HOLLYWOOD MASALA
Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative
Sept. 16
Aronoff Center Fifth-Third Bank Theater [Downtown]
HOLLYWOOD MASALA follows an Indian-American family’s trip to India, where hilarious culture clashes, Bollywood dreams, and a shocking kidnapping collide. As their daughter’s daring escape involves a self-absorbed movie star, they rediscover family bonds and identity—delivering sharp comedy, heartfelt moments, and a satirical look at celebrity culture.
- Tue, Sept. 16 at 7:30pm
Playwright Bio
Sanjay is a playwright, novelist, actor, and improviser whose vibrant comedies and heartfelt dramas explore identity, culture, and belonging. Raised in India, he honed his craft on the New Delhi stage, working with directors like Barry John and Faisal Alkazi. After a successful academic career, he reignited his passion for storytelling with Dances with Doctors (2017), featured by the Cincinnati Playwrights Initiative, covered by WLWT, and also produced by Playhouse 22 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. His short plays Love Me Tinder (2019) and The Fool (2020) were staged at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center. In 2024, his bilingual play Hollywood Se Bollywood Tak enjoyed houseful shows at the Mason Community Playhouse, and its success inspired him to create Hollywood Masala, a fresh English adaptation written for a wider audience. As a novelist, his English-language book Holi Tragedy tells a gripping coming-of-age mystery set against the backdrop of an Indian festival, sharing the complexities of the diaspora experience with readers beyond the community. He is also a published innovation author and a passionate storyteller committed to bridging cultures through the performing arts.
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