BY KALYANI VASAN
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - The popular LA staple Showbiz India Television program that aired for the first time in 1998 just turned 20 and the birthday celebrations were held at the posh Spice Affair restaurant here on Dec 1. Beaming with pride, Reshma Dordi the creator and lead anchor of the show recalled the journey of the two eventful decades-
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - The popular LA staple Showbiz India Television program that aired for the first time in 1998 just turned 20 and the birthday celebrations were held at the posh Spice Affair restaurant here on Dec 1. Beaming with pride, Reshma Dordi the creator and lead anchor of the show recalled the journey of the two eventful decades-
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“How can I describe my life and my journey with Showbiz India? The answer: fulfilling; I came here as a young girl from Jaipur with dreams of being on the radio and television and have realized that dream, thanks to many who have supported me, believe in me and view my program. We started off being an entertainment show but now we have also become a platform for creating awareness. While Bollywood celebrities such as Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor, among many others have brought a smile to our face, our conversations with leaders of change help us tackle deep topics. “
Showbiz India was recently approached by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to provide a platform to focus on mental health. Talking to India Journal exclusively Dordi said, “Our TV show has morphed into a community show that is now approached to spread social awareness. One such example is our recent interview with Nobel Peace Prize recipient Kailash Satyarthi whose film “The Price of Free,” showcases the sale of children. Hard hitting subjects like this are really close to my heart and I am fortunate enough to be able to talk about this on my show and reach an international audience. I am also on the board of Maitri, on organization that focuses on helping women help themselves. Maitri helps families from South Asia that have experienced domestic violence, abuse, or family conflict. We also featured the New York premier of the film ‘Sold” which showcases the trafficking of young girls. By continuing to
increase awareness of such social illnesses in the next 20 years my vision to leave a meaningful legacy will be fulfilled.”
A digital presentation of Showbiz India Television highlights showcased 20 years of its existence. Dordi also went down memory lane remembering the days when they had to individually record interviews on cassette tapes; this was followed by the age of the compact disc and DVDs’. Today’s digital technology makes broadcasting so technically as well as visually superior!
The recurring theme of the evening was that the South Asian diaspora has crossed the bridges we have built. In keeping with this theme Television and Hollywood star, Danny Pudi was honored with the Showbiz India Inspirational Actor of the Year Award. Pudi, a child of an Indian American father and a Polish mother has an impressive scope of work that includes television jingles, television and Hollywood movie roles. Pudi in his speech highlighted, “The power of film and television starts with representation and we now have a voice with the likes of Kal Penn, Mira Nair, and Mindy Kaling. However, the USC’s Annenberg’s Inclusion Study in 2017 found that of the top 100 films, 37 of them had no Asian speaking characters. So, I think we can do better. At the same time we need to keep in mind that the kind and quality of inclusion also matters. We need more South Asian actors, producers, directors and writers who can share our stories with the world. I knew from a young age that I always wanted to act and I encourage all youngsters who share the same dream to go for it.”
On another note, Alka Patel the 2018 Mrs. India USA title holder represented yet another inroad made-winning a beauty pageant organized by a main stream organization-Virgelia Productions. The evening also featured a fashion show of LA designer Rohini Bedi’s collections. Each of the models not only looked gorgeous but, also boasted amazing resumes.
Showbiz India was recently approached by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to provide a platform to focus on mental health. Talking to India Journal exclusively Dordi said, “Our TV show has morphed into a community show that is now approached to spread social awareness. One such example is our recent interview with Nobel Peace Prize recipient Kailash Satyarthi whose film “The Price of Free,” showcases the sale of children. Hard hitting subjects like this are really close to my heart and I am fortunate enough to be able to talk about this on my show and reach an international audience. I am also on the board of Maitri, on organization that focuses on helping women help themselves. Maitri helps families from South Asia that have experienced domestic violence, abuse, or family conflict. We also featured the New York premier of the film ‘Sold” which showcases the trafficking of young girls. By continuing to
increase awareness of such social illnesses in the next 20 years my vision to leave a meaningful legacy will be fulfilled.”
A digital presentation of Showbiz India Television highlights showcased 20 years of its existence. Dordi also went down memory lane remembering the days when they had to individually record interviews on cassette tapes; this was followed by the age of the compact disc and DVDs’. Today’s digital technology makes broadcasting so technically as well as visually superior!
The recurring theme of the evening was that the South Asian diaspora has crossed the bridges we have built. In keeping with this theme Television and Hollywood star, Danny Pudi was honored with the Showbiz India Inspirational Actor of the Year Award. Pudi, a child of an Indian American father and a Polish mother has an impressive scope of work that includes television jingles, television and Hollywood movie roles. Pudi in his speech highlighted, “The power of film and television starts with representation and we now have a voice with the likes of Kal Penn, Mira Nair, and Mindy Kaling. However, the USC’s Annenberg’s Inclusion Study in 2017 found that of the top 100 films, 37 of them had no Asian speaking characters. So, I think we can do better. At the same time we need to keep in mind that the kind and quality of inclusion also matters. We need more South Asian actors, producers, directors and writers who can share our stories with the world. I knew from a young age that I always wanted to act and I encourage all youngsters who share the same dream to go for it.”
On another note, Alka Patel the 2018 Mrs. India USA title holder represented yet another inroad made-winning a beauty pageant organized by a main stream organization-Virgelia Productions. The evening also featured a fashion show of LA designer Rohini Bedi’s collections. Each of the models not only looked gorgeous but, also boasted amazing resumes.
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