Age: 28
Hometown: Fullerton, Calif.
Current Residence: San Francisco, Calif.
Occupation: ER Doctor
3 Words to Describe You: Nurturing, composed, adorable
Why do you want to be part of Survivor? I’ve been playing some form of Survivor for as long as I can remember. Whether it was knowing who to trust as a closeted, gay Indian-American, and waiting for the right moment to share my secret, to experiencing the hustle as a child of immigrant parents, raised in our family-owned liquor store. Survivor is the most chaotic, beautiful, complex reflection of each individual identity–and I want to show that every story deserves to be shared and heard. Plus, it’s obviously so fun!
What’s one life experience you feel has prepared you for the game? As an ER doctor, going from caring for someone with cardiac arrest to somebody with a stubbed toe - experiencing emotional whiplash and staying composed, calm, and collected and in control is critical. It is equally important to navigating the complex, messy and chaotic social dynamics of Survivor.
Which previous player do you identify with the most? Who do you think you will play most like? I identify and hope to play most like Spencer. A geeky nerd who had an authentic, yet devious, charismatic while scheming, under-the-radar-until-it’s-too-late gameplay.
What will you value in an alliance partner? I will value someone who can disagree with me but can still work with me. I appreciate and trust folks who aren’t afraid to share their opinion but can still understand countering perspectives, and are open to having open conversations, weighing various points. Someone who is levelheaded and understands the nuances to emotional intelligence.
Favorite hobbies: Traveling and eating all the pastries and desserts of the world, binge watching Netflix and religiously playing Wordle and the other New York Times games with my partner.
Pet Peeves: Slow walkers, loud chewers, and thinking salt and pepper are seasoning.
What is the accomplishment you are most proud of? Becoming an ER doctor. My goal has always been to better care for the vulnerable and underserved community that raised me. Growing up as a first generation college student with my parents working triple jobs as motel maids, milkmen, and liquor store owners, I became the first doctor in my family as a testament to my parents’ sacrifice and unwavering love and support to a better life through education.
What is something we would never know from looking at you? Despite usually being a well-planned, cautious and articulate person, I randomly will swing the pendulum too far and be super spontaneous. I did a last-minute solo trip to Guatemala to hike a volcano, went skydiving, and joined a competitive dance team in college all spontaneously. I also applied to be on Survivor on a whim, and here we are now!
Who is your biggest inspiration and why? No doubt my parents. From being farmers in small villages in India, and not even finishing high school, to working their butts off day in, day out, to caring for a physically and intellectually disabled child all while ensuring I had the tools and support I needed to focus on my education is nothing short of inspirational.
Why will you be the Sole Survivor? As somebody raised with grit and nurtured to respect true hard work, I will never give up. Living a life in fear of being ostracized for being gay, I have an intuition on who to trust and share with. Thriving in chaos and remaining in control of any situation in the emergency department, I stay calm and focused with adversity. And with that, I will be the sole Survivor