1) Sendhil Ramamurthy
Known for his on screen gravitas, Ramamurthy found his claim to fame on the NBC Sci- Fi series Heroes. Born in Chicago and raised in San Antonio, Sendhil initially hoped to follow in the steps of his parents and pursued medical school. But after attending a class at Tufts University, he was bit with the acting bug. He can be seen on Beauty & the Beast opposite Kristen Kreuk.
2) Mindy Kaling
Originally seen on NBC’s the office as Kelly Kapoor, Kaling has been propelled to superstar status through her hit show “The Mindy Project.” As if creating and starring in the first U.S. TV series with a South Asian lead wasn’t enough, Mindy is also an author. Her book “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)” has become a staple in the comic memoir genre, with genius tidbits such as "There is no sunrise so beautiful that it is worth waking me up to see it.” Mindy is also a Twitter phenomenon with over 2 million followers retweeting her every word.
3) Aziz Ansari
This thirty year old can be seen lighting up the both the big and small screen in North America. An HBO Favourite, Aziz has cultivated a fan following regaling audiences with his run-ins with Kanye West, stories about his cousins Harris and Darwish and his refreshing take on dating, communication and media in today’s world. Aziz has also become a celebrity on the NBC hit Parks and Recreation and can be in the apocalypse comedy This is the End.
4) M.I.A
Born Mathangi Maya Arulpragasam, this London native has been making waves since 2005 with the release of her album Arular. Her music has been received to wide critical acclaim for its unique blend of electronic and hip hop dance beats. Not one to shy away from controversy, M.I.A is known for her outspoken political views, and has explored the complexities of warfare, ethnic strife and genocide in her art. With an avid Twitter following, M.I.A has managed to maintain a personal relationship with her fans despite worldwide success. In July 2013 it was announced that she would be profiled in a documentary by filmmaker Steve Loveridge.
5) A R Rahman
Born in 1966 as A.S Dileep Kumar this Chennaite has garnered international acclaim for his work as a music director both in India and abroad. His solo debut came by way of Mani Ratnam’s 1992 Roja, which led to a National Film Award for best musical director, an accomplishment unheard of for a debutante. Rahman then went on to unparalleled success for his ability to fuse Western sounds with traditional Indian beats. Rahman went on to score some of the most successful films of the 90s and became a household name. Rahman has also forayed into Hollywood working on critic favourites “Slumdog Millionaire” and “127 Hours.” In 2009, Rahman won two Academy Awards for his work on the runway hit “Slumdog Millionaire” and solidified his position as a global superstar.
6) Dhanush
Debuting across screens in 2003, Venkatesh Prabhu Kasthuri Raja has become box office sweetheart over his decade long career. Working closely with his brother Selvaraghavan, Dhanush has carved out a name for himself as a versatile actor who is able to take the lead in both dramatic and comedic roles. Playing a gamut of roles ranging from a mentally disturbed youth in the 2003 “Kadhal Kondein, ” to a fisherman captured by Sudanese terrorists in this year’s “Mariyan, ” Dhanush has established himself as a leading man in the film industry. Interviews with Dhanush reveal that he is eager to become a director in the near future, and given his artistic talent and vision we are sure it will come true very soon.
7) Ashok Amritraj
Though little known, Ashok Amritraj has had a unique and lustrous career as both a Hollywood film producer and professional tennis player. Having represented India on internationally on the pro tennis circuit, Ashok has also made his mark in tinsel town. Having either produced or co-produced over 100 films, Ashok has helped to break down barriers in the film industry by becoming one of the first successful commercial movie producers in Hollywood.
8) Shruti Hassan
With the Hassan name, all eyes were on this young actress when she debuted in 2009. Though the film was a commercial flop, Shruti’s screen presence was undeniable and in the last four years she has become a tour de force in the Indian film industry. An accomplished musician, Shruti first debuted her vocals in the 1992 hit “Thevar Magan.” Since then, she has gone on sing on multiple albums and has taken on the role of music director for the 2009 film “Unnaipol Oruvan, ”bringing an eclectic blend of Western and Eastern influences to the record. Recently, Shruti was paired with Dhanush in the movie “3”, under the directon of Aishwarya Dhanush which established her as a pan-Indian leading actress. Shruti can be seen across screens in Prabhu Deva’s Ramaiya Vastavaiya, the Hindi remake of “Unakkum Ennakkum Something Something.”
9) Bombay Jayshree
This Carnatic singer’s voice is instantly recognizable for its soothing tones. Hailing from a long line of musicians Bombay Jayshree has been performing on international stages since 1982. Since then, she has collaborated with musicians all over the world bringing the rich history of Indian Classical music to audiences everywhere. In 2008, Jayshree partnered with musical legend T.M Krishna to create “Margazhi Raagam” a film that allowed viewers to become part of process of a Carnatic concert. The film was a critical success and was touted as a pioneering initiative in the field. Most recently, Jayshree was nominated for an Academy Award for her work on Life of Pi.
10) Shyam Selvadurai
Originally hailing from Sri Lanka, this Toronto resident has become a national treasure. His 1994 literary debut, “Funny Boy” highlighted the unique struggle many youths face in reconciling their cultural and sexual identities. Shyam has been celebrated for his unique literary voice and has helped to increase visibility of the Tamil diaspora in modern English literature. His latest book “Hungry Ghosts” was released earlier this year to critical acclaim.
