Embracing Her Indianness
“It was a huge transition going from hating myself and hating my Indianness and finding out that in the process of white-washing myself, I was erasing my parents’ existence in my life.” – Kuhoo Verma
From graduating NYU, to booking a movie, to starring Off-Broadway and working on multiple Broadway-bound workshops, Kuhoo Verma is a force to be reckoned with. There is an energy about her that is pure and open, and the perfect embodiment of light.
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- Why Kuhoo never really talked about her family growing up ([4:06])
- Kuhoo’s relationship with colorism within her community ([7:53])
- What the name ‘Kuhoo’ means ([9:52])
- Kuhoo’s relationship with ‘diverse casting’ ([11:49])
- How an education at NYU shaped Kuhoo ([18:32])
- If anyone mentored Kuhoo in her first professional theatre experience ([26:05])
- Kuhoo’s experience working with Dave Malloy and Annie Tippe on Signature Theatre’s Octet ([33:08])
- How Kuhoo handles playing Indian characters ([41:20])
- And so much more…
Some Questions We Discuss:
- Was it kind of permission or racial awakening to start discussing her own relationship with race? ([4:50])
- Was performing always in the plan? ([15:59])
- How was the experience doing Monsoon Wedding at Berkeley Rep? ([22:23])
- How was time on set of The Big Sick? ([28:51])
- What advice would you give yourself? ([44:36])
Links and Resources:
- Follow Kuhoo on Instagram
- NYU Tisch – Graduate Musical Theatre Writing
- NYU Steinhardt – Vocal Performance
- Signature Theatre
- Dave Malloy
- Annie Tippe
- The Big Sick
- Shaina Taub
- Follow East Side Story on Instagram
- Follow Cheeyang on Instagram
Did You Enjoy the Podcast?
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