Laugh out Loud with Maz Jobrani

Maz Jobrani is one of the original Iranian comedians who made it mainstream. Earlier this year, the actor and comedian was invited to speak at The White House and received a big hug from Michelle Obama. He also performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. On a Middle East tour, the King of Jordan came to see him perform. That should give you an idea of his mass appeal. Born in Iran, Maz moved to the United States aged six at the time of the Iranian Revolution. The self-proclaimed "bald and beautiful" Iranian-American star act has his stand up rooted in multiculturalism and has spent the better part of last two decades using his platform to try and break stereotypes on race and religion. He has played character roles on television's Grey's Anatomy and True Blood as well as films like The Interpretor, breaking through where most ethnic actors have struggled. He's an LA Times bestselling author of I'm not a terrorist but I've played one on TV. His choice of book cover, him wearing a  turban and holding a bomb, cleverly illustrates the stereotyping every Muslim and Muslim-looking person faces in the world today. After being offered one too many terrorist parts in the acting world, Maz decided he wouldn't give into the stereotype anymore. His perseverance earned him the more universal acting roles of father and doctor.

Maz and his wife at the White House

Maz doesn't have the typical celebrity rags to riches story. His father was a self made millionaire who dropped him off to school in a Rolls Royce in an affluent neighborhood in California where understated Saabs and Volvos were the norm, much to his embarrassment. He has an undergrad in political science, not surprising given the politically infused stand up he delivers. His stance on multiculturalism extends to his personal life - his wife's Indian:) The man is representing! Intrigued? Read my exclusive interview with the funny man himself ..

How was the comedy scene when you started off?

I started in Los Angeles in 1998. Back then there was a good comedy scene, but the Comedy Store, which is my home club, was kind of in its dark ages. When you first start though, that doesn't phase you. I would just get up anywhere I could - comedy clubs, bars, church basements, coffee shops, strip clubs, etc. Anywhere someone was organizing a show I would get up. It was fun to do and you learned a lot doing those shows. I have always tried to get up about 5-10 times a week and back then I would do as many sets as I could in LA.

Your comedy uncovers some sensitive truths about different cultures and religions. What makes you fearless?

Well, I talk about my own experiences. I also feel that we have a lot more in common than some politicians would want us to admit. So I don't think it's fearless to talk about your own experience and point of view. It's the only thing I can talk about. Often, I have different cultures and countries represented in my audience so that makes it natural that I would talk about them. I have also traveled a lot so I find myself making observations everywhere I go. The honest truth is that I don't talk down about anybody so I feel like my shows are pretty inclusive.

Maz on TED Global

How do you keep material fresh? What inspires you?

You just have to keep writing. I have now done 3 solo standup specials that were about 1 hour in length each as well as my first special with the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour where I performed about 20 minutes. That means I've written at least 3 hours and 20 minutes of material over these past 18 years. I am now getting ready to do my next hour so that would get me to 4 hours and 20 minutes. Then there's the material that I never put on a special or the stuff that I might riff. So over all of these years I have several hours of material and I keep writing. As you evolve as a human being you have other subjects you want to talk about so that keeps me going. Currently there is a lot of material with Trump. Also, I have young kids who give me new material every day!

What's the biggest compliment and criticism you've heard?

I try not to believe the hype and I try not to listen to the criticisms. I know I'm good at what I do and a big part of that is that I've put in the work. Sometimes I have great nights and sometimes I bomb on stage, but I know that I will be up again the following night and it will be a different experience.

What's life like on the road?

People think that life on the road is exciting, but it can get old fast. I love doing standup, but given that I've got a young family it's hard for me to be away from them too long. I tend to get on the road, get as much rest as I can at the hotel and then have some kick ass shows. These days I'm on the first flight back whenever I can do that so that I can spend time with my kids. They grow up fast and I don't want to miss their childhoods.

What advice would you give a starter on the business of comedy?

It's pretty simple - just get on stage as much as you can (at least 5-10 times a week) and write, write, write!

Does Hollywood today have scope for great roles for ethnic actors?

I think it's changing a little bit. We have people from different backgrounds now producing shows and writing on them. There's Aziz Ansari's "Master of None" which is a show about a Muslim Indian. They don't really delve into that much and they don't need to. He's just a regular guy with immigrant parents. There's other shows out there that try to show Middle Easterners and people from the east in a different way than we've been used to seeing them. I think that as America becomes more diverse it's inevitable that our TV will too.

Want do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

I just try to be a good person. I think that's my greatest achievement. We have so many difficulties in life and so much sadness that if I can just be nice and good to people then I'm achieving what I want to achieve in life.

Is there a darker side to comedians? Robin Williams comes to mind.

Sure, but that's the case for anyone in any profession. The difference is that we are used to seeing comedians only be funny and only make us laugh. But comedians are humans like anyone else so we're going to have the more stable ones and some who have psychological issues. It is very sad when we see our public heroes fall. Robin Williams dying was a big hit to the comedy community!

What does Maz Jobrani do for fun?

I love to play soccer and will keep doing so until my knees tell me to take a seat. I enjoy watching movies and TV shows with my wife. I love hanging out with my kids and nephew. It's really fun!

What's next?

My movie Jimmy Vestvood; Amerikan Hero is available online so I continue to promote that. I hope to make a sequel as well. I'm also working on a new CBS sitcom called Superior Donuts which will premiere in the U.S. in early February.

An Iranian and a Pakistani meet for chai and jujeh kebabs. What do they talk about?

India.

Follow Maz Jobrani on Facebook and on Twitter @MazJobrani

Urban Pakistan's Shaping Up

As a Pakistani who hasn't lived in Pakistan since her pre-teen years, I have keenly observed developments in city life on my visits home to Karachi. In the past five years, my outsider gaze has seen a burst of health and fitness in urban Pakistan - a delightfully positive and necessary progression. I'll be presumptuous in saying that Pakistani food is the most divine food you'll ever taste and it could challenge an international Michelin star restaurant any day. Alas, as with all things that seem too good to be true, a typical Pakistani dish is carb heavy. With hot breakfast and carb filled lunches and dinners, you're looking at a practically all-carb diet that's an integral part of our culture. Add driving as the norm and you can forget about FitBit's recommended 10,000 steps. Or maybe not ...

Zainab is the face of the modern, fitter Pakistani woman. Yes, she's a mother and a domestic goddess, but she's also an advocate for female empowerment and just turned her passion for health and fitness into a business. She calls Impact Studio her baby, an endeavour she's sharing with her business partner and childhood friend,  Nida. Unlike larger fitness clubs and chains, Impact Studio gets to know each client personally to understand their motivation. The studio offers yoga, training and Pilates six days a week. It's ongoing program caters to any fitness level. Zainab finds art in fitness and considers exercise and yoga "therapeutic".  She enjoys the connection with each client and being able to help them through their personal journey. Impact Studio isn't succumbing to the societal pressures of being skinny; instead,  it endeavours to strengthen the mind, body and spirit.

Zainab Muhammad Jamal

Nida shares this sentiment - "For me, a healthy lifestyle is the only lifestyle. It's a choice you make every day to treat your body with respect.  It's about finding inner peace and balance in your life. I went from being a chubby kid and a yo-yo adult dieter to the realization that it wasn't sustainable. I needed to take charge and that's how I fell in love with fitness. Helping other women through fitness became my mission. Luckily, I have a childhood friend who's just as passionate about fitness". 

Our discussion on health and fitness made me wonder why it took Pakistan so long to get here. Zainab hit the nail on the head when she reminded me that we always had Jane Fonda home videos and wanted to be fitter but just didn’t know how to get there. A certain awareness was lacking. I was taken back to my own childhood in Pakistan when my mother would take us to the park in the evenings for a very brisk walk. I remember having to run just to keep up. She also had a Jane Fonda video which I watched with much amusement. I realize now that I was actually supposed to work out to it. Zainab also spoke of the sedimentary lifestyles of Pakistanis and discovered on a recent holiday in Turkey how liberating getting around on foot can be -  “Walking is denied to us here", she told me.

Here's what Nida had to say about Pakistan's boom in fitness -"Starvation and extreme dieting is finally transforming into healthy eating and physical activity. Women are opening up to challenging their bodies. They've moved from short term goals like looking their best for a wedding or party to incorporating healthy living in their lifestyle". 

 

I wanted to learn about the challenges, if any, of starting a business in Pakistan as a woman. Yes, the country has evolved by light years but it isn't yet up to par with the West. I was pleased to hear from Zainab that “Karachi and Pakistan are progressive; people have been doing great things already and been successful at them. [She] was inspired by them”. And how does she achieve that nirvana work-life balance? I know, I know, men are never asked the question of juggling home and work but let’s face it, it’s because they really don't have all that much to juggle. No matter how progressive we become, roles will always be predominately traditional in Pakistani culture. As with most working mums, Zainab has learned how to compartmentalize.  “I wake up very early to drop off my six-year old son to school. Then I teach and also train myself. I spend the afternoon at home with family. I alternate evening slots with Nida and share the morning classes as well."

What advice do these fab entrepreneurs who've got it all figured out have for the fitness hopefuls out there? 

Zainab shared these words of wisdom - "Eating healthy saves you from problems in life. What you eat is what your mind thinks. There's less likelihood of depression. You are in control of your own thoughts".
 
I guess it's time to dust off that Jane Fonda home video! For the Karachiites out there, make sure to get in touch with these fabulous ladies on theimpactway@gmail.com.

Nida Shahbazker

Stepping up in Saudi Arabia

I met Khadija in Zumba class. As an amateur dancer myself, I could tell that she had more rhythm in her steps than the rest of us, as do all good dancers who make the steps you put every creative cell in your body to realize look like a walk in the park. We got to chatting and within five minutes of speaking to this friendly Saudi girl, I knew I wanted to know more about her. It could be because I was born in Saudi Arabia and drawn to people and stories from the land which despite all the news stories and books, remains a bit of an enigma. Khadija was returning home the next week and we decided we’d stay in touch.

Keeping in touch was slightly different than I had imagined. Turns out calling the way you and I take for granted isn’t permitted in Saudi Arabia - Whatsapp, Facetime, Skype and Viber – we tried it all! After getting past the logistics of setting up a catch up, it was time to get to know this chica a little better who by the way is an ultra-focused medicine intern when she’s not travelling the world following her passion for dance. 

Khadija told me what dance really means to her - “Dancing is a way of expressing feeling. It’s my first language. Dancing is sharing”. Reading all the stories one does about Saudi Arabia, I wondered if as a female she faced much resistance in her choice to travel the world solo. Khadija frequently joins dance festivals and dance summer camps. Fortunately, her parents are liberal and while her mother was easier to persuade, her father took a little bit of convincing. “Their main concern was me travelling alone”, she shared. I was happy to hear this, coming from a protective family myself where the biggest concern was boys, especially as Islam instills the notion in us from birth that we must dress modestly as apparently, men have no self-control and will pounce at any given opportunity.

As smooth as Khadija’s journey to the dancing world may sound, I think it's an incredible opportunity for anyone to pursue their dream regardless. I asked Khadija if she thought she could change perceptions of dance in Saudi Arabia. If a 24-year-old girl managed to do in Saudi what I wasn’t allowed to do in Holland at her age, something tells me her drive and powers of persuasion could impact an otherwise conservative culture. Her own dance classes are attended by women from the teens to the forties. She told me, “Saudis aren’t aware of the dance culture. It’s not just about moving your body, dancing is an art and a community. Women come to class and let go of their insecurities about body image. I believe everyone has a dancer in them”. There’s hope still Naveen!

While Khadija is an inspiration to many of her students, I wanted to know who inspired her in the dancing world. She said “there are hundreds of them” before giving me a great insight into the various dancers she’s met on her travels, most of whom she has already had the opportunity to meet at Fair Play Dance Camp in Krakow, Poland. She mentioned Kevin Paradox, a Dutch dancer who taught her that “dance is about connecting with other people and feeling the flow and groove”. Then there’s Shaun Evaristo based in LA. “When he dances he’s meditating at the same time. He’s simply human”, she said. Another one she met was French dancer Laure Courtellemont who Khadija describes as “real and raw and embraces her femininity”. Then there’s Spider Salah, another French-Moroccan dancer who she finds inspiring being a Muslim dancer herself. She’s drawn to his humble personality. Finally, she met Keoni and Mari, a couple from San Diego. “When they dance they’re one body and one soul”, she told me. Listening to Khadija speak about these dance gurus, I could hear her passion for dance ran deep.

I mentioned earlier that Khadija studied medicine. She’s already in her sixth year at Al Faisal University in Riyadh. Currently, she’s on placement working in emergency departments at King Saud Medical City as part of the sixteen shifts she needs to complete. She’s also teaching at Glow Fit fitness centre in the evenings. Dance helped her realize that she can help people in many different ways. Perhaps she’ll find a way to combine medicine and dancing one day.

Learning about dance is always interesting to me, but I needed to know more about life for women in Saudi, stereotypes surrounding it and what freedom means to her. Khadija told me that the biggest misconception about Saudi women is that they don’t have the freedom to do the things they want to do. “Women today are starting their own businesses. Another misconception is that women are mistreated and oppressed”, she shared. She’s right. I have to admit that I’ve always had that impression myself. Khadija said something so beautiful here that I had to go to a yoga retreat to get some clarity myself - “Freedom is a state of mind. If you’re not free on the inside, all the outer freedom couldn’t help. If you’re not comfortable with who you are and afraid to express emotions, thoughts and ideas – you’re not a free person”.

Growing up as the only female among her siblings, she felt no difference in their upbringing. In fact, her parents’ love marriage was nontraditional and a mixed race one at that. They met at a hospital where her father was a professor teaching and her mother was presenting her research. Her mother is her biggest supporter, affording her opportunities to be as independent as she is. She added that she has never felt stereotyped, though she often surprises people when she tells them where she’s from. “They don’t expect to see you there”, she said speaking of Amsterdam’s popular dance club, Paradiso. The social scene is a little different in Saudi, where similar to Pakistan, gatherings at friends and family homes is more common.

I couldn’t end the conversation without getting some travel tips from Khadija. Here’s what you absolutely have to do - Watch the sunrise and sunset at Edge of the World, eat traditional Saudi food like Kabsa, Jareesh and Markook and make sure to visit the Al Mamlaka and Al Faisaliah towers!

Bollywood Hungamming with Faridoon

My first Bollywood experience was Amitabh Bachchan's Mard. Funnily enough, a German family friend introduced me to Bollywood at the age of eight on a summer holiday in Munich. There was no turning back from here. Watching Bollywood movies is how I spent most of my weekends as a child, much to my mother's disapproval. Apparently, Bollywood doesn't count as an "extracurricular activity". I took a break from Bollywood when the pressures of hectic school curricula took over. This was the era of bad cinema with shabby dialogues and vulgar choreography. I wasn't missing out. Towards the end of my student days, I found myself in Bournemouth for a year and discovered that my local newsagent sold Bollywood VCDs (Note: these are not legit DVDs and yes, they're dodgy). Alone in cold and rainy Bournemouth with very few Asians, I ran right back into Bollywood's arms as if no time had passed, kind of like those chiffon sari clad actresses on the snowy Alps. It was just so comforting to have Bollywood in my life again. Hrithik Roshan had just exploded on the scene, dancing was awesome and movies were daring. Storytelling mattered. Bollywood had evolved.

I wanted to learn more about a journalist whose celebrity interviews I never miss. Faridoon Shahryar, Content Head of Broadband at Bollywood Hungama, is a popular name in Indian media entertainment. His 2000+ interviews of actors, directors, producers and musicians are hard to miss. With his signature cap and tee, Faridoon is well respected and loved by celebrities. You can easily see their fondness for him in interviews and press meets (note the interview with Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma below from 14:15, and on the green carpet with Ranveer Singh at IIFA 2016 in Madrid). The focus of my blog isn't on the stars Faridoon interviews but the journalist behind the interviews and the man behind the journalist. He is a celebrity in his own right, with over 60,000 Twitter followers to his credit. Read below some highlights from our conversation.

Your father wrote the lyrics for the original Umrao Jaan. What has his influence been on your creative endeavors?

We were friends and discussed anything and everything together. He was extremely frank with me and while he is no more, he left behind some great words of wisdom which have helped me along various junctures in life. His poetry is brilliant and as time passes he's becoming bigger and bigger. I have always been closer to my mom who is a great writer too and was an English professor. My interest in English Literature is credit to her.

What role has poetry played in Bollywood?

Poetry was an intrinsic part of film songs since the beginning of the talkie era. Majrooh Sultanpuri, Shailendra, Kaifi Azmi, Anand Bakshi, Sahir Ludhiyanvi, Gulzar and Javed Akhtar are all very fine poets. It was more intricate earlier. Today the emphasis is more on simple expressions.

Whose work do you appreciate in journalism? 

I am inspired by Ellen DeGeneres. From our own political journalists I admire Rajdeep Sardesai, Rana Ayyub and Barkha Dutt.

Bollywood is making great strides in Hollywood today. Where do you see Bollywood twenty years from now?

Bollywood has always made an impact in Hollywood in small measures. We still have a way to go. Irfan Khan is widely respected in Hollywood. It remains to be seen what the response to Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra's releases will be.

What's the biggest misconception about Bollywood around the world?

That it's all about gossip. I don't like the way entertainment journalism is treated frivolously. Many journalists and media houses are responsible for this perception too. I strongly believe in bringing infotainment (factual information) and entertainment through my interviews and voice on social media, but I also always try to do serious interviews on burning topics like intolerance, the recent Fawad Khan issue and when Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan were targeted last year. I want to be taken seriously as a journalist and respect is very important for me which goes hand in hand with credibility.
 

What distinguishes good content from great content?

There is too competition across news channels and the online space, so much so that it's pushing journalists to sensationalize non-facts. In the hunger to outdo each another, people are going to all extents to fabricate news breaking stories. There is too little focus on reporting facts and too much opinion. I am proud of my no holds barred interviews with directors Kabir Khan and Anuragh Kashyab. I'm fortunate to have had a free voice at Bollywood Hungama.

There is a certain innocence in your interviews which our generation lost somewhere between watching Western music videos on TV to taking Subha Hone Na De literally. Are you a bit of a closeted introvert?

You are right, I am innocent (jokes). Interviewing has helped me open up a lot. I was always outgoing but extremely shy. It all started when  my work at indiaglitz.com was noticed by Bollywood Hungama and this organically propelled me in front of the camera. When I have  a sporting celebrity who's prepared to talk, I can get a little cheeky. I don't want to be predictable at all. The surprise value is very, very important.  

Any chance we will get to read a celebrity biography from Faridoon?

I want to write a biography one day. Watch this space.

Your song covers have been appreciated by the stars. Are there any other hidden talents we haven’t discovered yet?

I enjoy swimming, meeting new people, traveling and writing poetry. 

What is a typical day in the life of Faridoon Shahryar?

I wake up early to drop my daughter to her school bus, prepare breakfast for my wife, read newspapers, go to the gym, swim, coordinate with the Bollywood Hungama team, hold interviews, spend time with my family in the evening and it's early to bed from there.

Is it challenging to have a successful marriage when every second Bollywood marriage is making headlines?

I realized I couldn't make decisions in this area without making a fool out of myself and left it to my mother.  She introduced me to my wife of fifteen years, Aarefa who was her student at Aligarh Muslim University. I knew she was the one when I met her. Within ten days of meeting each other, we were engaged and three months later, we were married. Right now, I'm a huge supporter of arranged marriages. They have a novelty value. Love marriages are mostly the filmi romance people imagine. My wife and daughter are my biggest supporters.

At this point in our interview, Faridoon quoted legendary Kumar Sanu's song, Jab Koi Baat Bigar Jaye. I listened intently. It's not every day that a girl has poetry recited to her. "Ho chandni jab tak raath deta hai har koi saath. Ho chandni jab tak raath deta hai har koi saath. Tum magar andheron me na chorna mera haath".

You can follow Faridoon on Twitter @iFaridoon or catch his latest interviews on Facebook @bollywoodhungamacom.

Florence Nightingale

I was strolling in Ponte Vecchio, Florence, one summer evening when I heard the sound of music and followed it like the Curious George(ina) that I am. Before I realized it, I had joined a captivated crowd of locals and tourists who had formed a circle around the incredible performing duo, one of whom was Michael Amadi, an ultra talented pianist and singer. More about Michael later, as I want to let you guys know that I was a good audience and actually bought the duo's CD. Let's appreciate street performers shall we. I'll admit that more often than not I will enjoy street performers' art, good and bad, but only seldom be a true consumer, walking away when the cap goes around for donations as so many of us do. Note to self people: nothing in life is free.

Back to the lovely and talented Michael. He's just 24 and isn't currently in historical Florence but is pursuing songwriting at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) in the mad city of London. In just a year he has already developed a British twang, and truth be told, I myself have subconsciously added words like "bugger", "knackered", "chuffed" and "bloody" to my vocabulary from my London days.

Here's a preview of Michael's vocals on the piano but make sure to scroll down for my 10 QUESTIONS WITH MICHAEL AMADI.

 



Hi Michael! Thanks for giving me a virtual tour of ICMP. That's one sick piano in the common area.  When did you realize you were musically inclined?

I was 5 years old when I started playing guitar. At elementary school I was that boy hiding not Spiderman comics but music books behind his school books, thinking of melody and songs. I was also the boy who preferred to stay home sat at the piano and write music rather than play outside. I totally see what's he's talking about.  I was the kid hiding Archie comics behind my school books, desperately wanting Archie to realize that Betty was the one for him, not the evil Veronica.

How did you get into street performing in Florence?
I remember it well. It was a Tuesday night when I was crossing Piazza della Repubblica and saw Claudio, the other half of the Florence duo you saw, performing. I went back every night to listen to Claudio with my friends. One day Claudio invited me to this studio for a breakfast conversation about music. There was no turning back from there. We started performing in Siena and from there moved on to Ponte Vecchio bridge. We spent the first year collaborating on projects in the studio and performed on the street for two summers every day after that.

You're taking a break from street performing. Tell me something about that part of your life.
The best thing was that it gave me a chance to meet lots of people from around the world, that was kind of amazing. Once, there was a teacher of graphic design from China who painted us performing. That was pretty special - we still have that painting in Florence. If I had to pick a worst, I'd say the music we performed was mostly the same and that felt a bit repetitive sometimes but the audience was always different. I always remember faces. I remember you. Note to self: no need to be flattered Naveen. He's probably being kind and when you were 24 Eminem still made music videos. 

How many phone numbers did you get in those two years performing in Florence?
Girls would leave their phone numbers on my keyboard every single night. You do the maths. Cheeky monkey! For the record, I wasn't one of them.

Can you make a living from street performing?
For me it wasn’t a job, I was making music. You guys buying our CD was a reward for me. I used that money to support projects like my education in London. My parents aren't funding this. 

 
You moved to London a year ago. How competitive is the music industry?
There are some huge and good artists in London.  In Florence I performed on the most famous bridge; it wouldn’t be possible to have the same opportunity here. I haven't performed in London yet but it might be cool at some point. The idea is a little scary. Peeps, keep an eye out for Michael in London's hot spots. He may just surprise you with something spectacular.



Who is your inspiration?
The piano is my main instrument and I'm trained in classical music. Elton John, John Legend, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Coldplay are up there for me. Funnily enough, people tell me that when they hear me play the piano, I remind them of Elton John and apparently I resemble John Legend. I'm not sure who my voice reminds them of. Michael has a point. No one obvious comes to my mind too. It's probably a good thing - sometimes it's best not to have comparisons.

What’s next?
My experience in Florence taught me that anything's possible. America is the dream. Until then I'm working on many interesting projects. I'm collaborating with different bands in London, some ex graduates of ICMP. In two months I'll be heading off to Spain. My friend who's a brilliant guitarist was approached by a manager to record a song for a drag queen event. I came on board as producer. Who would have thought I would be a producer and that too have Spanish drag queens perform to my music?!  

What advice would you give to someone joining the street performing scene? 
I have studied classical music and now songwriting. People shouldn't underestimate the grooming and hard work that happens behind the scenes. I remember being terrified the first time I performed on the bridge, I couldn’t look anyone in the eyes. It's true. I remember that anytime we cheered him on, Michael looked down grinning shyly.

Michael, when I get married will you sing at my wedding?  
YES. We can definitely arrange that.  Hurray! Finally a reason to get married.

Notes

Michael was born and raised in Florence. He's the middle child in a family of medicine practitioners. Not surprisingly, like most middle children, he took a route that would make him stand out. Fortunately, there was little convincing to be done as he remembers coming home at the age of eight to find that his parents had gifted him a piano wrapped in a giant red bow. While in Florence he took a break from piano for a year. His parents were the voice of encouragement and so he continued. When he's not writing music or performing or fishing (he's a country boy at heart), he watches movies and admits “I’m quite sad if I love the soundtrack and not the movie". Bless! 

Follow Michael on Instagram @amd.mch 

Financial Analyst turned Dance Extraordinaire

I have always been intrigued by dancers - their ability to understand choreography, how they manage to pop and lock or thrust with complete abandon and the confidence they exude as they move effortlessly on the dance floor. Nothing beats the grace, posture and raw sensuality of a dancer. Then again, when I watch a dancer performing on stage, a part of me wishes my parents had signed me up for dance lessons from the time I was mobile. Dancing's just so liberating. Also, dancers seem to move in close-knit communities - I think I would have loved to be part of the dancing world. I'm pretty sure I don't understand the technicalities behind any dance style and I'm not interested either - kind of like what goes on behind the scenes to get ourselves ready for a date. It's all about showtime.

Photo credit: Ashish Medda

Recently I looked up a popular Bollywood song, Kala Chashma, and came across Bombay-based Melvin Louis. The man can move and his kickass style puts the gorgeous Sidharth Malhotra's moves to shame. His most watched video posted on YouTube crossed 1 million views in just a month. As with anything else that manages to grab my attention for more than five minutes, my curiosity pulled me to Melvin's dance tutorials and eventually to connecting with him. On a side note, having joined his live chats, I can let you in on a little secret - women are going nuts over this man! I think I just validated my previous point on dancers being perceived as being good in bed. If you're wondering how popular he really is, digest these numbers - legendary Bollywood dancing queen, Madhuri Dixit's Dancing with Madhuri e-school has 72,491 YouTube subscribers. Melvin is swiftly catching up at 55,072, gaining 1200-1500 new subscribers every day. Pretty impressive and that's why I decided to make him the subject of the first blog of my Around the World blog series, but first, some Kala Chashma to give you an idea of what I'm talking about ... 

After hounding Melvin for weeks (the man does not sleep), I finally got hold of him and I'm thrilled to share what I discovered. 

1: Hours it takes him to choreograph a new routine

2: The number of siblings he has. He's the youngest of three brothers

3: The cups of chaai he has to drink every morning 

9: The number of professionally trained teachers at his studio

10: His shoe size

7,979: His Instagram following

930,798: His 19th video uploaded on YouTube has had this many views in 1 month. Check out Beat pe Booty

I wanted to talk business and the start up scene in India today. Fortunately, Melvin's a thinking man. After all, he was once a financial analyst working in the Banking sector. He told me that founding a startup in India is uber competitive, calling it an "ocean of sharks". Doesn't sound very different from the corporate world. He added  that "the product and content has to be really good to survive the city. Mumbai has Bollywood and the city has a constant of everything". He's acutely aware of the digital wave that's transformed how we consume media. I myself have to turn on my TV once a month just to see if it's still working. 

His business, DancePeople Studios, has a special "drop in" format with a fresh routine each class, offering every newcomer an equal opportunity. Unlike other dance studios, Melvin says his studio's USP is offering dance happiness versus dance learning. A part of me is skeptical about professions solely pursuing happiness - maybe I'm also a little envious that he's managed to do what so many of us only dream about. I had to ask Melvin if he would give up providing this happy dance approach if Bollywood embraced him tomorrow. Here's what he had to say - "The only thing I like about myself is being consistent. If you start something you have to continue it. This place isn't about me anymore. It belongs to others".  Yes, Melvin envisions doing this growing old. I like a man with a plan. And is it all fun and games? He seems to be running on adrenaline, eating just one meal a day and dealing with operational hazards. He also admits to being an anxious person. I have to say it doesn't show in his videos. Check out another personal favorite of mine .. 

Being a huge Bollywood enthusiast myself - I think it keeps me connected to my desi roots living in Europe - I wanted to get Melvin's take on dance and how it's evolved from Govinda's pelvic thrusts to the Western club scene of today. He thinks that "Bollywood dancing is dying". I agree with him here.We 're both thankful for K-Jo's family films with the classic song and dance wedding scene. We may ape the West and we also need to in order to move with the times, but nothing beats tradition in arts.

Speaking of tradition, I learned that Melvin is quite the traditional Indian guy. He admitted that he doesn't cook and is supremely pampered at home. Which Asian man isn't;) Fortunately he showed interest in taking up cooking classes. Girls, there's still hope, but bring out that confidence which I know you have as he's surrounded by pretty girls all day. I also learned that he's sensitive at heart, confessing to have written daily poems for a girl he was once in love with. Now you're probably wondering what kind of girl Melvin is likely to fall for. Ladies, take notes. "I'm not looking for a person to run my business. She should be ambitious to understand my ambition and broad minded to accept me. She should be intelligent to teach our kids. It would be her responsibility to do that". Hmm, I'm thinking we may need another Gauri for this Shahrukh Khan. He's in no rush to get married though, admitting that his "career is more important at this particular junction". Are you picking up what I am ladies? He's single and plans to be for quite some time. Woop woop!

I was hoping to get some dirt on life behind the scenes but as it turns out I won't be living vicariously through Melvin - no sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll for this guy.  Let's end on a clean note then shall we ...