Re-release: Arpita Kumar- My Dear Americans

What is it like to idolize a country and then move there? Do the realities you face stand up to the fantasy you created? How do you now identify? Because they have lived in the US for the duration of their lives, these are questions that Akaash and Arjun don’t have to face; however, there are many people within the South Asian American diaspora who do. Meet Arpita Kumar: a Lucknow native from the state of Uttar Pradesh. Arpita left home to come to America and is now an exciting new filmmaker. Arpita came here 11 years ago and has been a staunch lover of the United States ever since. So as you imagine, there were some fireworks in this interview. Akaash and Arjun ask how her journey to the US shaped the creation of her award winning short film My Dear Americans, as well as how it shapes her marriage and general identity. In a departure from their normal format, a captivating discussion post interview sparked our hosts to include Arpita in their usual one-on-one discussion.