New Houston theater company spotlights South Asian diaspora

Zoom in: Aerial Roots was founded by local theater artists Anjana Menon, Nidhi Verghese and Taher Lokhandwala.

• "We're a co-founding team of women and queer people," Lokhandwala tells Axios.

State of play: The nonprofit debuted with "A Nice Indian Boy" at Asia Society Texas, on view this week.

• The romantic comedy about a gay Indian man introducing his fiancé to his family was a perfect fit for the company's first production because it reflects the kinds of stories the founders want to tell.
• "This story really, really hits close to home," Lokhandwala says, adding it's thought-provoking, light and "doesn't beat you over the head."

What they're saying: "We want to tell stories for the South Asian diaspora and the people that love us," Lokhandwala says.

• "We owe it to... be a part of this ecosystem to make sure that we're doing justice to those stories and bringing those stories to life, particularly in a city like Houston."

Zoom out: The company's name reflects its mission: putting down roots in a new home while maintaining a sense of identity.

• He said the company also hopes to create more paid opportunities for artists, especially South Asian creatives, and make artistic careers feel more attainable.

What's next: Aerial Roots plans to host readings and community events before returning to MATCH next March with another production. The company hopes to stage two or three shows in 2027.

If you go: The play is on view through Aug. 9, with an after-show talkback with the playwright on Thursday. Tickets are $35.