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About

Avanti Nagral (born July 23, 1997) is an Indian-American singer-songwriter, actor, and influential digital creator who bridges cultures through music and advocacy. Based between Mumbai and Boston, she is recognized for fusing Western pop, soul, and Indian classical sounds while using her platform to promote vital conversations around sex education, mental health, and gender equality.

In 2020, she made history as the first graduate of the dual-degree program offered jointly by Harvard University and the Berklee College of Music, completing it in five years.

Early Life & Education

Born in Boston, Avanti Nagral is the daughter of Ajit and Anjali Nagral. She moved to Mumbai at the age of eight, where she pursued rigorous training in Hindustani classical music under renowned vocalist Prabha Atre, alongside her early explorations in gospel and Broadway performance.

In 2015, she enrolled in the pilot cohort of the Harvard-Berklee dual-degree program, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a focus on Global Health and Music from Harvard and a Master of Music from Berklee. During her academic journey, she performed with several a cappella and fusion groups and interned with global health organizations.

Career

Avanti Nagral made her stage debut in 2015 at age 18, playing Sister Agnes in the Indian version of Agnes of God directed by Mahabanoo Mody-Kotwal, which premiered at Mumbai’s NCPA. Her compelling performance earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards (META) in 2016.

In 2017, she began releasing music independently. Her debut EP, Double Standards, was launched on July 8, 2021—a four-track collection exploring themes like body image, jealousy, and consent. The EP received critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone India noting its polished and empowering sound.

Between 2023 and 2024, Avanti launched her ambitious multilingual project, #50Songs50Weeks50Languages, showcasing songs in 50 different languages through global collaborations. Notable among them is the folk-inspired track “Hamar Manak Gam”, released on October 26, 2024.

Personal Life

Avanti Nagral splits her time between India and the United States. Her brother Kabir Nagral is a professional audio engineer. When she’s not touring or recording, Avanti leads Golden Milk Media, a creative content studio that offers mentorship and support to emerging digital creators.