Chai with Rai

• “Call me by my Name” w/ Bolly Illusion

  Welcoming BACK Bolly Illusion a.k.a Anthony Pius.  This was a wonderful conversation into the new Audio series produced by Chai with Rai An Ode: Reframing the Classics in which Anthony wrote a short story called The Sari Chronicles.  The storytelling series had two exhibition residencies in London over Summer of 2025 at Theatre Deli and the LGBTQ+ Centre at London Bankside. We also discuss outlook on artistry and how our experience can inform our practice as creatives, the expansion/ highlights of Bolly's work, future work and the cabaret/ drag space.  Bolly/ Anthony's bio:  Bolly-Illusion (Anthony Pius)  is a drag Artist who has been slaying the stage in the world of cabaret for over 4 years. They infuse Indian music and beats to showcase their Indian heritage, there’s no light bulb moves here but you’ll defo want to get up out of your seat when you see them twirling around in a 6-inch stiletto.  They have been seen dancing in Marvel’s Eternal, other accomplishments include being featured in Vogue Italia, I-Weigh and Gay Times. Venues they have been blessed to perform in are the Design Museum, Hackney Empire, V&A Museum and Roundhouse Theatre to name a few. Topics Breakdown:  Misconceived notions or perceptions about yourself that the cabaret and drag space has helped unlearn or inform.   Finding liberation and joy with fellow queer artists. Being optimistic around negativity.   Central Cee Obsession. Political Views and standpoints. Discussing writing the short story "The Sari Chronicles"  Favourite part of the job.  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/bolly_illusion Links Myself: https://www.raimuitfum.com/chaiwithraihomepage  & https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_   Guest: https://linktr.ee/bolly_illusion?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnEbCwpcoaGtZnZO4r4zVCjApImoxmUjk8nc6dx48JocbG3QCCoiE-edd7zzw_aem_lKEhjCMXZG2GgDKXCz3uIQ  

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• “Softly and Gently” w/ Robert Emms

  Welcoming to The Chai Room- Robert Emms.  We discussed his new project The Choral, which is out in cinemas right now- make sure to check it out. P.S - the end made me cry and we discuss that.  We also discuss his new project Bad Apples.  This was such a great insight into the mind of an Actor. We chatted about the concept of idolising and hero worshipping the creatives you might be working with to the truth and subtext of acting. How to create the world of your story and emote it through various techniques. I cannot wait for you to hear this and get inspired. Robert's bio: Robert Emms is a film, stage and television actor best known for his roles in Andor, Chernobyl and Happy Valley. His breakout role came when he was starring in the lead role of Albert Narracott in War horse, after Steven Spielberg saw him in the show and cast him in the film version of the play. He has starred in many films including War Horse, Mirror Mirror, Apostasy, Broken aswell as the upcoming Alan Bennett film The Choral and Bad Apples.   Topics Breakdown:  Choral Play Hero Worshipping  Subtext of Acting  Truth of acting Bad Apples (new project) Of course some Rapid responses and WHAT THE CHAI?! To 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/robertemms/?hl=en     Links: Myself: https://www.raimuitfum.com/chaiwithraihomepage & https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_  Guest: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3016166/?ref_=ttfc_fcr_3_31   Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in. To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.          

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• “Get your juices flowing” w/ Francesca Gamble

  Welcome to the Chai Room 👀☕️ Francesca Gamble I had such a magnetic time with Fran and felt very empowered after our chat. It was such a healing insight into what your mind can look like when you do the work and dare to be brave. How we can lead and stand in the mosh pit of it all, the good, the bad and everything in between. It was also wonderful to have an insight into the business of a fast pace service industry, that often works on KPI's, metrics set by others and orientated to others creative vision. In all of this I truly found an honest voice of Fran's. I cannot wait for you to hear this and get inspired.  Fran's Bio:  Francesca is the founder of Global Talent Network Group and 29 London, celebrating a decade in business this year. With a career spanning top agencies including The Engine Group, M&C Saatchi, and Chime Group, Francesca brings deep expertise in brand building, entrepreneurship, and the business of talent. As a solo founder who has grown her companies without external funding, she offers a unique perspective on building Talent-first strategies and why brands must look beyond influencers to drive real influence and cultural impact. Topics Breakdown:  You often say “talent isn’t the last layer — it is the strategy.” Can you walk us through what that looks like in action? Was there a pivotal moment or challenge in your career that deeply shaped how you show up today? What practices or habits have been most transformative for your growth — both as a founder and as a person? You started mentoring and launching non-profits before the age of 21. Why is mentorship such a central part of your work? What is your valued Success of the agency?  What does your Strength as a founder feel like? Talk us through the Business of being a creative- the pits and the peaks of it.  How do you snap out of wollow moments and where do you find the light?  To 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/francesca_gamble/ , https://www.instagram.com/29london/ & https://www.instagram.com/gtnconsultancy/  Links: Myself: https://www.raimuitfum.com/chaiwithraihomepage & https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_  Guest: https://29-london.com/ , https://www.globaltalentnetworkgroup.com/ & https://becomingmorehuman.co.uk/  Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in. To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.        

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• “Hope through reality ” w/ Nabil Elouahabi

  We are BACK! Season 7!  Welcoming to The Chai Room for our first episode is the legendary actor Nabil Elouahabi.  Nabil’s television credits span an impressive range of critically acclaimed series, including Quarter Life, FBI: International, the BAFTA-winning Blue Lights, Unforgotten, Breeders, The Tower, Time, Our Girl, His Dark Materials, Deep State, The Missing, The Night Of, 24: Live Another Day, Top Boy, and the Emmy-nominated HBO miniseries Generation Kill alongside Alexander Skarsgård. One of his most iconic early roles came in the Only Fools and Horses Christmas Day special Strangers on the Shore, where he played Rashid “Gary” Mahmoon - a fan-favourite appearance. Nabil began his screen career working with acclaimed British director Michael Winterbottom (In This World, Code 46), and has since featured in a wide range of celebrated international films including Desert Warrior, Fuze, Heavyweight, The Way of the Wind, Fatum, The Outrun, Hoard, Infinite, Sand Castle, Hyena Road, Reign of the General, Zero Dark Thirty(opposite Jessica Chastain and Jason Clarke), Tower Block, Junkhearts, Blitz, Journey to Mecca, Charlie Wilson’s War(with Tom Hanks), Ali G Indahouse, Deserter, and The Sum of All Fears. On stage, his theatre work includes Noura at Playwrights Horizons (New York), Oslo and Another World at the National Theatre, Fireworks at the Royal Court, Oil at the Almeida, I Call My Brothers and The Nightmares of Carlos Fuentes at the Arcola, and Love Your Soldiers in Sheffield.   Topics breakdown:  Spiritualisim and work on self belief- in an industry where you have to be so Malleable and almost be in the peaks and valleys. How do you maintain the love and belief in your craft as an actor and a storyteller?  Can you have a viable career as an actor, financially and creatively? Brand building in today's digital society from an acting and producing perspective. To 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/actornabil/?hl=en Links: Myself: https://www.raimuitfum.com/chaiwithraihomepage & https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_  Guest: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1029263/?ref_=nmmi_ov_bk  Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in. To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.

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• “Acting is an art and science” w/ Faraz Ayub (BONUS EPISODE)

  I know Season 6 has wrapped up but I had this episode sitting in the vaults so before we get into Season 7 (Next Year EEEK!) Enjoy this beautiful conversation with actor Faraz Ayub.  p.s- I am very ill so enjoy my husky deep. voice in the begining and let me know what was the drink you sipped on or what was your favourite part of the episode.  Topics Breakdown:  Workshopping the script and the character on Sky Peals.  Preparation of different mediums and your technical approach to creating the world of these characters in Film, theatre and series.  Discussing works such as Ackley Bridge and Screw.  Representation behind and infront of the scenes fro film and series. Rapid Response Questions:  A tip on being financial savvy? Go back to any role or project what would it be and why? And if you were asked to do a part 2/ expansion of it- input  A great thing about being an artist in today’s social, cultural and economical and a challenging thing about it?  Getting into the role- auditioning or when you have booked the job? And how to let go or separate yourself from it? A thing you would like someone to take away with them having met you for a brief second or known you for a long time? Your Favourite thing about yourself either as a creative or person and something you feel is a challenge and are working on? A thing you would like to impart somebody but you never got told ? Words to your mirror self today? 3 things the creative culture could do with and or without? 3 artists really admire their journey or would suggest in checking out their work ? Your thoughts on the entertainment culture or theatre culture in general and a thing you would challenge the industry on? Does strategy and conversation of the business of the industry come in to play?  What the Chai- 30 second rant about anything and everything however you must start or end your rant with the phrase "What the Chai?" Joyfulness- What's one thing that makes Jordi joyful and whats one thing he does for others that makes them feel joyful.  To 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/officialfaraza/  Links: Myself: https://www.raimuitfum.com/chaiwithraihomepage & https://linktr.ee/chaiwithrai_  Guest: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3292959/ &  https://www.farazayub.com .  Hope you all enjoyed it and Thank you for tuning in. To Subscribe, share, follow my work and everything else is listed above.    

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