Our guest is the impeccable Indian-Australian actor Pallavi Sharda. Pallavi dreamt of acting in Hindi films and actually did it. In an industry laced with nepotism and favouritism, how did someone who was often the only brown girl in her dance class end up leading several Hindi films before turning global and working in movies and shows like Lion with Dev Patel and Gurinder Chadha’s Beecham House? We talk about breaking into both Indian and western film industries and how one can find their own place in a profession that can turn overnight. Is it exciting, or is it scary to work in Australia ..read more

Earlier this month, South Asian Today reported 13 Academic Fellows resigned from the University of Melbourne’s Australia India Institute alleging restricted academic freedom and raising concerns around the Institute’s approach toward research on matters of Hindu nationalism. There is also a strong indication of interference by the Indian High Commission in the Institute’s operations.  In May 2019, a public lecture by Thomas Blom Hansen on ‘violence’ was downgraded to an invite-only seminar. In a recent interview with The Wire, The Institute’s founding director Professor Amitabh Mattoo all ..read more

Our guest today Leeza Mangaldas, is one of India’s foremost sex educators. She wants us to imagine a world where all sexual experiences are consensual, safe, and pleasurable. We talk about the western gaze on sex in India, why cis-het men dominate the comment section of a sex educator, and how we should listen to our bodies.  Leeza's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leezamangaldas/ Become a coffee member and get early access to our podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/southasiantoday If you like our work, please buy us a coffee and rate our show.  Support the show ..read more

Our guest today is sex educator and gender justice activist Dr Varuna Srinivasan. Varuna is a bisexual South Asian woman who breaks down myths, stereotypes and shame around sexual health.  Varuna and I have a bunch of similarities which makes this episode really easy to listen to. We are both raised in India, both now migrated to the West and both consider ourselves “children of the internet”. We talk about how different it is to use the internet as people who literally got it in the first place, what is (un)sexy in talking about gender online as a woman and how important is financial an ..read more

In our sixth episode, we speak with feminist and filmmaker, Aman Kaleem, on what the idea of being a 'good girl' is, where feminism in India stands today and how do women fight the good fight.   Based in Delhi, Aman is the CEO of Kahaani Wale Infotech and is widely known for her campaign on gender issues, 'Acchi Ladki', which translates to 'Good girl'. Support the show ..read more

In the fifth episode of Roots with South Asian Today, we speak with Afghan journalist Ariana Abawe, who founded the first-ever print and digital magazine exclusively focused on Afghanistan, Ariana Magazine, in 2020. We dig deep into Afghan representation and what the magazine's purpose is. Visit www.southasiantoday.com.au for more global and progressive content.  Support the show ..read more

In the fourth episode of Roots with South Asian Today, we speak with Bangladeshi-American Muslim organiser and artist, Sharmin Hossain. Sharmin is the political director at Ambedkarite organisation, Equality Labs, and the co-founder of Bangladeshi Feminist Collective. We dig deep into US elections, Kamala Harris, Islamophobia among South Asians and how grassroots organising needs to grow now more than ever. Visit www.southasiantoday.com.au for more global and progressive content.  Support the show ..read more

In the third episode of Roots with South Asian Today, we speak with Kamani Sutra, a bearded genderqueer Drag artist. With roots in Hyderabad, India, Kamani is currently living and studying the States. The episode explores how drag has a personal family history for them and how they later embraced it. Visit www.southasiantoday.com.au for more global and progressive content. Support the show ..read more

Shamila Gopalan, one of Asia's top women leaders, pushes for more representation of women, specially from culturally diverse backgrounds, in the worlds of media and business. Currently the CEO of Australia based leadership firm, HerWit, she hails from Malaysia and has worked in countries like Singapore, USA and India. In the second episode of Roots with South Asian Today, Dilpreet Kaur Taggar speaks with Shamila Gopalan on what representation looks like for South Asian women in Australia today and how we can move the needle even further. Support the show ..read more

Shani Dhanda wanted to meet fellow Asian women in the UK and all she could find was Saree or Wedding shops. No events, spaces or get-togethers curated for the community. And so, she took one of the biggest financial risks of her life and self funded the Asian Woman Festival (AWF) - a one day festival comprising of panel talks, workshops, art exhibition and live performances.  Shani is also the founder of Asian Disability Network.  Let's know her a bit more and understand her motives behind these projects in the first ever episode of Roots with South Asian Today. Support the show ..read more