“Taking Form” w/ Punya Rajput

Continuing on with introducing you to the writers behind the new Chai with Rai series An Ode: Reframing the Classics- welcoming to the Chai room Punya Rajput. She wrote a short story titled The Sabhā No Longer Stands which reimagines Draupadi, not as a divine heroine, but as a woman confronting the shame, jealousy, and emotional labor imposed on her by a heteropatriarchal world. Through a deeply affective conversation with Krishna, she lays bare the moral contradictions, expectations, and embodied violence present in society. Her body becomes a site of symbolic control, her desires policed, her identity fragmented. P.S- you can stream the story now on our Patreon channel HERE. Speaking of this episode we definitely discuss mythology, Punya’s storytelling experience, she was in the midst of her masters- so discussing academia and creativity. The path and trajectory of an actor in India vs UK . So, I cannot wait for you to listen to this episode and just get some good ol nuggets. Punya's Bio: Punya is a freelance creative who believes in the power of stories—on stage, on screen, and on the page. A proud member and ambassador of the National Youth Theatre, she’s brought her love for performance to short films, ads, and creative spaces in both India and the UK. With a background in sociology and a master’s in education policy, her work weaves together research and creativity. Her dissertation explored drama-based pedagogy and how emotion, imagination, and connection shape how we learn about gender. She hopes to tell stories that spark something—joy, reflection, maybe even a little magic. Big feelings, big laughs, and a strong belief that everything’s better with a little chaos and a lot of Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Topics Breakdown: Storytellers and Styles of writing that have shaped an understanding of text and building worlds as a storyteller. Balancing surrealism, subtext and access as a storyteller. Process as an actor. Working and process as a South Asian Actor. Working as an actor in India vs in the UK. Passion for storytelling and connection to mythology . The writing and audio story The Sabhā No Longer Stands for An Ode: Reframing the Classics . To listen to the short story, subscribe to Patreon and become a Patron/ supporter of Chai with Rai. Social Myself: https://www.instagram.com/chaiwithrai_ & https://twitter.com/chaiwithrai_ & https://www.tiktok.com/@chaiwithrai Guest: https://www.instagram.com/punya_rrajput/ & https://www.instagram.com/noirae00/ Links Myself: https://www.raimuitfum.com/chaiwithraihomepage & https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_