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noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:23:00 +0000

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Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 07:44:00 +0000

Yasmin is listed in the Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Check it out:
http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Virani%2C%20Yasmin

Artist Profile: Yasmin Virani

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:34:00 +0000

1. Name: Yasmin Virani

2. Age: 30

3. Ethnicity: South Asian

4. Occupation and/or Company: Actor - Writer - Director

5. Years of experience: I’ve been performing ever since I was nine!

6. Next Performance: Right now, I’m on tour with my new play, ANAND (bliss, peace, happiness). “In this semi-autobiographical, one woman show; Yasmin Virani tells us her story of intimacy, vulnerability, and sexual self-discovery.” Check out my website for a show near you!
7.What is the highlight of your performance? The story. It’s a very real story of a young woman trying to figure herself and her artistry out. For some art is luxury, for others, a necessity. I mean, the play is ultimately a love story, but juxtaposing this are ideas of friendship, loyalty, and emotional survival.

8. Future goals as an Artist: Well, ANAND, has been an extremely gratifying experience for me as an Artist. To have people laugh with me, cry with me, essentially live my experiences with me , has been quite extraordinary. If I can continue to inspire and be inspired - that’s my goal; to experience more of myself and share my humanity with others.

Indo-Canadian Actress, Yasmin Virani, Welcomes Olympic Athletes

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:24:00 +0000

(Vancouver, BC) Haute Couture Theatre Company presents ANAND (bliss, peace, happiness), written by veteran actress and seasoned director, Yasmin Virani. Filled with music and laughter, this cross - cultural play is a coming of age story recounting a young woman’s personal journey into womanhood and how moving forward in an often cruel and harsh world can sometimes be challenging, but achievable. A positive message for the youth, the company has decided to bring back the widely successful play during this year’s winter Olympics, being held in Vancouver, Canada. “It’s a time of great pride for our country. What makes Canada so unique, I think, is our diversity and these athletes are an inspiration to us all,” said Ms. Virani.

Yasmin herself, was born and raised in Canada, but her parents were refugees from Uganda. They migrated to Canada during the South Asian expulsion under the Idi Amin regime, in 1972. Her family lost everything in transition.

“My family came to this country with nothing but the clothes that they were wearing. That’s the reality of displaced families and the fact of the matter is that if you look at the statistics of abusive families, or uneducated families, and by this I mean parents who haven’t had the opportunity or the good fortune of seeking higher education; you realize how quickly the odds are set against their children. In order to rise above poverty or break the cycle of abuse, you have to see a better version of yourself, but how do you that in the world we live in?”

A recent graduate in the field of Social Work, Yasmin is a supporter of the 2010 Olympics.

“I think it’s important for the youth of today to see positive role models and these athletes are the real deal. These are everyday people who happen to be good at something, so they work hard, they train, they discipline themselves, and they believe that everyday they can get better. Whether you are an athlete or an actor, when you have dream in this life, you have to believe in yourself and figure out a way to move forward.”

ANAND (bliss, peace, happiness) plays at the YWCA Vancouver on Sunday, February 28th at 12:00 PM, for one day only. Tickets are $20.00 and include a gourmet Indian lunch (see website for details). Please visit: http://www.yasminvirani.com or call the Haute Couture Box Office at: 1+ 604 351 - 9230. See Twitter/Facebook for updates about the show.

Standout Play Anand Back In Vancouver

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:17:00 +0000

(Vancouver, BC) After being coined, “Brilliant” in Los Angeles, Haute Couture Theatre Company is bringing back the wildly successful play, ANAND (bliss, peace, happiness), written by veteran actress and seasoned director, Yasmin Virani. Filled with music and laughter, this cross - cultural play is a coming of age story recounting a young woman’s personal journey into womanhood and how moving forward in an often cruel and harsh world can sometimes be challenging, but achievable. A positive message for the youth, Haute Couture Theatre Company is delighted to present ANAND during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. ANAND (bliss, peace, happiness) plays at the YWCA Vancouver on Sunday, February 28th at 12:00 pm, for one day only. Tickets are $20.00 and includes a gourmet Indian lunch (see website for details). For more information visit: http://www.yasminvirani.com/ or call the Haute Couture Box Office at: 1+ 604 - 351 - 9230 for more information. See Twitter/Facebook for updates about the show.

Radio Canada International: The Link

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:05:00 +0000

Radio Interview with host: Carmel Kilkenny (sitting in for Marc Montgomery): ICR_-Yasmin_Virani_1326853.mp3

Canadian Actress,Yasmin Virani, Brings Bollywood to Hollywood!

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:00:00 +0000

1. What is your, "Khoobsurti ka raaz (beauty secret)?" My sense of humor.

2. Tell us something that most people don’t know about you? I am actually very shy by nature.

3. What is the one thing that you cannot live without? My laptop! It's the only thing that I go to bed with at night!

4. Are you single and if so why? I am. I was in a long term relationship for several years and after that I met some interesting people, but no one that I was ready to commit to.

5. And as your new play suggests now you’re, “ready?” Yes. It’s been a long process, but I’m slowly opening that door.

6. What are you looking for in a man? A spiritual connection.

7. Interesting, since you mention religion in your play as well. How important is that to you? In my opinion, religion has nothing to do with spirituality.

8. Okay, well let me ask you this then, would you marry someone who doesn't define himself as being Muslim? Absolutely, if I loved him, but I would expect him to respect my religion as I would his.

9. Describe your perfect man? Someone whom I admire. Someone who makes me a better woman and whom I can make a better man.

10. Are looks important? No, but attraction is.

11. Describe your perfect date? Maybe a quiet dinner with a long walk afterwards, where we talk about poetry and philosophy.

12. Yasmin Virani who knew you were so boring!?! Shhhh! That’s another secret that people don’t know about me!

Cont'd

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 13:50:00 +0000

13. You also mention your experience of India in the play. What is the one thing that you love about the country? India is like a lover. You fall in love with both the perfections and imperfections of the country and just like a lover, India waits patiently for you to come back.

14. Is a bollywood movie in the works then? Yes.

15. Can you tell us about it? Actually, I'm quite superstitious about these things. Once everything has been finalized - believe me, I'll be the first one to scream it from the roof tops!

16. Who is you favorite bollywood actor? I am obsessed with SRK (Shah Rukh Khan)!

17. Who is your favorite bollywood actress? It’s funny, because my mother loves Meena Kumari, and the movie Pakeezah has always had a very strong influence in my life, but personally, I am in love with Rekha Ji.

18. Do you speak Hindi? Yes, I have always admired Urdu poetry, so learning Hindi was actually very easy for me.

19. Who is your favorite poet? Mr. Javed Akhter. His writing inspires me.

20. What is the one thing that annoys you most about your profession? Well, I’ve always had to defend myself against the perception that others have had of me, which can be both hurtful and exhausting, but I've come to terms with this by realizing that anyone whom I have to constantly explain or justify myself to, just isn’t worth my time.

21. Speaking of time, and you don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but is Anand the reason why you are still single? I’d be lying if I said no, but I also think that I just needed some time to figure out what I truly wanted out of life and for a while I wasn’t sure if marriage was it for me.

22. And now you are? Yes, now I am, because my concept of love has evolved. I have always believed that love is not about taking - it’s about giving, but for the past several years I felt as though I had nothing to give. Now I realize there is so much that I have yet to experience and express and wish to share those aspects of myself with another - someone who I am worthy of and who is worthy of me.

23. A little regressive don’t you think? I won’t deny that I am a little old fashioned, but I don’t think marriage is regressive. In fact, I think it can be a beautiful union between two people. But yes, I think being someone’s life partner is a very big responsibility, so in my opinion there needs to be a very clear understanding of who two people are as human beings.

24. Finally, tell us about ANAND (bliss, peace, happiness). Well, to begin with, ANAND is a bollywood love story, so of course it’s about two best friends falling in love (LOL)! But the play is also semi-autobiographical. So it’s about my own personal journey of growing up and how the choices we make in life influence who we become.

ANAND (bliss, peace, happiness) plays Friday, February 12th, at The Second City Studio Theatre, 6560 Hollywood Blvd. (2nd Floor), Hollywood & Whitley Ave. @ 9:30 PM.

StarBuzz: The No.1 CINE Weekly

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:35:00 +0000

Yasmin is on the cover with the sexy, Salman Khan, in

in the January edition of StarBuzz - the hottest Bollywood News Weekly in Toronto (read interview below)!

Cont'd (pg. 11)

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:17:00 +0000

1. Where were you born and raised? Canada. Born in Vancouver, but raised in Toronto.

2. How do you think the environment you were in and your surroundings shaped what you do now? Well, I think being brought up in a South Asian family can be tough. In my household there was very little communication. As a family we loved one another, but we didn’t really know each other. I was automatically drawn to the Arts because it was an outlet for me. It was a way for me to express my thoughts and feelings, so becoming an artist was actually a natural progression for me.

3. What led you to realize this is what you wanted to do? I remember the first time I ever went on stage, as a performer, I think there’s an awareness that happens. For me that was the defining the moment, the realization that I am a part of something much bigger in the world, even as a child I felt that.

4. How do you think you are impacting the South Asian community? The South Asian Arts community in Canada is actually quite small, and being a minority community, I think it’s important that we represent ourselves in an honest manner. I have always done that with all of my work. In fact, I do more than honesty, I push boundaries and I think one sees the impact of their work after a show, when someone tells you that you have, “moved” them, or that they somehow see themselves differently - that’s real impact, because that’s change.

5. What are you currently working on? I am actually going on tour this year with my one - woman show, ANAND (bliss, peace, happiness). Be sure to check out my website for our Toronto dates!

6. What do you have in mind for the near future? Well, after my tour, I will be working on my first bollywood film which I am extremely nervous and excited about!

7. Careerwise what is the one thing that has been very special to you? Hmmm, this is tricky, but I would have to say my new play, Anand. I wrote it during a phase in my life when I was struggling with the idea of loss. Everyone has lost someone they love in life and I think it’s easier when you’re the one that who’s got your heart broken in bargain, because to some extent, it’s easier to move on. But what happens when it is your fault and you are to blame? How do you move forward then? How do you forgive yourself? That’s what Anand's about and it’s semi - autobiographical! So it’s definitely special, because I am not sure if I will ever have the courage to be that honest again.

8. Do you have any particular project you have wanted to work on or be a part of? So many … there are so many talented people in our industry! I’m a huge fan on Mira Nair - absolutely love and adore Mr. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s work, Vishal Bhardwaj, the list goes on and on!

RJ1200: Gupshup

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Radio interview with host: Shushma Dutt (begins at 01.29 seconds): http://frontrow.rj1200.com/_Gupshup-110309/audio/584441/81865.html

ANAND BRINGS ANAND TO VANCOUVER AUDIENCE

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:35:00 +0000

Veteran actress and seasoned director Yasmin Virani thrilled her audience last week with her performance in her own play "Anand" (bliss, peace, happiness) at Vancouver’s Roundhouse Centre.

The play is not just a coming of age story of a young woman's personal journey into womanhood but also a raw and mature discussion of a love hidden from one's family and culture. According to Virani, this is a true story of a young Canadian girl who has to resolve her dilemma of being a Non-Resident Indian. She notes: “How do you be of two countries, one culture and a woman at the same time? With great difficulty.”

Anand is a story of love and loss and the cruelty of life. As a true testament to the story, the dialogue is harsh and sometimes coarse on the topics of sex, fear, courage and sorrow. "This is true Bollywood" said Virani. "Bollywood use to stand for high drama and this show definitely is."

In this semi-autobiographical one-woman show, Virani tells us her story of intimacy, vulnerability, and sexual self-discovery. Fabulous and fierce, philosophical and compassionate, Anand is a celebration of romantic love - Bollywood style. As Virani recounts her journey into womanhood, we learn that moving forward is ultimately about personal redemption. "Of course, we would marry cultural traditions with the unconventional content of this play because I want women and youth to understand that we do interweave ourselves as individuals into the lives of our families and cultures and the countries where we live. A personal journey often leaves us feeling alone but once you are through to the other side, you know that you always have people with you and you enrich their lives, as they do yours,” Virani says.

Virani has directed such plays as Woody Allen’s, God, and David Mammet’s Sexual Perversity in Chicago. She directed the hugely successful Buddies in Bad Times Theatre satire of Samuel Beckett’s existential comedy, Waiting For Godot entitled, Faiting Wor Godot. Born in Vancouver, but raised in Toronto, Virani began her acting career by completing three A Levels in Yorkshire, England, and garnered a bronze and gold medal from the London Academy of Dramatic Art. Later, she won third place at the Harrogate Drama Festival, followed by an award for her portrayal as Katherine in the Taming of the Shrew.

(Contributed)

CBC Radio: On the Coast with Stephen Quinn

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:55:00 +0000

(see Friday November 6)
http://www.cbc.ca/onthecoast/

New Indian Play Blends Theatre With Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:23:00 +0000

VANCOUVER - Haute Couture Theatre Company presents Anand (bliss, peace, happiness) written by veteran actress and seasoned director, Yasmin Virani. Filled with music and laughter, this cross-cultural play is a coming of age story recounting a young woman’s raw, personal journey into womanhood amidst her religion, family and country where we learn that moving forward ultimately brings personal redemption. Taking the play in a new direction for Canadians, the organizers are inviting the audience members to stay, following the show, to have an Indian dinner with company members. This mixes the culture of the work with the contemporary action of an audience

Q & A.“Of course, we would marry cultural traditions with the unconventional content of this play because I want women and youth to understand that we do interweave ourselves as individuals into the lives of our families and cultures and the countries where we live. A personal journey often leaves us feeling alone but once you are through to the other side, you know that you always have people with you and you enrich their lives, as they do your’s.” said Virani.

The play will be presented at the Roundhouse Theatre on Friday November 6th at 7 pm.

30 Oct 2009 by editor

Radio Canada International: Masala Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Yasmin) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:56:00 +0000

Radio interview with host: Wojtek Gwiazda
http://www.rcinet.ca/rci/console/index.asp?langue=EN&IDExtraits=796177