Representing a growing and increasingly prolific community of South Asian culture sharing drag performers here in NYC, RuAfza is here for our “Brat” and “Pink Pony Club” vibes while taking part in what will be the City’s biggest desi drag showcase ever this weekend! [Cover photo: Angel Rivera]
Thotyssey: Hi RuAfza, how is your July so far?
RuAfza: Hey! July is good… super busy, but cannot complain about that at all. Everything this month leads to “Dragistan” for me, the biggest desi drag show in the U.S., on the 26th!
Very exciting! Before we get into the details of that, can we discuss a bit of your origin story? Let’s start with: where are you originally from, and growing up what interests did you have that may have ultimately put you on this drag path?
I’m from India! I moved to Boston for college in 2018. I was a really shy kid growing up, probably [because of] the queerness. I was always really into dancing and being the one to make people smile. I absolutely sucked academically pretty much my whole life. In fact I needed a full ride to come to the U.S., and when I got one my dad was like, “oh shit, you actually got it!!?”
But yeah, I grew up moving every two or three years… so I never really had a chance to make incredible friends. When I first came to the US in 2018, I was so excited to be in this queer heaven. I had been out at home and had myself a lil’ community in Delhi, but everyone was so sure moving here would mean amazing things for me. Unfortunately, Boston sucked. Being a low income (in America) queer POC in that city was excruciating. Being 17 and having to handle my own finances after being a privileged kid back in India (boo hoo I know) also was a shock.
Luckily I met Kareem Khubchandani (LaWhore Vagistan), my drag mom there! Her classes and presence made existence a bit more fun. I found my friends. I also went home quite often, and now I was a young queer person in Delhi–which is such a fun experience. I truly love that city.
In 2022, LaWhore had a drag class she teaches… and I took it. It was essentially a performance studies class where we critically analyzed drag and learned tricks from performers. The class ended in a big show, and RuAfza went from my locked bedroom for only me to see to the stage for everyone. Then after a few months, I finally in March of 2023 did my first bar gig at MT Hart’s “Drag Stroll,” and the rest is history.
Roohafza is popular herbal squash juice drink in South Asia. Is it yummy?
Oh, it’s everything. Nothing like coming back from school in the heat and drinking a tall glass of roohafza and ice water.
When you started to create your drag repertoire, who or what influenced you as far as music, divas, etc.?
I think definitely early 2000s desi divas like Rakhi Sawant (queer icon!), but also all the local street theatre I watched growing up and item girls who would perform these salacious numbers for everyone to see (both in person and in films).
RuAfza is also a South Delhi Girl, which is a very specific, ultra-rich type of cis woman who is entitled in the most cunt way. It was my way of taking the elitism that I faced by these people, and making fun of it.
Music-wise, I love using pop culture moments in India. So songs like “Kanta Laga,” or even “Exotic” by Priyanaka Chopra–anything I could be cunt with, but also be a little funny. Some quick diva shout-outs that inspired my drag: LaWhore Vagistan, Babli from Bunty Aur Babli (Rani Mukherjee), Candace Persuasion, etc.
When I was coming up in the scene over the past few decades here in New York, I saw and heard of very few local desi drag performers beyond Sundari the Indian Goddess. But very recently, there is a growing / thriving desi drag community here and in surrounding cities! What do you attribute that shift to, if anything specific?
Me moving here! Lol, JK. I mean, there was always Sundari, Malai, Chutney Chataranga and Lal Batti–some of the first desi queens in NYC I heard of. There were desi kings like Spicy Delight and burlesque performers like Mercy Masala. And many more like Bijli even back in the day.
I really think desi drag is booming in NYC… I mean, just ask PAPER Magazine! I think there’s a combination of things: one, the desi scene for drag is small… so opportunities to see desi drag is lesser; and two, we’ve made a lot of effort to come together and support each other. I think seeing desi queens out and about helps other people start doing drag!
There’s also such a shame attached to gender exploration when you’re desi. Hijra or Khwaja Sira folk back home face such violence for their gender transgressions that as a community, we are scared to break the binary. But they are the ones that teach us that there is joy within these transgressions… within community.
Oh, also… the scene can be so queen-focused. Desi kings and things are so underbooked within desi spaces. But I’m trying to change that by making a Brooklyn desi scene that feels more inclusive!
There are noteworthy branded parties and events catered towards queer desi folk including Yuva and Yalla. Do you see a tight knit community of queer desi folks in the city, or is it new people every time?
I think Yuva has a pretty consistent crowd; people travel from Jersey, Queens, etc. to Manhattan, and I see familiar faces always. I have been finding new people in Brooklyn coming out to my shows like “Partition,” and they have become regulars at most of my shows now. But there are always a few new people, and it’s so great seeing them in a desi queer space living there best queer life.
Let’s get into “Dragistan” discussion. First off, that event is gonna be so major that it requires a pre-party: “Dostransna” at C’mon Everybody this Thursday!
Oh my God! So Dostana is an iconic Bollywood film which was a lot of desi people’s first time they even heard the word “gay!” The film follows two guys who act as a gay couple to rent two bedrooms in an apartment where a hot girl lives alone–they fall in love, become friends, etc. The whole film is ultra-camp and very homophobic, made by a queer director who is the worst.
So I wanted to take the film and turn it on its head, and make it into an actual queer film. I’ve wanted to produce this for months; I’m so happy it’s come together with a stellar cast. It’s gonna be insane! We have throuples, strap-ons, a leather loving kink aunty, and so much more. LaWhore produced “Dragistan,” and I help her every year. So this year I was like, “we should do a smaller, more intimate show the night before,” and “Dostransna” was the idea. I love riding my mother’s coattails!
Now tell us about “Dragistan” proper, the following day at 3 Dollar Bill! What’s the origin of this event, and what can the children expect on Friday?
“Dragistan” comes from the mind of LaWhore Vagistan, one of the most iconic desi queens in this world (I’m biased). So LaWhore has been a staple in desi drag for years, and last year did “Dragistan” at Fire Island… it was a roaring success. This year, we are bringing it to Brooklyn… so it’s more accessible, and also bigger! There are 20 desi drag artists. There are kings, things and queens. The legendary Ashu Rai is DJing. It’s going to be next level.
Expect some of the most gaggy drag you’ve seen. Expect all of your Fuckboy trans mascs from Lex to be there, and expect a night of desi debauchery that cannot be recreated (even though people are trying)!
But genuinely, LaWhore really makes space for desi artists like nobody else in the desi scene. Her curation is so intentional and inclusive, but she won’t book you just to be inclusive… you have to be cunt, too. This woman studies nightlife for a living, of course it’s cunt.
In the past few months, you partook in a bunch of Brooklyn tributes to western pop girlies, like Chappell Roan quite recently. Do you have any personal favorites of such girlies?
Absolutely! Okay, there’s obviously Beyoncé, our mother. Growing up I also loved Charli (thus, the show that I produced). Other western pop divas I loved were Shakira, Gaga, Taylor (everything she makes now sucks, unfortunately)… and I had a moment when I was obsessed with the Disney girls like Miley, Demi, Selena, etc. Oh, and Lorde!
I just love a sad white girl.
That brings us to some other shows down the road, including another Chari XCX tribute at C’mon on August 4th!
Yes! MTHR TRSA is producing it and she’s one of my fav performers in this city. We are cooking up an insane show with two sittings!
And I see you’ll be in the East Village in August.
I am performing at “Let Them Eat Jalebi” on August 7th at the Slipper Room; it’s an all desi burlesque revue.
Speaking of Lorde–you are paying tribute to her as well, soon!
I have a very exciting Lorde show I am producing at C’mon Everybody on August 16th at 8pm and the cast is stacked. We have me, Cheeks Voila, Fefe Fo Fum, MissMa’amShe and Julie J!
Anything else coming up?
Towards the end of August, Soraya Sis and I will be bringing back the energy of our first show, “Westboro Bad Bitch Church,” to a new religion! More on that soon.
All very exciting! Okay, lastly: what is your favorite item in your drag bag, cosmetics or otherwise?
I sweat like a bitch (when I was ten, someone said that), so my electric fan! Shoutout to the Jisulife electronic fan–you’ll always be famous.
Thanks, RuAfza!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for RuAfza’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
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