Aarti Virani is an arts and culture writer, covering the South Asian diaspora in the New York metropolitan area. Steered by curiosity, empathy and cross-cultural communication, Aarti seeks to tell stories that shine a light on people and communities that are often overlooked. Born and raised in Japan, she encountered her passion for writing and storytelling after the calamitous Hanshin Earthquake, penning a personal account of the tragedy at the age of 10. It’s a passion she's nurtured since arriving in the United States nearly 20 years ago, obtaining a magazine journalism degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University along the way. Subsequently, while getting an M.A. in international affairs at Manhattan’s New School, she honed her reporting skills as a features writer for Metro, the world’s largest international newspaper, keeping a vigilant finger on the cultural pulse of New York City. Her writing has appeared in Vogue India (where she was a Contributing Editor), The Juggernaut, The Wall Street Journal, CNN.com, and Surface, among other publications. She was previously a Teaching Fellow at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, and also served on the board of the South Asian Journalists Association, a national nonprofit, for over 4 years. She resides in Jersey City, New Jersey, with her husband and son.  

Got a story idea? Want to discuss an upcoming project? Or geek out over the latest Bollywood release? Drop me a line!