On Set Vanity | Sonal Shah

Most love her, few hate her, and some even mute out that annoyingly high-pitched delivery, but, the industry isn’t going rid itself of the infectious Sonal Shah anytime soon. Since she made her television debut on NBC’s cult hit, Scrubs, we’re privy to watch the evolution of one of the most serious comediennes among the glut of Indian comics; one who has that razor sharp ability to act, perform stand-up, write, and direct. She’s no slouch in the laugh factory, but don’t expect Sonal to keep belting out the same clichéd jokes about being a ‘Desi.’ Underneath the pristine exterior (Sonal is a former Loyola pre-med student/sorority sister) is one witty dame, who warmly welcomed irony when she was plucked from obscurity and cast as a medical intern on an Emmy award winning sitcom. Not bad for the self-styled, Chi-town siren, who relocated to LA to appear in bit commercials and sketch comedy. With the end of the primetime paycheck, Sonal is now exploring the viral fun of webisodes as a way to chronicle the daily oddities of finding love in Los Angeles.

For now, she’s prepping to shoot her debut film in July titled, “Sati Shaves Her Head” (based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald short), so we fueled her obsession for beauty with a quick chat:

NK: Being an actress makes you spoiled considering you get an artist to beautify you whenever you need. We’re simply jealous. So, we gotta ask, what could be found on your vanity dresser?

SS: Well, I’m afraid to admit it, but I don’t actually have a vanity table. Even though I’m very vain and clearly sarcastic. I do have a plastic drawer thing that I keep next to my sink and that has stuff in it. Umm, DVDs of Entourage, a hair brush, random lip gloss, a dumbbell, a vintage clutch, a necktie made out of fake pearls, a feather, a candle, a beret, fishnet stockings, a wig, bindis, a screwdriver, gum, handcuffs, hot curlers, rocks, an old-fashioned lollipop, a running visor, an old script, peace beads, scarves, Euros, a dead rose, and a calculator.

NK: With fishnets, wig, necktie, and handcuffs, I think you’ve managed to inspire more than a merry fantasy here. Beyond these fixations, what 3 beauty faves keep you stunningly gorgeous?

SS: Gorgeous? (I’ll give you the 20 bucks later!) Down to business, I’d say my ‘can’t live withouts’ are MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural powder (one swish immediately covers my rockstar lifestyle), Mac Mineralize Blush (always wanted high cheekbones so I could look like an old-fashioned cinematic something), and Chapstick. I will not leave home without these even when I’m doing laundry. The blush is a hardcore requirement because somehow in my mind, it makes me feel like Audrey Hepburn. Why chapstick? I have a mouth fetish.

NK: Sorority sisters are never bashful about their oral, er, vocal talents. So fess up! Is it possible you have a secret hidden pet peeve?

SS: Brace yourself because I’m about to get philosophical. My pet peeve is low beauty esteem. I know I’m cheesy, but every person is beautiful and is a gift to this universe. To be clear, I love makeup, fun fashion, and things that make me feel beautiful, but my pet peeve is when women complain about not being beautiful because they are! I sometimes wish women aren’t so hard on themselves, you know? Also, I ick out when girls obsess with their looks, for the sake of seeking validity from others. I hate to see wonderful people be unhappy based on the fact that they don’t think they are beautiful. Everyone should FEEL beautiful because everyone is! Beauty comes from within. My pet peeve for myself is that I sometimes forget that. If you can count how many times I just used the word “beautiful,” you get a cookie.

NK: Thanks, but we’re more red-velvet cupcake types of gals. And, we’d like two, please.

You can catch Sonal Shah working the sketch circuit in Los Angeles this summer.

If you don’t like links…here is the video!

“The End”

Artist: John Clinebell

Director: Matt Karam

Editor: Sterling Scott

Photography: Gretchen McArthur

I have always been of the notion that buying, leasing, and anything car-related has always been a man’s job.  Maybe I’m just old-fashioned, but I’ve never argued with that notion.  As tough and dangerous as I am (hardy har har), I’m fine with letting my dad or brother or boyfriend deal with the evil car salesman.  That’s right.  I just said evil.  I’m scared to death of these men in suits that sell cars and know the ins and outs of negotiating and try to take you for all you are worth.  I’m not naive, but for some reason, people tend to think that I am.  And yes, I could easily be swayed into doing anything.  I guess I’m a little gullible.  I’ll admit that.   Anywho, dad and bro are in Chicago and I’m not currently dating any dudes.  I went through my list of guy friends that are in LA and as much as I love them all, something told me I had to do this on my own.  It was almost like a challenge.  SO…as scared as I was, I did it.  I rolled in there and said “Look I know I am a single, brown female and you are going to do everything you can to rip me off… but that is not going to f**ing happen.  Not today.    This [and then I handed them the picture of the car]  is the car I want, but I’m not afraid to let it go if I’m not given the best deal.”  I did tons of research and I went in there armed with every negotiating tactic and knowledge about cars I could muster.  There was one moment where I just stared at the evil man straight on and refused to leave unless he took x amount of dollars off.  It was a game and I was going to win.  6 hours, 2 water bottles, and 1 cappuccino later…the deal was made.  Of course, me and the evil man hugged after it was all done.  Okay fine, we became like best friends.  I said bye bye  to my mitsubishi eclipse and said hello to my new car.  my dream car.  I grew up a little that day.  I know its just getting a car and its not that big of a deal, but I feel really cool about it.  lol.

and if you don’t feel like linking, here it is:

BREAKING BARRIERS

The US entertainment industry has had its share of Indian American actors leaving an indelible mark with their acting prowess. Joining the league is a young, talented accomplished dancer and theatre person, Sonal Shah who got well-noticed for her role as Dr.Sunny Dey in the last season of “Scrubs.”

“Scrubs” is back for a 9th season and Sunny will be back in a recurring role.

Sonal’s parents, Bhadresh and Mrudula Shah, hail from Mumbai. They moved from India to the US in 1970 and are based in Wheaton, Illinois since 1977. She too grew up in Wheaton, Illinois and started her career as a competitive dancer. Sonal was named the Miss DuPage County Queen/Ambassador and one of DuPage’s Top Twenty Students. She was honored with the Burshtan/Kiwanis Leadership Award and attended Loyola University of Chicago as a Presidential Scholar. While at Loyola, Sonal received the Weinig Travel Fellowship and graduated with a degree in Theatre and pre-medicine.

Sonal went on to become a surefire staple in the Chicago Theatre Community having performed with The Tony Awardwinning Goodman Theatre among many others. She is a founding member of Rasaka Theatre Company and supplemented her acting education at Improv Olympic Chicago, The Moscow Art Theatre School at Harvard University and she graduated from The Second City Conservatory.

Now all the while tutoring students in calculus and working for a prominent PR firm in her “free” time, Sonal has always been a performer. “But did not necessarily always want to pursue it as a career. I started acting when I was in 2nd grade and was nicknamed “Ak-Tress” from all of our family friends from that point. Growing up, I was heavily involved in school plays, community shows, musicals, variety shows, speech team, and show choir. I also consistently performed dances at our temple and in various competitions, shows, etc. Yes, I was pretty much doomed to be a performer. I was an insane overachiever in high school and was always going from one meeting to another! I always knew I was an actor, but didn’t always want to pursue a career as an actor,” she says.

Sonal wanted to be a doctor and heal people. She even took the MCAT the summer before her Junior year of college. “At some point I kind of simply realized my passion for performing outweighed my passion for wanting to be a doctor. I received a best actress acting award from the university and I was shocked that other people thought I could pursue a career in acting!”

Of course getting a break in this highly competitive industry wasn’t easy. Years of efforts went into it. “Every play I’ve done for free or pay, every class I’ve taken, every table I’ve waited on, every random job I’ve had, every theatre company I’ve been a member of, every student film, every sacrifice I’ve made, every mailing I’ve done, every contact I’ve made…all of the countless hours/money spent on marketing, auditions, training, etc….have led to this “break.” I’ve always wanted to do a sitcom and “Scrubs” in particular…is dream come true.”

Ethnicity, however does come in the way she says. “I love to play Indian roles and I also just love to play roles that are not Indian-specific. I love being Indian, but at the end of the day, I am a person…I am me. Every person is unique in his/her own way and every person has an essence. I enjoy playing roles where I am not necessarily Indian but I am a human. Personally, I feel acting is an amazing art form that can be utilized to spread diversity awareness, abolish ignorance and inspire peace in this world.”

Sonal is actively auditioning and most likely will film a leading role as a high school student in a horror movie. “I’ve been enjoying writing, playing guitar, yoga, hiking, and getting in tip-top shape!”
[ BY LAVANYA GARIKINA ]

I’m not gonna lie… I’ve never been a kid person.  In fact, kids kind of scare me.  They make me nervous.  I never know what to say to them.  And then I get nervous that I’ll say the wrong thing and they will say “I hate you” and either begin to cry or run away.  I should continue the rest of the paragraph in the past tense because my thoughts have changed and you will read why.  People WERE usually shocked to hear about my dislike for kids.  I WAS sort of shocked myself.  Clearly, there WAS something wrong with this.

On October 6, 2009…my dislike for children changed.  My whole perspective on kids shifted.  I fell head over heels in love with Rohan.  Rohan was born and stole my heart.  He is the son of my brother Rajan and his wife Sejal.  He is the first baby in our family.  I love him more than much!  He was born with a full head of hair and a smile.  I never knew I could feel this way about anyone.  I can’t even describe the feeling I have…the amount of love I have for him.  And he’s not even MY kid?!!  I can’t even begin to grasp the feeling I’ll have when I have my own child!  Ok, lets not get carried away here…I need to find a husband first.  Ok…back to Rohan.  This little innocent boy has invaded all of our lives with pure happiness.  I love seeing my dad with him- Its too sweet.  Aww…Rohan’s little laugh makes all of the world’s problems go away.

I was so devastated to not be at the hospital when he was born.  Why was I not there?  Because I was stuck in LA suffocating from this business called Hollywood…trying to get a job…and trying not be a one-hit wonder~!   lol.  I wish I was there.  I sooo wish I was there.  But I wasn’t.  And that time has passed.  And now I can only live in the moment and live without regrets.  There is a reason for everything…or at least I keep telling myself that to make myself feel better.  haha…

I am astonished by Rohan.  First of all, where did he come from??  Ok, I know “where” he come from… but how was he created?  How does he have a little heart and a brain and skin and a nose and a body?  How was this little bundle of joy made? I don’t mean scientifically or biologically people…c’mon, give me a lil credit…I was pre-med once on a blue moon.

Rohan is a miracle.  All babies are miracles.  Life is a miracle.  Really.  Truly.  We were all babies once.

Everything is a joy and an experience with Rohan…from changing his diaper to feeding him to simply holding him.  All of these everyday “things” are so special and important.  Sometimes it takes a baby to remind you about enjoying the little things in life.  Pun intended.

For real?!  I don’t know how I made it to this list of cool people!  Check it out by clicking on this link: http://www.currybear.com/wordpress/?p=3859