to incorporate into future lessons, feel free to e-mail me at atiya.hasan@browngirlmagazine.com!

Images via: top, bottom, right

Sources: 1, 2

I’ve recently come to a conclusion that I might not be too proud to admit: I am addicted to all sorts of social media, whether it be the new timeline of Facebook, random Tweets on Twitter, or the recently bought, billion-dollar Instagram by Mark Zuckerberg. I am using all three 24/7! Not only do I love to stay connected with my friends and family, but also love to keep myself aware of all kinds of social, political, world, and entertainment news. Every morning I wake up to notifications, pictures, tweets, and posts of interest, and every night I sleep to the same bizarre world simply through the use of my phone, the Internet, and my fingertips.

It’s very easy to become engulfed by the never-ending updates and notifications, as well as, become too public for your own good. Regardless of my obsession of being in the midst of social haven, I have always kept my guard up about the kind of identity I portray on such sites. You can never be too cautious about the kinds of statuses and pictures you post or are tagged in because you never know who may be checking your wall or searching for your page. Not only do I bear in my mind of my daily activity, but also stay considerate of what I tag my friends and family in. Since, I am constantly the one to post or tag a picture from our night-out or check-in where and whom I am with, I always think twice before clicking enter.

As if we all aren’t already concerned with what strangers or our boss’s can see on our profiles, but now we have to keep a careful eye on what our aunties and uncles will see. Friend request from older family relatives is very common nowadays, especially from our parents. It can be challenging to stay parent-friendly, but the best approach is to keep your postings limited and add/accept those friends you actually have met. It may not always be acceptable to share every petty thought and rant as tweets, or post five-different statuses commenting on the various weather conditions throughout the day and take pictures of all the outfits you tried on. I know I am guilty of posting up more than I should at times, but I take into consideration that I may be of annoyance to others and could bring unwanted attention to my page. But, if you want a page where you can post and tag all day, create a private group with your friends, where you have the liberty to chat away. I am fortunate enough to share and brainstorm great ideas with my girls at Brown Girl Magazine on our private page all day!

With all the social media websites, especially Facebook, always updating their settings it’s highly imperative you continuously check your privacy settings. It’s very simple to make your tags private, and limit who can add you as a friend or message you. Facebook has advanced so much that you can control who sees what you are sharing by using the inline audience selector, which is custom setting on each individual post, and can be found as the small star shaped circle on the side of the box. This gives you the freedom to make lists of people you’d like to keep restricted from your timeline as opposed to your close friends. It allows you to select how public or limited you’d like a certain post. The new timeline setting also gives you the option to limit past posts from your pool of friends by clicking on Privacy Settings: Limit the Audience for past posts. Better yet, if you have ever wondered how your profile previews to a certain individual, go to Edit Profile at top right corner, then click view as, and simply type in the specific person’s name. To read more on how Facebook can help you keep your page more stranger/family/work friendly, click on Privacy Settings: How you Connect: Learn More.

And Instagram. Because, let’s face it – I probably would never have posted again if it weren’t for the awesome faux-hipster feeling that Instagram gives me. I mean, just look at that photo – the lighting…the coolness…the everything. Swoon. And yes, I am aware that I’m super behind on this technology but to that I say, Shut up, iPhone users.

Aside from my disgusting obsession with a non-tangible mobile phone app, it’s (nearly, kinda sorta) spring and as cliche as it sounds, prints (especially florals) are all over the place. In fact, the best use of floral pattern I’ve seen has been on pants. This is coming from the girl who took 6 months to buy a pair of non-denim colored jeans.

So click through, like some things, don’t like them. Doesn’t matter to me. I’m too busy Instagraming my life.

[Everything in the photo minus the shoes is from Target. I'm a bit of a groupie. Clockwise from top: Target watercolor dress, $20ish; Tucker for Target dress, also $20ish; Vera Wang for Target Shoes, let's say also $20ish; Jason Wu for Target skirt, $30 - oh yeah, I caved and bought one. It was on sale and I don't really have any commitment to my morals. Sue me].

Warehouse Drop Waist Floral Dress.  
I don’t have $100 for a dress – well, I could…if I stopped eating. But that’s not the point.  The point is that I don’t, but if I did, I’d buy this dress.  Flirty, feminine, and oh-so-20s.
Buy it here.

Asos Ankle Grazer Trouser.  
For some reason I’m only okay with the floral print in a trouser cut.  Don’t ever put it on a jean.
Buy It.

Cosano.  
Flowers in purse form.
By aldo. And on sale.

High-Low Floral Dress.  
The print is less severe then most.  And the high-low cut of the hem is (too?) on trend.
Forever 21.

Jarlo Bright Floral Dress.  
I love this dress.  And, more importantly, I love Asos.

Merona Women’s Long-Sleeve Front Tie Blouse.  
This would be great with a pencil skirt or jeans.  Go Target. (and yeah. It’s in a plus size)

River Island Tropical Floral Skirt.  
A uniquely awesome pencil skirt.
Buy it.

You can read more of Simerjeet’s fashion observations at her blog.

Masala Dosa with the Mosta by Chef Suzy

Ingredients for Masala Filling 

1 whole yellow onion diced 

3 whole Red Dried chili 

1/4 cup Channa dal  

1/4 cup Uris dal 

2 T mustard seeds 

1/8 T asafoetida  

2 whole green chili diced 

3 T chopped cilantro 

3 T Tumeric 

4 Cups  Water

2 T ginger diced

3 T Salt  

1 potato boiled and diced  

1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil  

Directions:

1)  Place a medium size pot on the stove on Medium/ High

2) Add diced green chili( feel free to add more if you like it spicy) , Ginger, Whole red Dried Chili, Channa Dal, Urid Dal, and mustard seeds.

3) Cook for 2 minutes then add chopped onions,  Salt, Asafoetida, tumeric.

4) Cook for another 5 minutes, stir occasionally 

5)Then add water and let that reduce by 1/3 

6) Add cooked diced potato and cilantro and get ready to stuff the Dosa!!! 

Ingredients for Dosa Batter 

1/4 cup Methi seeds 

1/4 cup Uris dal 

1/4 cup Basmati Rice

6 cups water  

 Directions:  

 1)Soak ingredients for Dosa batter in a deep pan with 3 cups of water overnight (Approx 8hrs)

2) Drain liquid from Dosa batter pan and place 2 cups of water and soaked Dosa batter ingredients into a pressure cooker.

3) Cook on high for 25 minutes until the lentils and rice have softened

4) Place in blender and add 1 cup of water. Blend until a paste is formed.

5) Place 1/2 cup of batter on a hot griddle or 1/4 cups in a sauté pan and thin out the batter until it is paper thin. Then add 1/2 cup or 1/4 cup of masala potato( depending on the amount of Dosa batter used) to the middle of the Dosa.

6) Fold the edges over until it covers the entire mix and flip. 

7) Cut into triangle pieces and serve with a garlic chutney.

Garlic Chutney 

 3 cloves of super finely diced garlic

1/4 cup ketchup

1/4 cup Water 

3 T Lemon juice

2 T sugar

1 T Champaigne Vinegar

1 T Salt

Directions:

 1) In a small pot on medium/ low heat place vinegar and garlic.  

2) After 2 minutes add salt,sugar, lemon juice, water, and ketchup.

3) Whisk for 3 minutes in medium low until 1/2 of the water has evaporated and serve!

When I called her for our interview, I was definitely nervous. This was my first interview with someone outside of the family. She is a celebrity chef! What would she be like? Would she think she’s too cool to talk a girl with a blog that is centered on her need to eat and survive? As soon as we said hello, I breathed a sigh of relief. If it’s at all possible, I could hear her smiling through the phone. Even though we are separated by hundreds of miles, Chef Suzy oozed a level of warmth and vivaciousness that made me feel immediately comfortable. I knew that this interview would be easy, because nothing is easier than just sitting down and chatting with a girlfriend on the phone.

Chef Suzy Singh was raised in the suburbs of Chicago and attended University of Illinois majoring in Bioengineering. After working hard in the world of Neural Engineering, Suzy decided to make the change and switch gears entirely. She left her stable job and went back to school, Le Cordon Bleu to be precise. Before she could even graduate, she managed to charm the producers of MasterChef (where the filmed the show) and earned a spot on season 2. With her tenacity, infectious smile and serious culinary skills, Chef Suzy went far in the competition impressing the judges. Now she is taking the Chicago food scene by storm with her samosa-centric food truck, the first South Asian food truck in Chicago. Check out my interview below to get to know Chef Suzy better!

 BG: The culinary world is a tough world that is only now becoming more diverse. How does it feel to be a female South Asian chef in a previously male dominated industry?

 CS: Well I have a background in engineering, which is also a male dominated industry. I found that I couldn’t fold into the pressures of the engineering world of culinary world. I had to stay true to myself in order to excel and come as far as I have. Also, we female chefs stick together and develop a sisterhood amongst ourselves.

Suzy competing in MasterChef

CS: I think if you are going to make a change, then you need to have a purpose. When you plan on doing something big, make sure you have researched it and it’s for you. Also remember you will have to sacrifice for your dream. When I decided to join Le Cordon Bleu, I had a mortgage to thing about and no one but myself to pay it. I did everything I could to make it happen.

BG:  After visiting your website, you seem to have quite a few projects in the pipeline, can you tell me about some of them?

CS: I do have a lot going on! Currently I am Creative Chef for Ashayna banquets. What I do is develop menus and recipes for them. I love combing Indian and American flavors to create a new type of cuisine. I also love using Indian beers. I am also the National Spokeswoman for Le Cordon Bleu. And of course, I have my food truck Suzy’s Samosas that can be found throughout Chicago, just go to my website and see where we will be each day!

BG:  With your booming food truck, what made you pick samosas as your product?

CS: I found myself inspired by Indian street food. I have always loved samosas and I wanted to introduce Chicago to a new way of having the samosa. My favorite is my butter chicken samosa, I just love butter chicken, I could eat it all the time.  I offer the traditional samosa, BBQ beef, nutella and create your own! 

BG: Who is your celebrity chef crush?

CS: My celebrity chef crush would have to be Graham Elliot. He is incredibly talented and working with him on MasterChef was a dream and an incredible learning experience.

BG: What is your favorite dish that your grandmother or mother makes that you will never get sick of, ever?

Suzy's Samosas - many delicious flavors now coming to a store near you.

CS: Actually it’s not from my grandmother or mom, but it’s from my dad. He’s an amazing cooking and I love his chana puri. I could eat it all the time. 

BG: What’s your favorite cuisine outside of Indian food?

CS: My time at Le Cordon Bleu definitely gave me an appreciation for French food, but I love Thai food. It’s so comforting and delicious, you just can’t go wrong!

BG: What advice do you have for individuals who are becoming acquainted with the cooking world?

CS: My suggestion is taking the MasterChef class with Le Cordon Bleu. This class is a great way of getting acquainted with the culinary world while picking up some valuable skills.

Update: Since BG spoke with Chef Suzy she has made some big changes to her line of samosas. Chef Suzy is now working with a national grocery store chain to bring her samosas around the country! With such a big change, Chef Suzy will now be closing down her food truck to take on this new endeavor in her culinary career! Keep an eye on her website http://www.suzysingh.com/ and her facebook to see when the truck will be roaming the streets of Chicago for the last time, and when you will be able to find her samosas in a store near you!

Art: A Tale of Three Friends, and One White Canvas

Watch as life’s stories unfold on stage—longtime friendships, family dynamics, professional successes and personal disappointments—as Shunya Theatre presents Art, a sardonic and witty comedy penned by renowned and award-winning French playwright, Yasmina Reza.  Three longtime male friends explore their friendship post college and present day adulthood as they approach their forties.  A modern art white on white painting serves as the catalyst and backdrop for age old questions of identity, acceptance, and the contours of defining and lasting friendships.  You will be mesmerized by Serge, the modernist and yearning new art collector;  Marc, the classicist and foe of pretension; and Yvan, the humanist and reconciler of all … and one white canvas—a white painting, five foot by four, with some faint, yet discernible fine white, diagonal lines.

Each bumbles along in this modern prism of success—each asks, ‘Am I who I believe myself to be, or am I actually who my friends view me to be?’  Will their fifteen year friendship survive?

Art is a classic comedic display of relationships in modern life—complete with biting wit, and sardonic humor. 

Yasmina Reza is a French playwright and actress, with Hungarian and Iranian roots, well known for her critically acclaimed play, God of Carnage.  Written in French and translated into English, it is to be directed by American director Diane K. Webb and will feature three local South Asian young professionals and volunteer actors. Art will be showcased at Studio 101 at Spring Street Studios (in Houston), by Shunya Theatre, a South-Asian non-profit theatre troupe.

Shunya Theatre is celebrating its tenth season providing a voice to the South Asian American experience through the visual and performing arts for Houston audiences.  “The theatre is shunya, or ‘empty’ until we come together as artists and patrons to bring it to life with our collective imagination. When you start with nothing, anything is possible.”

Art will be staged from May 4 through May 13, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and on Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.shunyatheatre.org, for $14, or for $18 at the door.  Sponsorship level tickets are also available online.

To learn more about the play and tickets visit the play’s facebook page and theaters website.

I discovered Akaash Singh the way I find most things these days: through Twitter. Writer Anand Giridharadas tweeted about seeing his show and I immediately emailed him to request an interview. I discovered he only lived one subway stop away from me in Brooklyn and I met the almost 28 year old Singh at my favorite coffee shop to discuss his burgeoning comedic career.

How did you get started in comedy?

I was pre-med all through college. [Singh was born and raised in Dallas.] I took the MCATs and took a year off after graduation to apply to medical school. During that year off, my two best friends [from high school and college, respectively] decided to move to LA. It was only because we went together that I [felt comfortable] pursuing comedy after only performing in school talent shows. My day job was as a salesman at Verizon Wireless, I was the worst.

I didn’t know anyone in comedy when I moved to LA. If you’re going to do this, you have to make sacrifices. When my friends were out partying, I was working.

I would watch my favorite comedy specials over and over again and memorize them. Comedy is a science, you have to study to figure out why things are funny.

How did your family feel about you becoming a comedian?

My mom said, ‘I would rather you know you can’t do it than wonder the rest of your life if you could.’ Her approval was all I needed. My dad basically said, ‘I think you are an idiot but I can’t stop you because you’re an adult.’

Eventually I worked my way up to bigger clubs. I moved to New York in 2008 because everyone told me “You get funny in New York, you get famous in LA.”

You talk a lot about racism in your act. 

I can’t not talk about racism. I feel in our culture, you’re either white or black. At times in my life I’ve been really white, other times I’ve been really black. I was made fun of for that. I’m just now trying to figure out where I’m from.

How does your family feel about your career now?

First I told my parents not to look me up, but my mom ended up seeing a clip of me online. She liked it and said she was glad because she had no idea what I was doing! Even my dad said I’ve gotten farther than he thought.

How do they feel about the language and topics in your act? I was a little shocked when I saw your show (see video below).

With a desi audience, I’m going to be more cautious. But I’m always going to cuss onstage.

What advice do you have for other South Asians who want to pursue nontraditional careers?

Listen to your parents. I admire people who are doing the traditional thing as much as they admire me. If I had the 4.0 and perfect score, I would be a doctor right now. If I knew how hard it was going to be, I don’t know if I would have done it. You have to be delusional to go into comedy.

———

The next day, Akaash emailed me to say he had been thinking about advice to give South Asian women in particular. His advice, edited for brevity: