Aarti Mann


Aarti Majmudar, better known by her stage name Aarti Mann, is an Indian-American actress. She has starred in several television programs, including a part in the sci-fi drama Heroes. She is best known for playing the role of Priya Koothrappali in The Big Bang Theory.

Early life and education

Mann, which is an abbreviation of her married name, was born in Connecticut on March 3, 1978, and is of first generation Indian American ancestry. Her mother, was from Kumbakonam, a city in Tamil Nadu.
When Mann was still a toddler her family, which consisted of her parents, an older sister, Kruti, and younger brother, Nishad, moved to several places around Pennsylvania. When she was a young child she lived in Pittsburgh, Mt. Lebanon, Wexford before settling in Fox Chapel. Her mother, Vasanti Majmudar, a graduate of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Passavant, still lives in Fox Chapel and is a physician specializing in Obstetrics and gynaecology. Mann's father, who was also a physician, died while she was in high school.
Despite Mann having never acted in plays during high school at Shady Side Academy in Point Breeze, she graduated with a degree in film writing and directing from New York University where she practised acting.

Career

Mann began acting in the mid-2000s, initially playing minor roles. She uses both Aarti Majmudar and Aarti Mann as her professional names.
Mann's brother Nishad is a journalist and her sister Kruti helped influence her decision to switch to acting. Kruti, who also lives in Los Angeles, is a filmmaker and cast Mann in her 2006 film The Memsahib. While filming her scenes, Mann said she "got bit by the bug" to act and enrolled in acting classes in Los Angeles.
Mann appeared in a commercial for Volvo and other roles followed, including a part in the web/TV series "quarterlife," which aired briefly on NBC in 2008. She was also a guest star on Heroes in 2009. Mann appeared in the season two winter premiere of Suits on the USA Network. Mann was originally cast in the role of Stephanie for the USA pilot "Paging Dr. Freed", but did not appear in the final version because the network envisioned a different type for the character.

Personal life

Mann currently lives in Los Angeles with her daughter, Nikita, and her husband, Purvesh Mankad, who works in finance.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008QuarterlifeSarita1 episode
2009HeroesShaila1 episode
2010The Young and the RestlessDoctor1 episode
2010–11The Big Bang TheoryPriya KoothrappaliRecurring role
2012LeverageWaitress Amy Pavali1 episode : The Broken Wing Job
2013SuitsAssociate Maria Monroe1 episode
2013Wendell & VinnieGina1 episode
2013ScandalAgent Laura Kenney1 episode
2015Nehir1 episode
2017Grey's AnatomyHolly1 episode
2020Never Have I Ever Jaya Kuyavar1 episode