Entertainer Bios

Often referred to as the “Versace of India”, Alia Khan began her career at New York’s famed Fashion Institute of Technology, after which she formed her own company by the fall of 2000 and launched the very 1st South Asian mail order catalogue in North America.

Alia has since, launched a very successful, elite custom design service through her website, AliaKhan.com. In addition, her exclusive ready to wear collection is available at Fusia Boutique in Toronto Canada at the Bay Flagship store on Queen/Yonge Street. She has also been responsible for the creation of the well-known AZARA – a modern day fusion wedding gown.

Alia has garnered much notice in the media, with coverage on CTV Canada AM live, CNN Live, NY1, Society Magazine, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Zing Magazine, FAMA Magazine, and numerous other media forums.

In 2006, Alia Khan was awarded Fashion designer of the Year at SASA in LA as well as being celebrated in a book that highlighted the most prominent South Asians in the US called Roshni. In addition, one of her designs was used on a national campaign for Cheerios in the US.

Alia Khan has shared the world’s runways alongside A-List Eastern fashion designers such as Tarun Tahilani, Manish Malhotra, Suneet Varma, & Ritu Beri, as well as A-List Western fashion designers such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Betsy Johnson, Carolina Herrera, Donna Karen, Tommy Hillfiger & Ralph Lauren.

Alia Khan is the only South Asian designer to have been invited twice to design for New York Fashion Week’s Celebrity charity show, the Heart Truth Red Dress runway show in 2005 & 2007, and her innovative designs have intoxicated celebrities such as The Cosby Show’s Phylicia Rashad and Bollywood’s John Abraham, but also, royalty such as his Highness, the Aga Khan - all of whom have been seen in her designs.

Falu is quickly becoming recognized for a rare ability to seamlessly blend a signature modern inventive rock style with a formidable Indian classically-shaped vocal talent.

In her early years in Bombay, singer Falu was trained rigorously in the Jaipur gharana musical tradition, honing her talent for up to 16 hours a day at times. She later continued studying under the legendary sarangi/vocal master Ustad Sultan Khan - a mentorship that continues to drive and inspire her to this day. While pursuing a degree in North Indian classical vocal music she won gold medals in three national-level competitions centered around rising young classical talent.

Falu later moved to the States, and met up with the Boston-based Indo-American band Karyshma. With them she began developing a songwriting style and soundscape combining rock and Indian classical music. In 2001, she met up with Asian Massive leader Karsh Kale, and hit the nationwide university, club and festival circuits.

After fulfilling a 2-year Indian music visiting lectureship at Tufts University in Boston, Falu moved to New York where she formed her own band of the same name. They began performing at music venues throughout New York, quickly garnering the attention of fans across the city.

In 2004 Falu was invited to perform as a soloist with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project. In 2005 she was asked to serve as one of Carnegie Hall's Musical Ambassadors to New York City – a position she continues to cherish with great enthusiasm. In May of 2006 she became the youngest South Asian vocalist to deliver a solo performance at Carnegie Hall (Zankel). In 2006 she joined the Born Into Brothels Ensemble (from the 2004 Academy-Award winning film) and in early 2007 she collaborated with Wyclef Jean, lending her distinctive vocal style to the score of Angelina Jolie's directorial debut A Place in Time. Most recently, Falu has teamed up with Jason Miles and DJ Logic in their contemporary jazz collective called Global Noize.

In August of 2007, Falu released her self-titled debut CD, produced by Palmyra Delran and engineered by Grammy winner Emery Dobyns. Soon afterward, her genre-defining hybrid "Indie Hindi" musical style quickly made its mark in numerous blogs and publications including the Wall Street Journal.

Falu's band includes musicians who draw elegantly from Indian classical, alternative rock, contemporary pop, and electronic styles to create a tight mix of East and West, of ancient and modern. The band members are Gaurav Shah (vocals / harmonium), Mark Tewarson (guitars), Borahm Lee (keys), Justin Wallace (bass), and Ramsey Jones (drums).

 Bollywood Rockers

Bollywood Rockers are a band of musicians and singers led by Shrikant "Ouch" Awalegaonkar, ‘79. Ouch has been an avid musician since his IIT and IIM days. In addition to his own compositions, re-mixes, and improvisations, his musical interests range from 70’s classic rock to jazz, fusion, Punjabi folk and Bollywood hits. He has performed for audiences upto 10,000  at The Mall in Washington DC and has to his credit, CDs, movie soundtracks and recordings of his live shows (available by request at shrikant@erols.com). Ouch is also active at SWIFT, with its state-of-the-art financial telecommunications network, and is busy raising a family in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Bollywood Rockers, as the name suggests, will perform a nostalgic classic rock musical set, followed by high energy Bollywood hits, old and new. Band members are seasoned musicians who perform by appointment, at fund raisers, parties, weddings and community shows.

Be prepared to be rocked down memory lane,  thrown back into the present, and to ‘burn the dance floor, O kudiye!

Anil Maheshwari, MD "The Stand-up Doctor"

Anil Maheshwari, MD is also known as The Stand-Up Doctor (www.StandUpDoctor.com) because he is both a stand-up comedian and a board certified physician specializing in nutrition and weight loss. He has performed stand-up comedy in front of audiences as large as 1,200 and has performed at events featuring Adam Sandler, Steven Wright, Dan Nainan and Rita Rudner. He has been described as a cross between Russell Peters and Deepak Chopra.
 
Dr. Maheshwari has been featured in the NY Daily News, American Medical Association News and has been on the CBS Early Today Show. He has performed at many medical and South Asian conferences and also combines his health knowledge and sense of humor into famously funny educational seminars. He has presented to corporations such as Panasonic and organizations including the AARP and YMCA.