Meet Maya, a Desi Woman who could run circles around Sarah Jessica Parker from "Sex in the City," any day!
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Sonia SinghShe`s the voice of reason (in her own mind at least) and shares the
same struggles we women face - finding a good man who doesn`t smell like chicken tikka masala or saag paneer for you vegetarians out there!
But she processes the powers of a Goddess. Can you imagine drinking a frappacino and not gaining a pound? Sonia Singh, the author of Goddess for Hire takes time out for the readers of Hollywood Masala to give us the low down on Maya.
I think Singh can set a trend on how to write South Asian characters because she expresses thoughts we often think but never have the guts to say - at least in front of the "Auntiejis" arre va! Although she admitted her wit isn`t as sharp as Maya`s, but it surely glowed in her writing.
Goddess For Hire brings out the humor in day-to-day situations of the modern American Born Confu...ERR Creative Desi!
PC: After Goddess For Hire was completed, did you go back to dancing on the tables at Indian functions?
SS: Well, I tried. I really did. But after the other party guests started flinging samosas at me I realized my days of table dancing were finally over.
PC: How long did it take you to write this novel?
SS: It took me about nine months. I suppose instead of having a baby...I had a book (my baby). But I`ve had the story idea in my head for years.
PC: The feistiness and brash humor Maya had, is that a part of who Sonia Singh is?
SS: I wish! Maya says the things I`ve always wanted to say. She`s also far wittier than I. I tend to think of a good comeback three days after the conversation.
PC: You sure fooled me! I find you very witty! Why`d you choose Kali-Ma as Maya`s reincarnation spirit?
SS: I did a paper on Kali in college and presented it at a conference. There was so much interest in her and I think she`s a fascinating deity--very misunderstood.
PC: How many "Aunties" have you encountered who`ve constantly thrown bio datas at you?
SS: Two of my aunties have presented me with bio-datas. They shall remain nameless.
PC: And on the flip side Dimple made a perfect match in the end, so do you think that gives hope for all the match-matching Aunties out there?
SS: Yes, I did see the risk in taking that creative decision. Well, Tahir is a one in a million guy so I guess match-making aunties get it right sometimes...like once in a million.
PC: Do you think Maya represents a lot of American born Desis attitude?
SS: I can`t speak for all desis, but Maya definitely represents some of my attitudes and the attitudes of my close desi friends and family. At the same time though Maya is a character, one that shuns India and Indian ways. I think I`m a bit more embracing of my Indian heritage.
PC: What kind of Goddess powers do you process?
SS: I can shift the earth`s gravitational pull, but there`s not much use for that.
PC: Unless you have to knock a blind date out of his chair to run! To me you almost seem like you`re "Comedy Goddess," do you prefer writing comedy oppose to drama?
SS: I started our mostly writing drama. I had a short stint in Bollywood writing for a soap opera and of course that was all melodrama. I do prefer comedy though and like to brag that comedy is harder to write than anything else so of course I must be amazingly talented...
PC: Could you beat Maya in a frappacino chug down competition?
SS: Yikes! Unlike Maya, I don`t care for Starbucks coffee. I prefer Coffee Bean. I could probably beat her in a martini chug down competition though...or maybe not.
PC: Do you have any plans to make Goddess For Hire into a movie?
SS: Of course I have plans! I`m just waiting for Steven Spielberg to call. I do have an agent in Hollywood representing the book so let`s cross our fingers.
PC: If could pick any actress to play Maya, who would you pick and why?
SS: I`m all for South Asians playing South Asian roles but I really did envision Salma Hayek when I created Maya. However, Salma is a wee bit older than Maya and I don`t think she could do a Southern California accent. There`s this actress on the OC--Navi Rawat. I`d like her to play Maya.
PC: But I know this Guju gal who would be interested in the role too! Are you excited about SASA 2k5?
SS: You know I`ve never attended SASA before and I`m looking forward to it.
PC: Believe me, SASA is an event you will NEVER forget. Back to the book, if you were to make a sequel to it, what crazy antics would you get Maya caught up in?
SS: Poor Maya...I really do throw the craziness at her, don`t I? I`d like to take Maya and Tahir to India. I want Maya to meet the rest of Tahir`s family and of course I`d like to plop her down in the middle of a crazy Delhi street filled with vendors, hawkers, beggars, cars and all that Indian madness and see what she`d do.
PC: Maybe she will start throwing samosas?
SS: (Gives Peta a weird look)
PC: Hmmm by that look on your face I guess she wouldn`t do that. That`s something I would do. (wink) Ok last question! How about giving the readers a sweet Coca-Cola tidbit on your latest projects?
SS: Well, I just finished up my second book titled, "Bollywood Confidential." The book is due out the summer of 2005 and it`s based on my own adventures in Bollywood. It`s another comedy starring another Southern California desi girl who flies to Bombay to star in a Bollywood extravaganza.