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Gargi Duggal is a multifaceted artist whose journey spans the realms of modeling, acting, and dance. After making waves in India with commercials and dance performances, Gargi took a decade-long sabbatical upon moving to the U.S., only to return stronger than ever. Her remarkable comeback began with winning a prestigious Dance USA Dance award, which reignited her passion for the arts. Since then, she has graced numerous music videos, walked the runway at New York Fashion Week in both 2023 and 2024, and transformed her personal YouTube channel into a thriving music label. A true cultural ambassador, Gargi continues to blend her South Asian roots with her artistic pursuits, inspiring a new generation with her creativity and talent. Let’s dive deeper into her artistic evolution and find out what drives her passion for creativity.
- From Gujarat to Texas – A Journey of Transformation
Your move from Gujarat, India, to Texas must have been life-changing. What challenges did you face while adapting to a new culture, and how did this shift influence your career and vision?
Answer- For a person like me who is deeply rooted to cultural and traditional activities back home, it was very hard and challenging in the beginning to settle down in a foreign land. But I was inspired to create a unique South Asian media house—a one-stop platform for all ethnicities. My vision is to provide a space for the new generation to stay connected to our culture and traditions, while continuously evolving with the changing world and technology to bring the best forward.
- Breaking Boundaries in Entertainment
You’ve built one of the only female owned Indian music and film production companies in the U.S. What inspired you to focus on this niche market, and how did you overcome the challenges of being a pioneer in this industry?
Answer- Nothing comes easy, and I faced my own challenges along the way. When I released my first music video, I had no idea it would evolve into a full-fledged music label—Gargi Productions. Initially, I just wanted to build my acting resume, but as I continued making videos across the US, Mexico, and India, I saw the need for a platform like this for the South Asian community in the US. It felt like the perfect way to help the younger generation stay connected to their roots. For this, I was honoured with the K. L. Saigal Award at the International Indian Film Festival in 2023 for promoting Indian culture abroad.
- Empowering Indian Culture Globally
As someone representing Indian culture on an international stage, how do you balance maintaining traditional roots while appealing to a global audience?
Answer- The US is a melting pot. One good thing about the US is that this country has always been and will always be willing to embrace different cultures. Diversity is at its peak all around the world, and that is why it is so much easier for me to showcase the traditional roots with the medium of my music label to the global audience, especially that the social media platforms including youtube are global. Utilizing them aids in projecting out the traditional roots to a larger audience globally.
- From Model to Mogul.
How did your career as a model shape your journey into entrepreneurship, and how do you juggle both worlds successfully?
Answer- I modeled and acted for many local Indian brands before moving to the US and taking a decade-long break. The fear of not doing it in this lifetime was haunting me. After my knee surgery in 2016, I won a Dance USA Dance award, which boosted up my spirit. After that I kept performing at different dance shows and I also started working on modeling assignments with local photographers until covid hit in 2020. Later that year, I released my first music video “Aye Meri Jaan”. After that I have acted in 11 music videos so far and turned my personal YouTube channel into a Music Label. Along with this I have been modeling and acting in commercial ads for local businesses in the US. I have walked NewYork Fashion Week in 2023 and 2024 and I’m a published model as well. For me embracing flexibility and being open to collaboration have been the key in successfully juggling both.
- Building a Female-Led Empire
As a woman leading a thriving entertainment company, what are some of the hurdles you faced in the business world, and what advice would you give to other women aspiring to break into the industry?
Answer- People who try to do bigger and bolder things in the world find out that it’s not about the avenues or the technology, It’s about the regulatory hurdles that will try to stop them. I have faced many hurdles related to finances, bullying, and patriarchy. The media world that I’m a part of is full of unsupportive people who try to bring you down. My advice to all aspiring women is to believe in yourself, stay determined and never give up. I have two daughters and I have taught them to be self reliant and strong headed in the career they would want to pursue, fortunately they are following the same path as mine. Gargi Productions prides itself in being an all women led company and our goal is to take Gargi Productions to higher heights.
- Overcoming Doubt & Rising to the Top
Did you ever encounter skepticism or doubt from others regarding your ability to make Indian films and music production succeed in the U.S.? If so, how did you turn those doubts into fuel for your success?
Answer- Absolutely, every now and then I face these kinds of questions, what is your end goal? Where do you see this going? What is your ROI? Isn’t this just your passion? When do you plan to quit? For how long will you be doing this? The biggest challenge is to convince your own family members that you have a vision and you will succeed one day. Ofcourse, I have a long way to go and I’ll continue to grow till my last breath. But whatever success I have achieved so far, I’m proud of that. Completion of every project is an accomplishment that I love to celebrate. It’s always a milestone. I’m proud to say that after 10 music videos we have now started working with local talents in the US. Gargi Productions is working on bringing fresh talents onboard for all our upcoming music videos and filming projects. We opened a brand “Glam & Groove by Gargi Productions” specially to hunt new talents from different areas of expertise like Singing, Dancing, Acting and Modeling. We provide them the required training before we cast them in our productions. We also give opportunities to students and budding videographers, photographers, directors and audio-video producers.
- Gargi Productions: The Story Behind the Success
Could you share some behind-the-scenes moments or stories about the struggles and triumphs that shaped Gargi Productions into what it is today?
Answer- What happens behind the scenes often shapes the real outcome. The journey from struggle to success is where true transformation happens. In 2022, while in India for video projects, I encountered someone who tried to bully me, assuming that being female and US-based made me an easy target. Little did he know I’m born and raised in India, fully capable of navigating challenges. My determination and motto to never give up led me to not only get all my work done from other unknown people back then, together we made those projects a huge success. Fast forward to now, I found new collaborators and together, we turned those projects into a success. When I returned in 2023 for more projects, the challenges resurfaced, but so did my determination. Success is earned in the moments no one sees, and giving up was never an option.
- The Power of Vision
What was the turning point in your life when you knew that you were destined to create something bigger than yourself? How did you transform that vision into a successful business?
Answer- Quite frankly, I did not know that I would be turning my passion into a business. But as I kept making and releasing music videos around the US, Mexico and India, I realized that this kind of platform was missing in the US for the South Asian community. We have so many talented people out here in the US and I felt like this would be the best way to help the younger generation stay connected to their roots. For this, I’ve also received a prestigious K. L Seigal award for promoting Indian culture outside India by the International Indian Film Festival in 2023.
- Making Waves in the U.S. Market
Indian entertainment has a distinct flavor. How do you strategize to make it resonate with audiences in the U.S. and what has the response been like?
Answer- We have created a nuanced strategy that bridges cultural differences while maintaining authenticity. We incorporate universally relatable themes like love, family, and ambition, while weaving in Indian cultural elements like music, festivals, or traditional values in a way that’s accessible and exciting to US audiences. We work with US-based videographers, directors, actors and singers to create cross-cultural narratives that mix Indian and American entertainment flavors. We keep the core essence of Indian entertainment but avoid stereotypes and focus on universal experiences. So far the response is amazing and we believe it will keep growing more and more in the near future.
- A Day in the Life of Gargi
What does a typical day look like for you, juggling modeling assignments, business responsibilities, and personal life? Any secrets to staying productive and motivated?
Answer- Secret to my success is that I harmonize all my energy in the positive direction. I let the universe work in my favor by focusing on my goals and objectives. Along with my modeling and acting career and running my entrepreneurship, I’m also a mother of two beautiful girls who are as passionate as I’m in their educational and extracurricular activities. I do have to balance my parental responsibilities along with my work duties. It is all possible because I love myself to the fullest. I think if you love yourself, everything else falls in place.
Gargi Duggal’s artistic journey is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of cultural connection. From her roots in India to her flourishing career in the U.S., she has been redefining herself, embracing new challenges and inspiring others with her passion for the arts. As she moves forward, Gargi remains committed to bridging the gap between her South Asian heritage and her global artistic vision. With her ever-growing influence in music and dance, she is not only a role model for aspiring artists but also a shining star of cultural pride, poised to leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.
Interviewed and compiled by Rebecca. For any queries or to get published, email at rebecca@wmhindia.com
