When I went to my first Living Beyond Bollywood (LBB) rehearsal, I had no idea what to expect. Per our Ali’s request (our director), I had rote memorized my lines, but pretty much had done nothing else. When I started acting exercises with my scene partner, Shiv, the objective was to notice each other’s movements and micro-expressions. A wave of awkwardness washed over me – how strange it was to be examined so closely! As a singer, over years, I have been able to show expression in my voice, in the inflections of the notes that I sing – but acting was a completely different entity, and I had no idea what I was doing. Over the next few weeks, as Shiv and I rehearsed with each other, looked into each other’s eyes deeply, and shared stories from our own lives, I felt less and less like Swathi, and more and more like 1900’s Preet, my character, a young woman from Punjab eagerly awaiting the return of her fiancé, Jasjeet. The uncomfortable giggles of those first few rehearsals gave way to genuine love and tears. LBB taught me to truly be empathetic, to be vulnerable, and to give in to the moment!

Even outside of rehearsals, I find myself thinking about all the real-life Preets and Jasjeets of the past, all the sacrifice, waiting, hopes and dreams they had. I have a much greater appreciation for all those Indians who risked so much to have a chance to settle across the Atlantic. Despite the fact that Living Beyond Bollywood will be over in a month, I know that I will continue to carry a piece of Preet with me in my heart, a constant reminder of where we came from, and where we will continue to go.