Standout Play Anand Back In Vancouver

(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

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

Canadian Actress,Yasmin Virani, Brings Bollywood to Hollywood!

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

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.