Shoba Narayan: The Indian American who reprised Simran in musical adaptation of DDLJ

(November 16, 2022) “Jaa Simran Jaa, Jee le Apni Zindagi” has become an iconic dialogue, and almost every Indian girl at some point in her life has dreamt of having this Simran moment, thanks to Aditya Chopra’s 1995 blockbuster Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge. And now 27 years later, the director decided to marry Broadway with Bollywood through the musical adaptation of Raj and Simran’s love story. While Kajol has remained synonymous with Simran, Indian-American actor Shoba Narayan decided to give her own spin to the classic character in the Broadway adaptation of DDLJ, which had its world premiere at the Old Globe in San Diego this September.

“The fact that we have an Indian musical headed to Broadway feels incredibly personal and monumental to me as an Indian American actor who grew up loving Bollywood films and musical theatre. It was only a matter of time before Broadway and Bollywood found each other and I am over the moon to be leading this exceptional production,” she had told IANS during a media interaction.

Shoba Narayan playing Simran in DDLJ musical (Photo Courtesy: Variety)

Being the first Bollywood musical to make it to Broadway, Come Fall in Love explores the importance of inclusivity and diversity, and aims for cultural unification. “Come Fall in Love tells a beautiful story of uniting people from different walks of life. Given the narrative of division that has been running in our world today, Come Fall in Love is a heartfelt and relevant show that explores the importance of inclusivity and learning about a world beyond our own,” added the 33-year-old.

A dream that began young

Shoba’s love for acting and theatre began much early in life. While growing up in Bryn Mawr in Pennsylvania, Shoba would often perform much to the chagrin of her siblings. Though her brothers thought of her acts as a “daily torture”, her parents saw the potential in her and soon enrolled her in music and dance classes spanning Indian and Western forms. Be it Bharatnatyam or ballet or violin or Carnatic music, she explored all aspects of performing arts, including musical theatre. “I knew I wanted to be on Broadway when I saw my first show in New York City as a child. I found myself completely taken by the calibre of the talent and production I saw on stage. I knew one day I wanted to be up on a stage and to make an audience feel what I felt during that show. Though I didn’t see anyone that looked remotely like me performing, I let myself dream,” she told DeshVidesh in an interview.

Shoba Narayan is an Indian American actress.

As young as nine, she made her debut in the musical The King and I, and since then, there has been no looking back for her. “Throughout school, I was involved in every music and theatrical group. Having art in my day made me feel alive. Growing up and feeling a bit like an alien and an outsider, art gave me a sense of belonging, purpose, and a way to express myself,” she told the Brown Girl Magazine.

Turning dream into reality

Having found her calling, she wanted to dive deep into musical theatre as it was the right mix of passion, storytelling and performance for her. That’s when she decided to choose a career in the arts at the Boston Conservatory in Berklee, where she majored in musical theatre and acting. Having honed her skills, she relocated to New York city to make her dreams come true.

It was in 2015 that she bagged a role in Growing Up Smith, a film about an Indian immigrant family who adopts a new lifestyle while maintaining their values and culture. Having earned her first Hollywood film was a validation for Shoba, who was called out in the eighth grade for wanting to perform the lead role in the production The Wizard of Oz because of her colour. ““The girls were telling me there was no one that looked like me on Broadway, so why would I play the role?” she told Glamour, adding, “I wanted to do it so badly that nothing could stop me.” It was her mother who encouraged her to follow her dreams, despite the naysayers. She finally ended up getting the part.

Foraying into the mainstream

That willpower and perseverance helped her during the trying times in her career, especially the initial struggles. But she did find herself bag roles in good projects like Quantico, Gossip Girl, and Growing Up Smith. Being an Indian American, she did find underrepresentation a little unnerving. “The acting path is hard as is with the amount of rejection one faces, but being a minority actor can add more complexity, especially if you are gunning for lead roles. I think the first challenge to note it is that there is a lack of roles written specifically for Indian actors. Though we are getting better visibility on television, the majority of lead roles are still written and given to white actors,” she told the website.

 

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However, she believes that it’s “high time” cinema or theatre or television begins to redefine the way a typical American could look. “I hope to continue to play complex, three-dimensional women that break stereotypes for women of colour. It’s an uphill battle, but an exciting one. Lots of glass ceilings to break,” the Indian American added.

A South Asian taking the centrestage

Things started to shift for in 2017 when she returned to stage musicals with Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, thus becoming the only South Asian female in a leading role since Bombay Dreams was on stage in 2004-2005. While growing up she never saw anyone like her on the big screen or on stage. The closest was Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine, a fictional character in a cartoon film. “To have someone who was strong, could sing, was beautiful, desirable, and brave, wanted to question authority and potentially rule a kingdom…I wanted to be her,” she told Glamour.

 

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Life had come a full circle for Shoba who got to essay the role of Princess Jasmine in musical – Aladdin – in 2021. The actor made sure that being a lead cast member, she was properly representing the background in which Aladdin is set – be it changing some lines or working on pronunciation. “Things like that, I wanted to make sure while I’m in the show, how can I help audiences who may be from our background feel a little bit more like they’re being represented properly,” she told NPR.

In 2022, she was yet again seen on Broadway – this time for Aditya Chopra’s DDLJ that celebrates the theme if inclusivity. “It’s a great moment of pride to see our Indian culture celebrated and represented so authentically on the world’s biggest stage. This is something I’ve spent my life and career fighting for. Hopefully, this will be the first of many,” the Indian American told ET.

 

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From performing for her family to now being a leading lady on a big stage, Shoba has come a long way. And she believes that her journey can be an inspiration for many girls from minority groups. “The performing arts are a steep climb and the opportunities for minorities and women to play leading roles are far and few between. In the face of constant rejection, you will ask yourself why you got into this business in the first place. Then you will remember that you can’t imagine doing anything else. That this is who you are. Never stop pounding the pavement. Doors will open for you.”

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