Surinderella 2026

SONYA VENUGOPAL (she/her) is thrilled to be returning as your Surinder! She is a proud Californian, constantly searching for the best In-N-Out replica, which is a hard feat here on the East Coast. She has worked professionally between New York and London, but prefers the sunshine of California (shh, don't tell anyone).

Broadway: Life of Pi (Rani & Pi cover).

International/Tours: Life of Pi (UK & Asia tours), Surinderella (Surinder).

Select Regional: Maggie (Goodspeed Opera House), Come Fall in Love (The Old Globe & Manchester Opera House), Atlantis (Virginia Rep), Next to Normal (Diana).

Workshops/Readings: MAYA (Harini), In Emily's Words (Emily, Cathy), Hi, My Name is Ben (Kelsey), Picnic at Hanging Rock (Muriel).

Select Concerts: Fat, Femme & Asian (Crazy Coqs, London), Legally Blonde (54 Below).

Music: evrymee streaming on all platforms.

Education: MFA, Boston Conservatory; BA, Santa Clara University.

We always rise. @sonyeeahh

HARPZ KAUR’S name has become synonymous with contemporary British South Asian culture. Throughout 2026, she continues to demonstrate her exceptional talent as a trailblazer in broadcasting, skillfully managing prominent radio engagements alongside extensive global stage tours.

Presently, Harpz is a dominant figure in live events, serving as the official host for some of the United Kingdom's most significant tours. She recently graced the stages of The O2 London and BP Pulse LIVE Arena in Birmingham as the host for the acclaimed singer Shreya Ghoshal, and Badshah at The O2 Arena - one of India's most influential rappers.

Beyond her broadcasting roles, Harpz made a special appearance on BBC's The One Show earlier this year for a touching segment celebrating Vaisakhi 2026, sharing her cultural heritage with a prime-time audience. She also recently concluded her late-night weekend music program on Virgin Radio UK, leaving a lasting impression of vibrancy and popular music.

Harpz Kaur's record-breaking listening figures are primarily tied to her highly successful five-year run hosting the BBC Asian Network's Breakfast Show. During her tenure, her morning program consistently achieved record-breaking audience numbers and became a major staple in contemporary British South Asian culture.

Harpz consistently exemplifies a powerful role model for the next generation, whether through her reporting for Football Focus, hosting Saturday Mash-Up, or advocating for mental health as an ambassador for Calm Zone.

RORY DULKU is absolutely thrilled to be returning to the role of Prince Kavi. After such a wonderful time last year he is really looking forward to reviving the role and bringing the joy of Surinderella to more and more people. As a mixed race actor, this show has a special place in Rory's heart, bringing together two iconic forms of storytelling and creating such a uniquely funny and striking piece of art. Getting to come back and work with a company like Rifco, and the amazing returning cast members and fresh faces, is an honour and he's eager to get the show on the road.

Trained at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Recent credits include: Romeo and Juliet (Purple Door), Beauty and The Beast (Chequer Mead), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Ovo), Jane Eyre (Heartbreak Productions), Jeeves and Wooster (Tethered Wits).

Andy Kumar is a British presenter, choreographer and costume designer.

Previously for Rifco Theatre Company: Break The Floorboards, Airport 2000, Bollywood - Yet Another Love Story, The Deranged Marriage, There's Something About Simmy, It Ain't All Bollywood, Where's My Desi Soulmate?, Britain's Got Bhangra, Laila The Musical, Miss Meena and the Masala Queens and Happy Birthday Sunita.

Film includes: Ek Paheli Leela (Paper Doll Entertainment); Kya Kool Hain Hum 3 (Balaji Motion Pictures).

Television includes: India's Got Talent, Box Cricket League, Filmfare Awards Red Carpet, Beauty and the Geek India, Dare to Date, Date My Folks, U R Fired, Get Gorgeous and Bigg Boss.

RAHEEM PAYNE is Dance Captain for the UK, European and International tour of Becky Hill, with choreography credits including Netflix's Sex Education and BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. As a performer, he made his screen debut as the first openly queer character in Bollywood (Tara vs Bilal), and played a principal role in BBC Three's Juice (2023), the multi-award-winning comedy which received both a BAFTA and an RTS Award for Comedy Drama. A commissioned artist with Akademi, his work explores gender theory through performance, focusing on representation and identity through the performer's form. This inquiry also informs his drag persona, Dosa Cat, an international drag artist blending South Asian heritage with contemporary drag and cabaret. He aims to further develop this intersectional exploration in a forthcoming PhD.

DHRUV RAVI is a Tamil American actor/director/producer. Recently, he directed and produced a 4* international run of Strategic Love Play by Miriam Battye, which had a sold-out London run and was taken to the 22nd Teatro Dallas International Theatre Festival for its regional premiere.

Training: 2022 graduate from the BA (Hons) in Professional Acting at LAMDA.

Previously for Rifco: Surinderella (UK Tour 2025), Frankie Goes to Bollywood (UK Tour 2024 & 2026).

Selected Theatre Credits: Bob in Counting Down to Christmas (Mayflower Studios), Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (Rude Grooms, NYC), Babur in Guards at the Taj (Stage West, DFW), Valentine in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Shakespeare Dallas, DFW).

Film, TV, and Commercial Credits: Chain (2025), Grilled Cheese (2025), Pepto Bismol advert (2024), Google Pixel advert (2023), The Children (2022).

Awards: Broadway World Dallas 2022 Best Supporting Actor for Guards at the Taj, UK Global Talent Visa exceptional promise in the field of Theatre and Arts.

Instagram: @dhruviyengar

NEHA EAPEN is a fun, dynamic performer with a passion for family theatre. She graduated from the Musical Theatre (BA Hons) course in 2022 from Leeds Conservatoire, and has since gone on to work with companies such as Wrongsemble and Kenny Wax, and won her first UK Pantomime Award with PHA's Cinderella. She is so excited to bring her desi-flare and sing and dance her way through this vibrant and colourful show!

CHIARA DEV GALLI is a half-Indian, half-Italian actor and Third Culture Kid who has grown up in China, Qatar, and Spain. Despite living abroad her entire life, Chiara has always maintained a strong connection to her Indian heritage. Through her love of Bollywood, she discovered her passion for acting and performing. She recently graduated with a BA in Acting from The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), and shortly afterwards appeared in Rebekah Harrison's political play What Does It Take To Slay a Dragon? at 53Two in Manchester.

SARJAN HIRA is a versatile British Indian actor dedicated to authentic South Asian representation and portraying roles that mirror the vibrant, multicultural fabric of modern Britain. Trained at Millennium Performing Arts (2018-21) and Midlands Academy of Musical Theatre (2021-22), his career spans both stage and screen. His notable credits include national TV campaigns for Currys (2020), Aladdin (2021), and the musical RENT (2022). More recently, Sarjan appeared in BU21 (2022) and The Polar Express Birmingham (2022). This year he also reprised his role in Patels Millions (2026) and is now thrilled to join the cast of Surinderella and work with Rifco Theatre for the first time.

Previously for Rifco: Frankie Goes to Bollywood UK Tour

Training: Diploma in Professional Musical Theatre, Trinity Level 6: Liverpool Central  Studios 2022-2025 (Distinction)

Credits whilst training: Two, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, Simon Cowell The Next Act, Virdee

Theatre credits: Linus/Ensemble in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown (Hope Street Theatre); Lead actor in Two by Jim Cartwright (Hope Street Theatre); Dancer in Cinderella (Gladstone Theatre); Dancer in Beauty and the Beast (Gladstone Theatre); Dancer in Aladdin (Gladstone Theatre); Singer/Ensemble in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Liverpool Empire).

Television: Simon Cowell The Next Act, Virdee, BBC One, The Dengineers Others

Represented by Paul Isles at Link Artists