Portraits of celebrities, a panoramic view of Los Angeles at the Ritz-Carlton in Downtown, live & entertaining music, and the “who’s who” of the entertainment industry describes the birthday gala I attended for Sunny Tripathy’s 25th and Rahul Sharma’s 30th birthday. This was not just your typical LA party – the people we were celebrating are the biggest up and comers in the industry. They will become household names soon enough and well-deserve their success. Sunny Tripathy and Rahul Sharma are now collaborating on a few new business endeavors, which will be revealed next year. I am excited to see what these two innovative and amazing guys come up with next. UCLA-alum Sunny Tripathy turned 25 years old along with Rahul Sharma who turned the big 3–0.
When I walked in I was greeted with the highest level of energy and smiling faces. I looked around the 28th floor of the Ritz-Carlton and found myself staring at the beautiful, starry night view of Downtown LA. It was truly a stunning visual. The guests attending the party were even more stunning. I was expecting the typical LA party where no one wants to get to know anyone. I was very, very wrong. The guests were lovely, kind, and probably the nicest crowd I have mingled with at a party in Los Angeles. The guests were a great reflection of whom we were celebrating. It just goes to show that people who are true and genuine will want you to succeed.
The guests at the soiree were close friends and family, executives from Sony Pictures, Warner Bros, Magic Johnson Enterprises, Buzzfeed, agents, directors, producers, actors, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and high profile cardiologists from Cedars Sinai. Some of the guests attending flew in from the South, East Coast, and Australia! Even the Grammy-winning duo, The Jackie Boyz flew in during a break from their worldwide tour to perform.
Let’s talk about how Sunny Tripathy got to where he is. He is the next big thing and I guarantee you he and his new television series will become a household name. He is an UCLA-alum, an incredibly talented mind, and to make things more interesting he is Indian-American. An extremely kind and passionate guy who oozes his love of filmmaking the minute you spark a conversation with him. In an attempt to get his parents closer together he created a viral YouTube series called, “Keeping Up With The Guptas.” This hilarious, well-written, and relatable series is an amazing pioneer in the future of television.
A few months ago, Sunny went in for a general meeting at FOX. Now, please know that that is a huge deal in itself, just being in the same room as the biggest television executives, producers, and writers. When that staffing job did not work out, Sunny kept his head up with the help of his good friend Dr. Rahul Sharma, a cardiologist fellow currently at Cedars-Sinai. Dr. Rahul Sharma has a very impressive resume. He started medical school at the age of 17 and graduated at the top of his class. He was also the #1 ranked cardiology fellow and the youngest graduating cardiologist in Australia at the age of 29. Sunny and Rahul met at a mutual friend’s party and have been good friends ever since. From their speeches it was evident that they have truly been there for each other in good times and in bad.
I’m pretty sure all of us would drown our sorrows in Oreos, pizza, and a few pints of “Half Baked” Ben & Jerry’s ice cream when we find out we didn’t get our dream job. We can all take a lesson from Sunny and Rahul in that having a supportive friend around you can make all the difference to keep on reaching for the stars. In a few days, Sunny received great news that 20th CENTURY FOX had offered him a development and script deal for a television series based on his family, and that too at the young age of 24.
With a series of new scripts and projects, he is quickly becoming one of the most promising writers in television history. Not only because of how young he is, but because his television series will be the first series about an Indian-American family. He will be the pioneer and role model for so many ethnic groups and races who have long dreamed of being represented in the industry. We have Sunny Tripathy to thank for paving the path of success to accomplish our dreams in film. It will be a scripted comedy series about his family.
“This series will literally be about my family. My wild, incredible parents. I can’t really reveal any details just yet, but know that an Indian-American family will have a central focus.”
It’s about time that there will be a series like this on television! I know that so many of you have been waiting in anticipation for a truthful and hilarious series with a colorful ethnic background. Well, this is it!
As the night went on I was happy to have met a couple of Sunny and Rahul’s closest friends. The authenticity these people had was mind-blowing and fresh. Everyone there was happy for the success of these two pioneers.
By then Sunny and Rahul went up to the intimate setting of a stage (where you could literally touch the Grammy winning performers) and started to deliver their speeches. That is where I saw the true bond between these two men, who referred to each other as long lost brothers. The best and most creative part was how Sunny announced they would switch gears and say what they think the other would say in his speech. I was happy to hear hilarious and extremely embarrassing life stories these two had for one another. In a party setting it was awesome to see their fearless nature of saying stories you wouldn’t even want anyone to know about. There were hilarious puns and obviously extremely well written speeches.
It came to celebrate the true heart of birthdays with the selfless idea of donating toys to the Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA. Guests entered a raffle that would donate the toys in their name. Sunny and Rahul generously donated these toys.
Afterward, the Grammy Award winning band the Jackie Boyz performed about 10 feet away from me. The Jackie Boyz (Los & Steven Battey) are the big names behind many of the hottest acts in music. They have collaborated with Madonna, Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson, Big Time Rush, Cee-Lo, Jennifer Lopez, and the list goes on.
Sunny met the Jackie Boyz while they were performing in the streets of the Third Street Promenade. Sunny helped to promote the Jackie Boyz through videography and marketing. They have been friends for the past eight years. The Jackie Boyz were nominated twice for a Grammy, winning their first one in 2011.
Their story was very heartfelt and touching. As Sunny introduced them, I learned that these two brothers had lost their parents a few years ago, but still went on to write and produce music in Los Angeles.
After hearing the first song titled, “I Hope You’re Proud of Me” I was fighting back tears because I think of those lyrics almost every time I wake up. These two guys have literally taken the thoughts out of my head and wrote them into the most beautiful and soul-touching song.
“When I get to heaven I wanna hear you’re proud of me. Nine years ago I had a dream, I swear it felt so real to me. Watching you walk through that door, seeing you don’t have to hurt no more.
Do I stand the way you taught me how?
I hope you’re proud of me, ‘cuz when I get to heaven I wanna hear you’re proud of me.”
There was something about hearing these lyrics and the shared pain of losing a parent that not many people really understand. I felt their strength, their tears, and love.
After their performance, which could best be described as having a band in your living room (dream come true!) I was able to get an interview with them and chat for a bit. What I was most curious about was the process of how they write a song so deep, emotional, and close to their hearts. I told them about how I lost my mom and how writing is an outlet for me. The Jackie Boyz told me that music is their outlet and the three of us agreed how writing and music is like therapy for our souls. The best thing I heard was when Los Battey of the Jackie Boyz said,
“You have to be ok with being vulnerable.”
What they said hit home. That is the best way to summarize moving on and staying strong. These brothers are very successful and truly deserve it. When people are that genuine and have really experienced hardship they understand the way to get out of the darkness and into the light. Being okay with being vulnerable will unlock the door of all the darkness we harbor when we grieve. I took a lesson from the Jackie Boyz, Rahul Sharma, and Sunny Tripathy and will become more comfortable with myself and really own my own life story.
Sunny and Rahul will definitely be the inspirations on our minds when we are looking to accomplish what we think is impossible. Their story is authentic and heartfelt, which is something we can all soon enjoy on a television screen near you!
