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Newsmakers of the Week FEBRUARY 06, 2026 | The Indian Eye 35

Fashion Designer Tina Tandon neity, the show reflects the chaos and candor of the digital generation.
“The audience in the U.S. and Canada saw me at the worst time of my
Announces India Launch life—now they get to see me at the best,” Raina said.
Produced by The Comedy Factory and Millennial Events, the U.S. leg
follows a string of sold-out tours across India, Europe, and Australia. Last
year alone, Raina sold over 50,000 tickets across 32 North American cities in
ew York: New York-based under six weeks.
fashion designer Tina Tandon
“Samay isn’t just touring anymore—he’s building a global comedy move-
Nhas announced the official ment,” said Hiral Jamindar of Millennial Events.
launch of her work in India, marking Raina first rose to prominence after winning Comicstaan and has since
a significant moment in creative and built a massive following through viral stand-up clips and his unique blend of
commercial collaboration between comedy and live chess streaming, cementing his status as a defining cultural
India and the United States. The voice of his generation.
India entry will begin with a special
event at the U.S. Embassy in New
Delhi, followed by a showcase in American Coach Brings Figure
Mumbai.
Skating Passion to Ladakh
Supported by the U.S. Embas-
sy, the launch highlights the
growing role of creative indus-
tries in strengthening bilateral
trade, cultural exchange, and
people-to-people ties between
the two countries.

Tandon is known for blending sustainability, storytelling, and contempo-
rary luxury through two distinct labels: the American contemporary brand T.
Tandon and the Indo-fusion line Posh Pari Couture. She was among the first
Indian-American designers to introduce Indo-fusion fashion to mainstream
American audiences.
Her designs have appeared in leading fashion publications, Hollywood
red carpets from the Grammys to the Emmys, and major U.S. television plat-
forms. The India launch represents both a business expansion and a home-
coming, bringing global design sensibilities to a rapidly evolving Indian fash-
ion market.
“This moment is bigger than fashion,” Tandon said. “It reflects cultural
and economic shifts and the power of creativity to connect nations.” eh (Ladakh): American figure skating coach Natalie Falsgraf has
The initiative is supported by Indian conglomerate Venky’s and part-
emerged as a key figure in the growth of figure skating in Ladakh, driven
nered with the I Am Peacekeeper Movement, emphasizing fashion as a tool Lpurely by passion and commitment rather than personal gain.
of soft power. The embassy-hosted events will bring together diplomats, poli- Falsgraf first visited Leh-Ladakh in 2018, drawn by its natural ice rinks and
cymakers, industry leaders, and cultural influencers, reinforcing fashion’s role strong skating culture. Captivated by the region and its people, she has since
in India–US collaboration.
returned multiple times, coaching young skaters across the Union Territory.
Her work gained national attention during the Khelo India Winter
Samay Raina Brings ‘Still Alive’ to Games 2026, where figure skating was introduced for the first time. Falsgraf, a
senior-level skater and experienced coach in the U.S., played a crucial role in
Madison Square Garden preparing athletes for the competition.
“Even in the smallest villages, you see frozen ponds and kids eager to
learn skating,” she said, describing the grassroots passion that keeps bringing
ew York: Indian stand-up co- her back.
median Samay Raina is set to
Now associated with the Ladakh Women’s Ice Hockey Foundation, Fals-
Nbring his globally acclaimed graf has helped demystify figure skating for Indian audiences, explaining the
special Still Alive to New York’s progression from novice to advanced levels. Two of her trainees, Stanzin
iconic Madison Square Garden this Khando and Tenzin Kunzin from Zanskar, finished among the medalists in
February, marking his first and only the novice category.
North American performance of the She believes inclusion under the Khelo India banner provides visibility
show. and a pathway forward for aspiring skaters. Falsgraf also welcomed the ex-
The tour, which has sold over
300,000 tickets worldwide, represents pansion of infrastructure, including artificial ice rinks in Leh and Dehradun,
calling them vital for year-round training.
a major milestone in Raina’s rapid- “With better facilities, Indian skaters can compete globally,” she said, ex-
ly expanding international career. pressing optimism about India’s growing presence in international figure skating.
Known for his sharp wit, unfiltered
humor, and deeply relatable storytelling, Raina has emerged as one of the
most influential voices in modern Indian comedy. To read more about Indian diaspora and Global Indians, log on to and follow
Still Alive is a bold, introspective exploration of resilience, internet fame, our website www.TheIndianEYE.com
failure, and the absurdities of modern life. Blending dark humor with sponta-

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