SO about a month ago we received a call that South Asian Arts was invited to perform at the JUNO's. I say this so casually like I wasn't jumping up and down beating Gopi with slaps of disbelief... well sometimes I just beat him for playing a song I don't like, or if a curl is out of place ... BUT this was as,  I like to call it,  " happy beating" kinda like happy tears!

 Amongst all other preparations for our 30 secs of fame,  I had a goal. To get that interview with Russell. Sushma ji was one of the first people we told of our exciting news even though it was a secret... well she's our boss so we kinda needed to not be at work  for rehearsal, in exchange I VOWED to get the interview.

On the Thursday before the show we had a rehearsal in GM place. I must say its been a big dream of mine to perform in GM place. We've performed everywhere in the city... parks, all the theaters, malls you name it but not the coveted GM place. Mariah, JT, the Canucks and now... RAAKHI.

So we get into the building, are led to the stage look into the empty stadium. We start marking out our spots and about 20 mins later I'm looking down at the stage to turn around to see gold and black patent converse shoes... Russell! Not that I'm a star struck person but I was nervous and just wanted him to REMEMBER ME! In 2002, I took a semester at McGill University and helped to MC a show with Russell called "Milan". At first he didn't remember but then he did! Thank goodness otherwise I would have looked like a big dummy to Gops and the gang. 

As we are dancing I was trying to figure out how to corner him into saying yes to the interview... so about an 2 hours in we're standing back stage and it was just me and him PERFECT! I'd tried to use my "girl power" ... by that I mean smiling and being sweet ...  and asked him if i could have just 10 mins... he said "Sure sweetheart"!

That’s the story, was it a good one?

OH right... there’s more so we chatted in his dressing room outfitted with white leather couches, a big screen plasma TV and lots of food.

The guy from Much music who is on Video on Trial ... Travis? Blond? You know who I’m talking about, he was there as were many others there... so a little more nerve wracking that I would have liked it to be ... but not as bad as when I had the caffeine shakes while interviewing Deepa Metha. 

The show was awesome, we were at the top of it in Russells opening... but we had a tactic. We figured that even though we were done,  we should STAY in our bhangra costumes and run around backstage to get pictures!

Why? Well if we took our costumes off people would think we were security guards and not give a crap about us!

This was a good plan as it enabled us to chat about how colourful and beatiful bhangra is with Michael Buble, Sarah Machlaughlan, Brian Adams, Nickelback and so on and so on. Check out my picts :)

Final thoughts...

Russell Peters is a nice guy who is extremely professional and has got it together... KUDOS

Performing at GM place to a deafening crowd of 15 thousand throwing their energy back at me was a dream come true...

Thats my STORY!