Ali Nawaz Rahimoo | Umerkot

The beautiful land of Sindh has given birth to many talented individuals and Juman Darbadar was one of them.

In a small village near the dunes of Rohal Vai, close to Amrano in Thar, a child was born on May 12, 1944 in Saand family, who was named as Muhammad Juman. He would later be known across Sindh and India as Juman Darbadar, The Wanderer, which truly reflects his real life. He was also lovingly called Mama Juman Darbadar.

Juman completed his primary education locally and then passed his matriculation from the high school in Mirpur Khas. When he traveled to Mirpur Khas for the first time for his matriculation exam, his elder brother gave him three rupees for expenses. With those three rupees, Juman had to manage his travel, accommodation, and food. He took a bus to Mirpur Khas, where his classmates rented rooms in a hotel, but Juman had to spend his nights hungry and sleeping in a park.

Despite these hardships, Juman passed his matriculation exam with distinction. He was offered a primary teaching job, but a feudal lord suggested to his father that Juman should work as a clerk in the local government office instead of becoming a teacher. Later, persuaded by the feudal lord, Juman’s father handed him over to the feudal lord, who assigned him work at his bungalow. During his time there, an elderly man advised him to escape, warning him that feudal lords were cruel and oppressive. This awakening turned Juman into a rebel, instilling a deep hatred for feudalism and capitalism.

He returned to his village and later moved to Mirpur Khas, where he worked at a hotel. He also drove a tanga (horse-drawn carriage) in Hyderabad for eight months. During this time, the anti-One Unit movement was gaining momentum in Sindh, and Hyderabad became the center of these movements. Juman joined the movement and heard a speech by his school friend Abdul Wahid Arisar at Annie Besant Hall in Hyderabad. After reconnecting with Arisar, Juman abandoned his tanga business and moved to Umerkot, where he became actively involved in the Communist Party’s study circles.

Juman eventually became a nationalist and joined revolutionary movements. Along the way, he completed a six-month agriculture course in Mirpur Khas and a diploma in agriculture from Sakrand. He also developed an unrequited love for a woman, which inspired poetry that was later lost during the 1971 war. He dedicated his life to Sindh’s liberation and joined the Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM), traveling across villages and singing revolutionary songs to awaken people. His voice became a source of inspiration and joy for the masses.

Juman’s life took a significant turn when he performed his iconic poem ‘Wathi Har Har Janam Warbo’ (We will reborn again and again…) at the birthday celebration of nationalist leader G.M. Syed at his native village Sann. Moved to tears, G.M. Syed embraced Juman and praised his work, saying that such poetry assured him that Sindh’s youth would bring about its freedom and prosperity. For Juman, this recognition was more valuable than any prize.

Juman continued his struggle, participating in national movements and performing revolutionary songs in villages and towns. Despite his widespread popularity, he lived a humble life, often traveling on foot. His dedication to Sindh and G.M. Syed’s vision was unwavering. Even after G.M. Syed’s passing, Juman remained committed to the cause, writing and performing poetry that reflected his grief and love for his mentor.

Juman’s contribution to the nationalist movement included his unwavering efforts to unite the various factions of the Jeay Sindh movement. He never sought personal gain or positions of power, choosing instead to remain a humble and devoted worker for Sindh’s cause.

Due to cardiac arrest, he died on 20 October 2022. He was laid to rest in Ruhal Vai village Umerkot.

Read: Ustad Bukhari’s poetry inspires to continue fight for the rights of Sindh

______________________

The writer is based in Umerkot district of Sindh

The post Juman Darbadar – The Wanderer first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Vijay Ahuja

Hailing from Karachi, the capital city of Sindh province of Pakistan, and currently based in Bristol, UK Sanjay Gangwani is a blend of talent and determination—a chartered accountant by profession and a musician by passion. Though his academic and professional life revolved around numbers, his heart has always been in music. Recently, he made the brave decision to take a break from his successful corporate career and dive headfirst into his true calling: creating music.

Sanjay is a gifted musician with an innate gift for composition and storytelling through sound. He released his first original song in 2021 and since than in a span of less than 4 years he has created 12 original singles and released his debut album. His debut album, a Sindhi masterpiece, is a tribute to the timeless poetry of Shaikh Ayaz. This album highlights the spiritual beauty of Sindhi poetry and his ability to transform verses into soul-stirring melodies. The project not only showcases his respect for Sindhi culture and literature but also establishes him as a promising voice in the South Asian music scene.

As a lyricist, Sanjay crafts songs that are both personal and universal. The lyrics of many of his tracks such as Dil ko bharoon, Ek Udaasi and Khaali, reflect philosophical inquiry, often seeking to answer questions about love, grief, live and existence. His music explores themes of hope, despair, resilience, and purpose. With each melody and verse, he invites listeners on a journey of introspection, offering solace and inspiration through his art.  His recent single Aadha has particularly struck a chord with audiences. The song speaks about living life fully, cherishing and loving oneself, and embracing self-acceptance.

With his passion for music now leading the way, Sanjay envisions bridging the gap between traditional Sindhi poetry and modern music. He aims to bring the rich cultural heritage of Sindhi language and literature to a broader audience. Sanjay is an artist to watch, a dreamer who has dared to follow his heart.

Read: Renu Khilnani – A legendary lady’s journey from a singer to an educationist

___________________

The post Sanjay Gangwani – A Chartered Accountant by profession and a Singer and Musician by passion first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Sindh Courier

New Delhi

Pankaj Jeswani, a renowned singer, music composer, music director, lyricist, and live performer, passed away on Saturday in Delhi, India.

Hailing from a family of doctors, Pankaj Jeswani was born in Gwalior. Madhya Pradesh state of India. Pankaj was a highly educated artist, as after doing B.Sc. he passed L.L.B from Delhi University and then completed Sangeet Vishard, six-year degree course in classical music with top position from Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya. For his top position, he was honored with an award jointly by Sahitya Kala Parishad and Gandharva Vidyalaya.

Pankaj Jeswani was not only a live performer but he also sung a few films, serials, telefilms, and albums in Hindi, Sindhi, Punjabi and Urdu languages.

He sang Ghazals, Bhajans, Folk, and Sufi as well as Bollywood songs, specially the old songs, at equal ease. His performance was always highly appreciated by the audience.

Besides singing, Pankaj also wrote lyrics for films, serials, telefilms and albums besides ghazals and bhajans, and himself composed the music.

Pankaj served as Music Director in Films Division of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting since 1986. He also worked for NCERT as Music Director. He gave a number of musical performances in India and abroad on behalf of government, semi-government, private sector organizations, corporations and social organizations.

Pankaj won several awards including Sindhu Ratan Award by former Indian President Giani Zail Singh; Ram Hi Shyam Award from Bhajan Samrat Anup Jalota, Mukesh Memorial Award from Gulshan Kumar; Kishore Kumar Memorial Award; Muhammad Rafi Memorial Award; Delhi Government Award; Sahitya Kala Parishad Award; awards from Rotary and Lions Clubs; Best Singer and Music Composer Award and many more awards.

Pankaj Jeswani’s first album was released by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1989.

Pankaj was executive council member of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India, President (India) International Human Rights Association (United Nations), visiting professor of music at University of Media and Arts.

______________

The post Renowned Singer and Music Composer Pankaj Jeswani Passes Away first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Conversation with Nasir Aijaz

Born as Nirmala Sapru in Karachi on December 3, 1938, and later known as Renu Khilnani after her marriage to Ashok Khilnani, is settled in USA with her spouse for about six decades. She started her journey of life as a singer, earned fame in Indian film industry at a very young age, and then switched over the teaching profession after migration to USA. Ashok Khilnani is the youngest son of Manohar Das Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani. The Khilnani is a legendary dynasty of Bhiria city of Sindh province of Pakistan, who gave birth to a number of eminent educationists, scholars, social reformers, businessmen and the philanthropists. Manohar Das Khilnani, son of Rai Bahadur Dewan Kauromal Chandanmal Khilnani, was a scholar like his father and had migrated to India at the time of partition of Indian subcontinent. His son Ashok, born on March 28, 1931, worked as a Professional Engineer in Defense and received an award by NASA. Four years back, Renu and Ashok Khilnani lived in Granada Hills California but later shifted to Delray Beach Florida close to their sons Keith and Mark, as told a couple of days back by their nephew Mr. Vijay Khilnani, son of Naranjan Manohar Das Khilnani, who is settled in New Delhi India.

I had the opportunity to interview Renu Khilnani in August 2019 for a local Sindhi daily.    

It was August 16, 2019 that Mr. Prakash Khilnani, member of same dynasty, also settled in USA, shared the contact number of Madam Renu Khilnani, and very next day I left a detailed message on her WhatsApp number introducing myself.

“Namaskar Madam Renu Khilnani. I am Naseer Aijaz from Bhiria, Sindh the home town of Rai Bahadur Dewan Koromal Chandanmal Khilnani. I am journalist by profession and author of several books including one on history of Sahiti area in general and Bhiria city in particular. Now, I am writing on the Khilnanis of Bhiria. Mr. Prakash gave me your contact number. I am also in touch with Mr. Vijay, son of Naranjan Khilnani. Your husband Ashok had visited Bhiria in 1980s accompanied by my cousin Nisar Hafiz. I want to record your memoirs.”

To my great delight, Madam Renu Khilnani responded instantly despite such an old age and health issues. The conversation continued for some days on daily basis with one or two question answers a day.

Renu Khilnani wrote:

Namaskar Mr. Naseer, I am Renu Khilnani, Ashok’s wife. I was born in Karachi, my father’s name is Issardas Shamdas Sapru, son of a great Mukhi of his community called Bhagnaries. We had all come to Bombay during partition. Before I had left Karachi I was may be 9 years old.

Ashok was born in Sukkur, Sindh on March 28th, 1931 and I was born in Karachi on December 3, 1938.

Where did you live in Karachi before partition?

Renu Khilnani: I think, it was near Saddar. Bhagnarri community lived nearby. They owned many liquor shops around in Karachi. It is basically a very rich community with business attitude and aptitude. Also a very good looking people of community.

What about your education?

Renu Khilnani: Yes! I started school in Convents; my English was quite dominant. Then I went to Sindh Model High School with Dharamdas as my Principal. I used to give my Services at school for background singing for all the Dramas Functions every year.

Can you read and write Sindhi? Perso Arabic alphabet?

Renu Khilnani: I can read, write and sing very well in Sindhi. I can read, write and sing in Hindi. I can read some Urdu, and sing all the Gazals. Gulam Ali is my most favorite. He uses all the available Ragaas in his Gazals.

At what age and where did you start singing?

Renu Khilnani: I sang from Pakistan Radio (they called it). I was 9 years old. After that we came to Bombay. I sang in Bombay for good 13 years. All my training, achievements, popularity came during those years. Then my next phase of life is with Great Ashok in USA. I love it….

Do you remember location of Karachi radio at your time here? This radio station later called Radio Pakistan was established in Karachi Local Board building at Bandar Road. Was it the same building where you had sung the songs?

Renu Khilnani: Mr. Naseer, sorry I do not remember. My dad is not alive, otherwise he could refresh the whole events clearly. You could check both. Thanks.

According to Wikipedia, the Karachi had no radio station till 1948. If it is correct, it means you lived in Karachi even after creation of Pakistan and used to sing for Radio Pakistan and migrated to Bombay at some later stage. Radio Pakistan website also confirms that there was no radio station in Karachi before partition. According to report published by English Daily Dawn, initially a Sindh government broadcasting station was established from where Jinnah’s oath taking ceremony was aired in August 1947 but this radio station was shut by Pakistan government after ten days as provincial government was not allowed under the law to run a radio station. It was 14th Aug 1948 that Radio Pakistan was launched from Local Board building at Bandar road which is close to Saddar area. If it was called Radio Pakistan, then you must have migrated after partition?

Renu Khilnani: I do remember Bandar Road. I remember lots of stores of dry fruits, Supariwalas dukans (shops). They were all near my home and radio station was nearby. We migrated to Bombay in 1948.

I actually saw the violence from my balcony. Very scary. I also know, we were kept safe in this good looking building with 3/4 floors.

You are right. They may have called it Karachi Radio, after that we migrated to India. Then I sang from All India Radio (Aakashvanni) for 13 years. every month. (She said recalling the old days)

Did you ever visit Karachi or any other part of Sindh after partition?

Renu Khilnani: I did not visit Karachi again after partition.

Something about start of singing in Karachi?

Renu Khilnani: In Karachi, I went to fancy private school. My dad sheltered me a lot. He was always with me. Also, on stages, studios radio station. He played great harmonium with me. He was my Guru.

I sang Noorjahan’s songs from the Pakistan Radio.

Which song of Noor Jahan you used to sing at Radio in Karachi? And also please write some lines from the songs you sung in Bombay?

Renu Khilnani: Noorjahan songs – my favorites that made me famous. Lo chall deay wo hamko tassalie deay bagair; Bachpan ke yaad ghaaro, main tumko dhoondhti hoon, tum bhee mujhe pukaro.

Would you share your life story in Bombay as a singer?

Renu Khilnani: In Bombay I became very popular. My basic training was from my father, who was a musician (Sitar & Harmonium). He also hooked me with some Pandit for classical training. I was singing everywhere in Bombay – also, with Dada Ram Panjwani. I used to sing real gazals, classic Sindhi songs – Heer Ranjha, Moomal Raano (that no one could sing). I was asked to sing with Talat Mahmood in Sindhi movies -like Sassui Punnu. I did two duets with Talat Mahmood.

Also, Lolli Lall (movie Insaaf Kithe Aahe). This was all in 1959. I got contract to sing in Sindhi movies in summer of 1959. Lolli lall was playing on radio all the time. I had also sung on All India Radio Jantar Mantar (children program) for 12 years once a month. My official name on Radio and recording was Nirmala Sapru. In my child years I was known as Baby Nirmala – In Bombay Dada Panjwani adopted this name.

And what happened after that?

Renu Khilnani: I came to USA to get married to Ashok in Feb. 1960. He was an Engineer from VJTI University in Bombay. He came to USA for his further education at the University of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. I was about 22 years old. Very popular in Bombay, but my destiny card was with Ashok.

At Sindhi Station in Bombay, C.H Atma’s sister used to host a program. She invited me to sing when I visited Bombay in 1988. I sang Rano and Nangra Nimarrida with all the dhohiriyas.

Did you perform as actress in movies?

Renu Khilnani: I did not perform as an actress in any movie. I wanted to learn classical dancing also. I was refused by all the teachers. They all recommended not to as it would affect my Voice.

[During the conversation she also talked about confiscation of their property in Bombay after the demise of her grandfather]

Who confiscated the property of your parents?

Renu Khilnani: I have no memories of confiscation. Recently I heard, some of the wealth was legally taken by Municipality of Bombay, after my Buaa died.

Something about family life? 

Renu Khilnani: We have two sons. Older one lives in Miami FL. He is a teacher & his wife is a Psychologist (They have two kids, boy & girl). Our younger one is in Atlanta, GA. He is an Emergency Physician with his wife as a PA. (They have two kids, boy & a girl). I perused my Education in USA University. I have two Masters Degrees in Education, and Four Teaching Credentials. I taught as a lead teacher in Los Angeles for 30 years. I have retired now and live peacefully seeking Inner Peace with Ashok. We both believe in Pure Happiness & Inner Peace.

The glorious history is behind me now. I am only seeking higher levels of thinking. I am writing a Book. Purpose of Life.

[During our conversation I also shared PDF copy of my book on history of Bhiria that contained detailed chapters on Khilnani dynasty and the photos including that of Ashok Khilnani]  

Renu Khilnani: Ashok & I viewed the PDF. Your whole Book, looks great. Anytime, you visit USA, please come to L.A. & stay with us. Love to have you.

When I told her that during the search on YouTube I found her two songs – duet with Talat Mahmood, Renu Khilnani said: Wow!!! You are truly a workaholic. You are a legend in your community. Please visit USA.

Later after a few days, I also shared the copy of the interview published in a Sindhi daily.

Renu Khilnani: Mr. Naseer Aiiaz, I have viewed the article and I have also shared it with few of my close friends. They are quite pleased to know that my Fan Club continues to grow. I am very humbled by this extra attention. I have come to a point in life that Real Happiness is achieved by Inner Peace. I thank you for your efforts & applied Interest.

I thanked Madam Renu for appreciation and informed her that I had also shared this article with Vijay Khilnani in Delhi and several other Sindhis of Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Baroda.

Postscript

I delayed for a few days the release of the English version of conversation with Madam Renu and waited for a response to my two messages regarding her book, but perhaps because of the age factor she couldn’t reply. Madam Renu is now 85 and Sir Ashok Khilnani is 92. Sir Ashok had some hearing impairment even in 2019.I pray for their health.

_______________

Nasir Aijaz is a Karachi-based senior journalist and author of nine books on literature, language and history besides scores of articles on various topics. He can be reached at nasir.akhund1954@gmail.com

Mr. Vijay Khilnani from New Delhi was kind enough to provide photos of Madam Renu Khilnani. Photos of her two sons were taken from Facebook 

The post Renu Khilnani – A legendary lady’s journey from a singer to an educationist first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Monitoring Desk

Dechen Wangmo is a popular Bhutanese singer who has a large fan base on social media. Dechen Wangmo from Bumthang shares her passion as a musician.

She pursued Master’s Degree in Public Administration from University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii, USA. She has been on and off music-making since she has been a civil servant till date. “I hope to dedicate more time to music from now on,” she said.

Her versatile and passionate voice bedazzles listeners with Bhutanese Contemporary, Classical, Hymn, English, Tibetan and Nepali Songs.

Tell us about your first experience with music?

All of us grew up being exposed to some sort of melody. During those days, we never had access to music easily like now. Back then, we used to be exposed to recorded music and BBS radio. So, my encounter with music came by listening to a lot of Bhutanese songs on radio and I used to mimic some of the artists and I thought I could be a singer too. Sometimes, I used to be overwhelmed by singer Tshering Dorji, the Gawa Jigme singer. He used to have a huge influence on me.

Who inspired you to be a singer?

Having exposed to songs that I had access to when I was very young through radio and recorded songs really helped me to learn songs. I can’t specifically pin-point to any singer and say this person had a huge influence on me because every singer that I met personally has a common sort of passion or obsessive energy in them. I met a lot of singers and artists so all of these great people have some sort of influence on me and I find something special in them that I truly find relatable.

Do you face any difficulties while singing?

I was a civil servant for the last eight years and it has taken a lot of my focus time and my priority. I constantly exercise my vocal and I find it really challenge because when our mind is diverted to your profession which is other than singing, I always find myself a step backward.

How many collaborations have you done till date?

Regionally, I have done four collaborations such as Jalam Gi Azhi, Kelxangla, Ngesem Ngesem, Namsa Marpo and Yeshi Norbu Medley. They all began with the Himalayan music festival which I was privileged to be part of back in 2020. It was organized by brothers entertainment which is a Tibetan entertainment house based in south India. I had the privilege to be a part of the concert where I met the entire artists from Ladhak, Nepal, and Arunachal Pradesh. Being a Bhutanese artist, I felt like they had a special place for us in their hearts, our music, our culture, our people, so all of them were so welcoming and accepting. They even wanted to collaborate, although it was not convenient for them to visit Bhutan.

Which one is your favorite among the four?

I can’t choose my favorite among them because each of the collaborations had a unique and had their own charm. Each one has offered me a lot to learn.

Who would you most like to collaborate with in the future?

I would like to collaborate with Sanam Puri from India because he has a soulful voice and covered many old Bollywood songs. I would also like to collaborate with Arijit Singh. He got such a mellow voice. I know this is my farfetched dream but I really hope I get a chance to collaborate with them. I would also love to collaborate with Lizzo. He made the song “About damn Time.” That particular song had a huge impact on me and I want every woman who is going through some phase in their lives to listen to it.

What was the best advice that someone gave you?

Many senior artists advised me not to run after fifteen minutes of fame rather to focus in making songs that have positive message to the community. I never believed much in that advice since I could not relate much because I needed the recognition and fan base. But now, I come to realize that some songs don’t last because they don’t give much value as time goes trailing its relevancies.

Any message you want to pass on to aspiring musicians?

Don’t be completely obsessed with the songs that don’t last much, try to make songs that people will love to listen even after twenty or thirty years or even after you leave the world and try to incorporate meaningful messages in your songs.

__________________

Courtesy: Bhutan Today

The post Meet the Bhutanese Singer Dechen Wangmo first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Sindh Courier Monitoring Desk

Vinita Khilnani is an actor, comedian, improviser and singer based in Los Angeles, Ca. She also is a voice over actor with a library of voices/characters. She holds the title as 2018 Miss India North America and is using her platform to encourage other young diverse people to pursue their dreams.

You have probably seen Vinita in numerous Buzzfeed and Smile Squad videos as well as a few commercials for Toyota, Geico, Sunday Riley, Walmart and Chewy.com. She is known for her viral video titled, How Our Parents Used To Take Pictures” which she posted on TikTok and Instagram and absolutely took the internet by storm!

She has done musical theatre and performed on sketch and improve teams. She is a car enthusiast and huge animal lover. Vinita also pursued pop singing where she wrote her own songs and toured and also finished two master’s degrees in science. She is a recipient of the Groundlings Diversity Scholarship and performed with the Story Pirates. She was awarded Best Supporting Actress in a dark comedy “Dead To Me” in the Sweden Film Festival. She also spends her time as an Eco Hero, teaching kids in classrooms about helping the environment. You can also watch Vinita as Endario Zinn in the new Disney Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser Experience.

Vinita Khilnani is a regular host of Morning Octane, a premiere LA Cars and Coffee quarterly event.

Born and raised in South Pasadena, California, from a young age, Vinita loved family parties, because it provided her the opportunity to sing and host her own version of Jeopardy.  After completing her education, where she earned M.S. in Biology and Masters in Public Health, she decided to dedicate her life to the arts.  After signing a record deal and touring as a pop-singer, Vinita fell in love with Improvisational Comedy while studying at the Groundlings. She has written and performed on two all-female sketch teams, Stiletto Sketch and Butter and she is currently in production of a re-imagined version of The Jungle Book.

Vinita Khilnani began her professional acting career back in 2015. Following on from her first role, Vinita later made appearances in Film Femmes (2016), Boomers (2018), and Love at First Cousin (2018).

Vinita was born in 1994 to a Singaporean mother and Indian Sindhi father.

In an interview, in 2018, Vinita said, “I used to get bullied in middle school. People would always make fun of my skin color. I decided to use my uniqueness to be proud of who I am and where I came from. Growing up I was always told I had to become a doctor, because that’s what Indian people do. I was always the rebel of the family and wanted to pursue other things.”

Vinita believes laughter is the best medicine and feels everyone needs to lighten up a little and not be so stressed.

“I love making people laugh; that’s my passion,” she said.

Vinita also spends a lot of time giving back to the community. She sits on a board for the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra, whose mission is to bring music education back into the schools of underserved neighborhoods. They reach 4,500 students in the LA area, with a year-long program that integrates with and enhances students’ understanding of math, reading, science, history and creative writing. She also spends her time as president of a Cottage Guild, as they fundraise and volunteer with foster girls who are trying to get their lives back on track.

About taking up honor at the 2018 Miss India North America pageant in Los Angeles, Vinita said, “I feel proud that I won the pageant representing my Indian heritage and South Pasadena and I hope to encourage young women to participate because it will give them confidence and help them better themselves.”

After finishing school and ending her music career, she began two more projects simultaneously. Khilnani is a private tutor and test prep specialist and has a knack for comedy.

“I work with a lot of kids in the area helping them with their homework, especially science and math, and getting them ready for tests,” she said. “I love educating kids and providing them with a solid foundation.”

While hosting a car event for Rusnak in Pasadena, Khilnani met someone who got her involved with the Symphony Jazz Orchestra, of which she is now a board member.

“I believe there is a correlation between music and math and this allows me to use my background as a teacher and as a musician for the kids,” she said.

“I encourage my students to be aware of the environment,” she said. “I want to motivate them to do things that will help our planet.”

Khilnani won an award while attending SPHS for completing 1,600 hours of work at the L.A. Zoo. “I was obsessed with helping animals and I believe we need to continue to help protect them,” she said. “We are destroying much of their natural habitat.”

Khilnani is also part of the Rosemary Children’s Services in Pasadena, which is dedicated to helping get young girls’ lives back on track.

“We have a group of ladies and we go to homes and do activities with the teenage girls,” she said. “It’s a blessing to see these girls get better because many of them have had it rough. It makes me appreciate how lucky I was to be raised in South Pasadena.

“I love comedy and joined the Groundlings a few years ago where I can create my own characters,” she said. “At Groundlings, they concentrate on characters with the improv and I love that challenge of creating characters,” she said. Khilnani also joined the Upright Citizens Brigade to fully explore her comedic talent.

“I was doing comedy since I was a child and I grew up watching ‘I Love Lucy,’” she said. “Lucille Ball used everyday situations and made them funny. It was all about character in her show.”

Khilnani believes laughter is the best medicine and feels everyone needs to lighten up a little and not be so stressed. “I love making people laugh, that’s my passion,” she said.

“There are a lot of unhappy people in this world and I just want to make people laugh,” she said.

“I’m really torn between science and entertainment and what to do about all these interests,” she said. “There are so many things that I can do and I want to do it all.”

__________________

Courtesy: South Pasadena Review, Urban Asian, Vinita Khilnani, Carsyeah, Celebs, Circle of Cricket.  

The post Vinita Khilnani, an American Actor, Comedian and Singer first appeared on Sindh Courier.