2007 was yet another monumental year for South Asians across the globe. Bollywood had one of its biggest years outside of India, again. Desi artists, musicians, and actors catapulted with a hype that was only experienced by those in the mainstream. Along with the famous in 2007, many unusually recognized Desis were brought into the limelight through their involvement in politics, literature, and ofcourse the occasional controversy.

The most notable achievements that warrant appreciation and honor are those made by South Asian men and women in the world of business. Desi businessmen/women reached heights that were never thought possible. Years ago, if you told someone that 3 or more of the richest people in the world were Indian, you would've gotten a laugh. Now, its all too real and all too serious. India's impact on the global scale is profound and we must all recognize its importance and power. Beyond anything else, that is what 2007 brought us, a true realization of the power of the sub-continent and its impact on the United States and the rest of the world.

While there are a lot of recognized and deserving people who made this year's list, there are two notable absenses: Kal Penn and Russell Peters. It is beyond words to describe, but these two have reached the type of mainstream success that most can only aspire to. We wanted to give them their props here and now, and save the rest of the list for some newer faces. Too bad it isn't your Top 52 Coolest Desis, huh?

While we had a choice of over a billion Desis to choose from, this list could only fit 50, so we hope that even if some of your favorites were not picked, that you will not be discouraged as there is always next year. So take a few minutes and venture down this list of ours and check out the interesting information regarding this year's top 50. While you're reading, become inspired and do something that may encourage us to pick you next year.

Ladies and gents, we are proud to present the official Top 50 Coolest Desis of 2007!

50. Aneek Dhar
Location: Kolkata, India
Profession: Student/Singer
Why is He Cool: Aneek won the SaReGaMaPa Challege Championship at the age of 18. Because of that, and ofcourse his talent, he's getting a roaring start to his music career. With his huge global achievement in 2007, its understood that he will make it far. He is an inspiration to many teenagers around the world because besides his win, he is young, comes from humble beginnings and relates to many. He pushed very hard to get the success he reached and is well deserving of it.
What's Next: Aneek is working on several projects, including movie soundtracks and international tours.
Cool Fun Fact: When asked what his favorite memories were, he responded "I remember two incidents vividly. First when I won the Saregamapa Bangla and secondly when I proposed to my GF." Proposed to his GF? He's 18!

49. Thiru Kumar
Location: New York, USA
Profession: Cook/Vendor
Why is He Cool: Mr. Thiru Kumar has developed quite a reputation as being New York City's "Dosa Man." You can catch him at his vendor stand / push cart / kitchen in Washington Sq. Park any day of the week. He's been voted NYC's best vendor at the annual Vendy awards competition. This was quite an accomplishment for Thiru as he had been runner-up for the previous two years. If you're in NYC and need a quick bite, you should drop by and say hello to Thiru and try some of his South Asian delights!
What's Next: More great food!
Cool Fun Fact: Thiru came to the USA in 1995 from Sri Lanka after winning his visa in a lottery.

48. Rajiv Gowda
Location: New York, USA
Profession: Politician/Community Leader
Why is He Cool: Rajiv is the first Indian / South Asian elected to public office in Staten Island in a new initiative under Mayor Michael Bloomberg's school reforms. Having been a community leader and representing his people well, he is the perfect example of a hard working individual who has been recognized for his works to help improve the state of education in one of the most complex cities in the world.
What's Next: Gowda has future plans to run as a candidate for the New York City Council in 2009.
Cool Fun Fact: He ran for the New York State Assembly but later withdrew due to party politics.

47. Shaheen Sheikh
Location: California, USA
Profession: Singer
Why is She Cool: With her love for Rock and Roll and the blessings of a great voice, Shaheen's hard work is paying off as she made strides breaking through the music industry in 2007. She released her first album called Rock Candy, which hit the market and created some heat. Her album is available in numerous stores and online.
What's Next: Hopefully we'll hear and see more of this talented lady in 2008 and beyond.
Cool Fun Fact: Shaheen is a classically trained Indian dancer.

46. DJ Sanj
Location: New York, USA
Profession: Music Producer/Artist
Why is He Cool: DJ Sanj has been involved in the South Asian music scene for well over a decade. In 2007, he worked with Bollywood producers on the song "Kamrey Main Aaja" for the movie Kudiyon Ka Hai Zamana. While being a talent behind music production, DJ Sanj is also known as singer/rapper J-Nas, sort of like a duel-personality. Sanj is cool because he's in the class of the very few North American based DJs to have ventured artistically into Bollywood.
What's Next: DJ Sanj is working on promoting his latest album titled "Bollywood Punk."
Cool Fun Fact: Sanj was behind the infamous series of CDs back in the day titled America's Most Wanted and has worked with many artists including Deep Cold and Kamla Punjabi.

45. Desiclub.com Swimsuit Calendar Models
Location: All over the USA
Profession: Models
Why are They Cool: As if being beautiful and posing in a swimsuit is not enough, the ladies of the 2008 Desiclub.com Swimsuit Calendar really set themselves apart from being your typical pretty faces. Each model is a distinguished role model (pardon the pun) in her own right. Not only were they bold enough to step forward for such a project, but they lead the most inspiring lives outside of modelling. Having successful careers and well-rounded lives helps them represent a positive image for South Asian women everywhere.
What's Next: Each of the models is involved in many great projects, you might even see them in future calendars.
Cool Fun Fact: All the models lived in a summer home in the Hamptons for an entire week during the shoot. This was not a plug.

44. DJ Flawless
Location: Illinois, USA
Profession: DJ
Why is He Cool: DJ Flawless aka The Category Killer is on the top DJ list this year because his underground CDs have by far gotten the most amount of buzz by remix fans everywhere. He released his latest album called "The Category Killer - The Final Cut" in September of 2007 and it quickly became unavailable everywhere. He is one of the very few DJs who still commands such a good following in the Desi remix music scene.
What's Next: Flawless plans on rocking out with more music and trying to out-do his previous success.
Cool Fun Fact: DJ Flawless's real name is Waseem Khan.

43. Rouge
Location: London, UK
Profession: Singers
Why are They Cool: These are the 3 sensational hotties with the smash hit song "Don't Be Shy." In 2007, they reached heights that were previously unattainable by the group who has been together for many years. Their success in 2007 can only mean bigger and better things as they are now collaborating with hit-maker Timbaland as well as doing countless shows around the world.
What's Next: Rouge plans on releasing more top notch music in 2008!
Cool Fun Fact: Funny enough, there was another female pop group named Rouge. This group Rouge was a commercially successful, Spice Girls-like Brazilian vocal group and girl band, formed in the first season of the reality show Popstars, broadcasted by SBT in 2002.

42. Pankaj Advani
Location: Bangalore, India
Profession: Billiard Champ
Why is He Cool: Pankaj Advani pushed hard in 2007 to become the Billiard Champion of the world. He does not play your common "Indian game" - but he is breaking barriers and exceeding international expectation for what he does so well. Pankaj won a thrilling encounter against compatriot Dhruv Sitwala to clinch the IBSF World Billiards title in the time format for a second year on the trot in Singapore. In response to his win he said, "It was a test of character for me..." Indeed it was and he proved worthy of the title.
What's Next: Look out for Pankaj to try to out-do his performance in 2007 and maintain his position as the best in the world.
Cool Fun Fact: Advani is a business communications student at Jain College, Bangalore.

41. Pooja Makhijani
Location: New York, USA
Profession: Author
Why is She Cool: Pooja authored the wonderful book "Mama's Saris" in 2007, which deals with a young girl who loves to try on her mother's clothes. The story is just a backdrop to Pooja's overall works that deal with social issues and discussions. She has written previous books titled "School Lunch from Women Who Eat" and "For Under Her Skin: How Girls Experience Race in America." She's received a great response from mainstream and Desi media and we hope to see more works from this bright young author.
What's Next: More books ofcourse!
Cool Fun Fact: Pooja was born in Queens, NY and grew up in Edison, NJ. Two of the most "Desiest" areas in the US.

40. William Drayton
Location: New York, USA
Profession: Founder of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public
Why is He Cool: Bill is not Desi at all, but his organization seeks to spread a message that is extremely positive using the Sanskrit name Ashoka, which means "the active absence of sorrow." His organization is named after the Indian leader who unified the Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BC, considered the first social entrepreneur. The organization itself seeks to shape a global, entrepreneurial, competitive citizen sector. Its all about social change at the end of the day and Bill is doing some great things under the umbrella of a powerful Indian word.
What's Next: Bill will continue to impact the world with his positive message and support for social entrepreneurship.
Cool Fun Fact: There is a Desi involved in Bill's organization by the name of Sushmita Ghosh.

39. Manjit Singh
Location: New York, USA
Profession: Chairman, SALDEF
Why is He Cool: Manjit Singh is the current chairman of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) founded in 1996. The organization is a non-profit that helps Sikhs by providing education and legal support. Their goal is to help the Sikh community deal with prejudice and discrimination and to help improve the lives of those effected by social injustices, which are sometimes experienced by Sikh-Americans. SALDEF has been responsible for many positive agendas relating to Sikh-Americans in mainstream media.
What's Next: Mr. Singh will continue to raise awareness for what is right and just under the SALDEF banner.
Cool Fun Fact: Mr. Singh himself is a scientist who has a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from India and a Master's Degree in Computer Science from SUNY at Albany.

38. Hard Kaur
Location: London, UK
Profession: Singer
Why is She Cool: Hard Kaur has come a long way in the music industry. In 2007, this female rapper became the first International / Urban artist to sign to Saregama Records India and UK. Her highly anticipated album "Supawoman" was released and Bollywood producers picked her to sing a song in the movie Johnny Ghaddar. She is setting an example for many female artists because you will not find too many female rappers, especially any like Hard Kaur.
What's Next: You can expect to see her spreading her wings even more, especially in the Bollywood and American scene in 2008.
Cool Fun Fact: She's the only South Asian female rapper to acquire the success she has, setting herself up as a role model for many.

37. Sona Family
Location: London, UK
Profession: Singers
Why are They Cool: These guys have been working their way up for many years. Their success was realized due to smash hits like Glassy and More Glassy. In 2007, they released a new album called Make Some Noise and had their song Crazy 4 Ya (Dil Deewana) air on the US TV network NBC's primetime show "Las Vegas." This was a major accomplishment in itself and established them as the perfect ambassadors as South Asian artists to the mainstream.
What's Next: They are touring across the globe and will continue putting out great music.
Cool Fun Fact: Sona Family burst onto the growing Urban Asian music scene in 2002 with their Sona Kaandaan mixtape which was highlighted by their hugely popular remix of the More Fire Crew's garage anthem "Oi."

36. Kidd Skilly
Location: Michigan, USA
Profession: Rapper
Why is He Cool: This "Detroit Bad Boy" put out one of the best original tracks of the South Asian scene in 2007. The track and the video that accompanied it were truly amazing. The song was called Bhangra Chic and got a huge buzz around the world. It really put him on the map again after some time away and made him cool simply because of the amazing sounds he put together and the very entertaining, creative video for it. Proving once again that he is one talented fella. He also collaborated on another track with Akon, yet again proving that this young South Asian rapper has made way in the American music industry. Great works by the Kidd in '07!
What's Next: Kidd Skilly and his camp are preparing for yet another major promotion in early 2008. Look out for it!
Cool Fun Fact: Kidd Skilly was first featured in our 2004 Top 50 List, I guess you can call him an OG now.

35. Rajiv Satyal
Location: California, USA
Profession: Comedian
Why is He Cool: Rajiv Satyal aka "The Funny Indian" made great strides in 2007, establishing himself on the national scene and making lots of new fans. Formerly an engineer, Rajiv makes jokes about racial topics and even himself. Influenced by his uncle and a friend who told him he would never make anyone laugh, Satyal set forth to beat the challenge and went even beyond his expectations. In his somewhat young career as a comedian, he has already opened for Dave Chappelle and Russell Peters and those are only some of his lighter achievements. You'll find his comedy warm and cuddly... ahem. The guy is hilarious! You can find Rajiv's comedy in the Indian Invasion Comedy DVD, available everywhere.
What's Next: Rajiv is a host on the weekly variety show AVS and you'll definitely see him on mainstream TV here and there.
Cool Fun Fact: Rajiv used to be a marketing executive at Procter & Gamble.

34. Maneesh Dhir
Location: California, USA
Profession: Executive VP for AOL International
Why is He Cool: In 2007, AOL shifted its focus more towards the International market and to that effect, it named Dhir to head all international operations. Dhir will be based in Bangalore and will run all of the operations for Europe, Asia and the Americas from there. This is a powerful statement in itself as India is not a primary focus for AOL, but the man heading that charge is based out of Bangalore. Talk about the impact of India in business!
What's Next: You can bet AOL will have a well needed renewed presence in the world due to Dhir's work.
Cool Fun Fact: Dhir has degrees from IIT, UCLA and Stanford.

33. Viswanathan Anand
Location: Chennai, India
Profession: Chess Champion
Why is He Cool: After many years of coming close to the World Chess Champion title, Anand finally got what he wanted in 2007. He is now the current champion for chess as well as recognized for the best time in chess around the world. He has been awarded in many other titles, some being India's first Grandmaster and first Indian to win the World Junior Chess Champion. Its quite an accomplishment for a Desi to be in this position as we've always been exposed to Russian chess champions, etc. But Anand makes us all proud.
What's Next: He'll probably break some new record for Chess as he is looked upon as a wonder in the game!
Cool Fun Fact: Anand's rise in the Indian chess world was nothing short of amazing. He won the National Sub-Junior Chess Championship in 1983 at the age of fourteen and then became the youngest Indian to win the International Master Title at the age of 15 in 1984.

32. Vidur Kapur
Location: New York, USA
Profession: Comedian
Why is He Cool: Vidur has established himself as one of the "Top Four Asian Comics In North America." This Indian American comedian has been recognized everywhere because of his stand up comedy and work in television. Vidur is not just a comedian but also an overachiever with a degree from the London School of Economics. Vidur prides himself as being the only gay Indian comedian in America, helping to break numerous stereotypes.
What's Next: You can catch Vidur in the Indian Invasion Comedy DVD, along with his fellow Indian comedians.
Cool Fun Fact: Vidur was selected as one of the top 11 comics from the Northeast of the US for NBC's "Stand Up for Diversity Initiative" and performed in NBC's "Stand Up for Diversity Showcase" as part of the famous New York Comedy Festival.

31. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
Location: Ranchi, India
Profession: Cricketer
Why is He Cool: Dhoni was elected as captain of Indian Twenty 20 Cricket Team for the World Twenty 20 in September, 2007 and under him, India won the 2007 ICC World Twenty 20. During this time, Dhoni equalled his idol Adam Gilchrist's international record for the most dismissals in an innings in ODI by catching 5 English players and stumping one. He led India to the ICC World Twenty 20 trophy in South Africa with a victory over arch rivals Pakistan in an intensely fought final and became the second Indian captain to have won a World cup in any form of cricket, after Kapil Dev. He also won the Man of the Series award in the ODI tournament against Bangladesh.
What's Next: We can all expect some more great things from this talented player.
Cool Fun Fact: Dhoni is referred to as 'Mahi' by his friends.

30. Ojas Vaidya
Location: Ohio, USA
Profession: Publisher, Producer
Why is He Cool: Ojas is the genius that thought of the concept of the first ever Swimsuit Calendar featuring South Asian models that was published by Desiclub.com and with Desiclub owner Saroosh Gull. His remarkable ability to have edgy ideas is great, but actually following up with action is what sets him apart. He is an inspiring individual who shows the rest of us what is really possible when you put your mind to it.
What's Next: Ojas is currently working on the initial stages of a big TV production, the exact details we do not know, but it surely cannot be as sexy as the calendar, hopefully it will be just as great.
Cool Fun Fact: Ojas grew up on a farm in West Virginia. Talk about being a unique Desi!

29. Swati Gandhi
Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Profession: Deputy Director, Corporate Sales, Dow Jones & Co.
Why is She Cool: Swati is responsible for maintaining and growing a portfolio of more than $13 million in print and online subscription sales for The Wall Street Journal. In 2007, Swati made it onto The PRESSTIME 20 Under 40 list. She's made many proud for being a South Asian female in such a great position at such a valued company.
What's Next: We can only expect more success from Swati as she has proven herself to be a driven individual.
Cool Fun Fact: Swati helped couples get married when she operated a part-time wedding-planning business in the late-1990s that specialized in multicultural ceremonies.

28. Danny Patel
Location: Georgia, USA
Profession: Entrepreneur
Why is He Cool: He is the current chairman of AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association). Danny has led the way and helped create a much better outlook for the hotel industry. With over 20 years of experience in hospitality, management, financing, contracting, and designing, Danny has developed over 34 franchises, including the development of a Marriott hotel. Its no joke being the leader of such a powerful association. Danny is a real threat to all those "Patel Motel" jokes!
What's Next: He has just become a founder of the American Pride bank, with branches in Macon and Warner Robins, Georgia, and continues to be active in the finance industry.
Cool Fun Fact: Danny's real first name is Dilipkumar.

27. Hari Sreenivasan
Location: Texas, USA
Profession: Correspondent, CBS News
Why is He Cool: After having a respectable stint at ABC News, CNET and numerous other media outlets, Hari joined CBS in March of 2007. He is now based out of Dallas, Texas and continues to report on important stories. He's been on the network news scene for some time and is a refreshing face to watch, especially since he is one of the very first South Asians to be on national mainstream broadcast news.
What's Next: Having years of experience on broadcast news, his presence will only increase on the national scene.
Cool Fun Fact: Hari was born in Mumbai, India and maintained a really sexy mustache for many years.

26. Vinay Chakravarthy
Location: Massachusetts, USA
Profession: Orthopedist
Why is He Cool: Vinay and those closest to him started a campaign to help save his life in 2007. Vinay was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and the entire South Asian community came together to help organize drives in hopes of finding a match (donor) for him. The likes of Barack Obama even got involved and helped spread the word for HelpVinay.org. Due to the hard work of his family and friends, he was able to get a Bone Marrow transplant and is now on the road to recovery. Vinay helped not only himself, but many others like him who may find potential matches due to his campaign, which raised a great deal of awareness for the community to donate and help save lives.
What's Next: Hopefully Vinay will be able to return to a normal life as quickly as possible.
Cool Fun Fact: Many celebs like Kal Penn made important campaign videos for Vinay's cause.

25. Jay Sean
Location: London, UK
Profession: R&B Singer
Why is He Cool: We have all come to know and recognize Jay Sean for the amazing talent that he is. After having a fall out with Virgin Records, breaking one of the biggest deals a South Asian singer had in the mainstream, Jay bounced back in 2007. The buzz was aplenty with the release of his brand new album. Would it live up to what we expected based on his works with the Rishi Rich Project and so forth? Going solo is always a tough climb, but Jay Sean did not disappoint. With some previews of his upcoming tracks, its surely to be a success. His new album aptly titled "My Own Way," is slated to be released in the first quarter of 2008. In 2007, Jay Sean had an entirely new look, short buzzed hair, built body and a rough cut new attitude to go along with it.
What's Next: All the focus is on promoting his new album, which will be released in March 2008.
Cool Fun Fact: He released the video to his "Ride It" song, which was produced by an upcoming producer named Alan Sampson.

24. Navi Rawat
Location: California, USA
Profession: Actress
Why is She Cool: Being a successful Indian actress in Hollywood is pretty rare, but does happen. Navi Rawat is living proof as she worked hard to get where she is in the movie/television industry. Having been cast in several network shows, some of which include The O.C., Numb3rs, 24, Roswell, Without A Trace and movies such as Dancing At The Harvest Moon and Jack the Dog. She is not only beautiful, but very talented. She, like her very few counterparts, has helped pave the way for many other young Indian actresses in Hollywood.
What's Next: She's working on two new films for 2008, "Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds" and "Ocean of Pearls."
Cool Fun Fact: She is of Indian and German descent, her father is Indian and mother is German. Her birth name is Navlata Rawat.

23. DJ Rekha
Location: New York, USA
Profession: DJ
Why is She Cool: Rekha is an entrepreneur/promoter who started the now legendar monthly Basement Bhangra party at SOB's in NYC. DJ Rekha put her wheels in motion during the early 90s, and is now globally recognized as being the first Desi female DJ in the United States who helped establish the Bhangra scene as we know it. Being featured on several mainstream media (CNN, NY Times, Newsweek, etc.), DJ Rekha has truly created a brand for herself. After over a decade, she finally released an album in 2007, titled Basement Bhangra. She is a true role model and lives up to her hype.
What's Next: DJ Rekha continues to be a recognized personality and image of South Asian fusion to the mainstream.
Cool Fun Fact: Rekha grew up in Long Island and her traditional parents have always been fully supportive of her career and passion.

22. Shilpa Shetty
Location: Mumbai, India
Profession: Actress
Why is She Cool: This favorite Bollywood babe made international headlines because of her involvement in the British Celebrity Big Brother TV show in 2007, which caused controversy due to rascist comments made against Shilpa by her fellow castmates. She eventually won the competition and got the world's praise for putting up with what she did. She is cool because she reinforced the positive image of South Asians as she handled everything with class and dignity.
What's Next: She will appear in the film Forever in 2008.
Cool Fun Fact: She caused a great deal of controversy after the whole Big Brother fiasco when Richard Gere kissed her on her cheek at an event. There were riots!

21. Sanjaya Malakar
Location: Washington, USA
Profession: Singer, American Idol
Why is He Cool: This guy caused such a huge uproar through his appearances on the American Idol series that he developed a cult following. Girls would cry for him, guys could not stop staring and well, it was not for his singing. Sanjaya made it a point to have a different haircut everytime we saw him and it is felt that was the sole reason why he was voted on for as long as he was. But all good things come to an end and so did Sanjaya's TV appearances. His positive energy and knack for attention definitely deserved some coverage though, and for that dear friends, he is cool!
What's Next: He is said to be in talks to release an album.
Cool Fun Fact: Sanjaya's dad is a Bengali Indian and his mother is Italian American. They are both followers of the Vaishnava Hinduism.

20. Martin Bashir
Location: New York, USA
Profession: Co-Anchor, Correspondent, ABC News
Why is He Cool: Martin Bashir came onto the network news scene in America in a big way because of his revealing piece with Michael Jackson titled "Living with Michael Jackson" and many of his stories on the late Princess Diana. He is currently the co-anchor of ABC News' Nightline and also does correspondent work for 20/20. He is yet another South Asian journalist on national mainstream TV and his presence on American network news is what makes him cool.
What's Next: He'll continue as one of the three co-anchors of the former Ted Koppel flagship show Nightline.
Cool Fun Fact: Martin Bashir was born in London but is of Pakistani descent.

19. Vinod "Vin" Gupta
Location: USA
Profession: CEO
Why is He Cool: Vinod is the Chairman and CEO of InfoUSA, Inc, which is a company that gives marketing and sales leads to businesses and was founded by Vinod in 1972 with only a $100 investment. In 2007, there was some controversy raised due to his relationship with the Clintons and the operations of his corporate funds. The fact remains however, that he is a true American success story having reached great heights and rubbing shoulders with the most powerful people in the world.
What's Next: SalesGenie.com, a company owned by Vinod plans on buying ad times during the Superbowl in 2008.
Cool Fun Fact: He is the only Desi to have slept in the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House, during Bill Clinton's presidency.

18. Shekhar Kapur
Location: England, India
Profession: Director
Why is He Cool: Shekhar Kapur is an acclaimed Bollywood director, but he really broke out onto the international scene when he directed "Elizabeth" in 1998. In 2007, the sequel was released and Kapur did not disappoint with "Elizabeth: The Golden Age." The film also starred Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I. His artistic side has increased over the years and this is a testament to his true talent. Choosing to work on projects which have more of an artistic value as opposed to financial or otherwise. He continues to be a great example of someone who has crossed over from Bollywood into Hollywood and beyond.
What's Next: A third episode in the Queen Elizabeth series is planned.
Cool Fun Fact: After Kapur moved to Great Britain, he spent several years working as an accountant and management consultant. Not a fun fact: Kapur was married to Suchitra Krishnamurthy, but they divorced in February, 2007.

17. MIA
Location: London, UK
Profession: Singer
Why is She Cool: MIA hit it even bigger in 2007 as she was labeled the "Most Critically Acclaimed Artist" and had the "Album of the Year" by Rolling Stone after the release of her second album, "Kala." She also made it onto mainstream radio in a much bigger way, continuing to be played all over the world. MIA continues to rock and rap about global ideas and issues, her knack for touching upon various political themes, topics and views has never been dull, to say the least. She's a voice to be reckoned with.
What's Next: Surely we will see even more crazy, amazing music and performances by MIA in 2008 and beyond.
Cool Fun Fact: Her full and complete name is Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam.

16. Mallika Sherawat
Location: India
Profession: Actress, Model
Why is She Cool: This Bollywood bombshell has gotten men from all parts of the world in a bind. She's been labeled a sex symbol because of her amazing looks and acting, nothing wrong with that! She has been on countless magazine covers and has the type of success that only Western models are accustomed to. She is another example of a Bollywood actress breaking through and becoming a global force. In 2007, she appeared in the films Welcome & Guru.
What's Next: She's got many Bollywood projects in the works for 2008, including Maan Gaye Mughal-E-Azam and Ugly Aur Pagli.
Cool Fun Fact: Her birthname is Reema Lamba and she's only 26!

15. Sreenath Sreenivasan
Location: New York, USA
Profession: WNBC-TV Tech Reporter and Columbia Professor
Why is He Cool: Sree isn't your ordinary everyday college professor. When he's not teaching in the classroom, he is educating countless people about the latest tech gadgets on TV and when he's not doing that, you can find him keeping journalists and media folk updated on the latest going-ons for Desis or things related to Desis in the US and abroad. Sree is the co-founder of SAJA (South Asian Journalist Association) and a very powerful force in South Asian media in the US. In 2007, he left ABC News for a shift to WNBC TV in New York as its Tech Reporter.
What's Next: Sree will continue keeping the world informed in the tech-savvy way that only he knows best.
Cool Fun Fact: Sree is married and has two kids, who all live in New York. You can catch him on Facebook.

14. Kiran Chetry
Location: New York, USA
Profession: News Anchor
Why is She Cool: Kiran Chetry is the first ever female news anchor on a national 24-hour news network with a South Asian background. She's the co-anchor of American Morning on CNN. She joined the network in February 2007, covering many stories from the Virginia Tech Shooting to interviewing Laura Bush. She was previously an anchor on Fox & Friends on the Fox News Channel. She is married to weatherman Chris Knowles and started her career in broadcasting in 1995. She's a great role model because of her national presence and success.
What's Next: She'll be on CNN for sometime to come as the network has gotten great feedback through her presence.
Cool Fun Fact: Kiran's father is Nepalese and her mother is 1/2 Ukrainian and a combination of Dutch and German.

13. Norah Jones
Location: New York, USA
Profession: Singer
Why is She Cool: This young talented artist was back in 2007 with a new buzz surrounding her. 2007 marked the release of her new album called Not Too Late, which debuted at number one on the world charts. She continues to be the face of amazing talent, heralding her father's legend in the mainstream of American/world music.
What's Next: Maybe we'll see her in the movies as she made her acting debut in a film called My Blueberry Nights, which was the opening film for the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.
Cool Fun Fact: Norah is the daughter of the music fanatic, Ravi Shankar and the half sister of Anoushka Shankar. Like who didn't know that already?

12. Deepak Chopra
Location: California, USA
Profession: Bookwriter, Doctor, Spiritual Guru
Why is He Cool: Deepak Chopra has become the face of Eastern philosphy for Western practices. Not only has the man had an impact on the way millions function in their daily lives, but he's a media darling. In 2007, he released his book titled "Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment," yet again putting him on the map as the wise and experienced voice of enlightenment. His outlook on spirituality and mind-body connection, and medicine truly make him a remarkable Desi role model.
What's Next: He'll probably publish another book, appear on Oprah and continue his good works promoting the message of inner peace and happiness.
Cool Fun Fact: Chopra was partially behind the launch of Virgin Comics alongside his son, Gotham Chopra and Richard Branson.

11. Madhuri Dixit
Location: Colorado, USA
Profession: Actress
Why is She Cool: Madhuri Dixit made a surprising come back in 2007 with the film Aaja Nachle. After taking many years off raising her kids and being a homemaker, Madhuri decided to show the world that this one time "Item Girl" still has it. Her last movie, Devdas, was a success, and she couldn't just leave everyone hanging. She is probably one of Bollywood's most adored actresses and any action she takes is talked about around the globe. She's cool because she's shown everyone that its possible to be an actress in Bollywood while also raising a family and being a homemaker. She's made the toughest profession (housewife) in the world cool.
What's Next: You can expect her to dazzle us with more appearances in films that spark her interest from time to time.
Cool Fun Fact: Madhuri's married to an Indian-American cardiovascular surgeon named Dr. Sriram Madhav Nene. They live in Colorado with their two sons Arin and Ryan.

10. Sonia Gandhi
Location: New Delhi, India
Profession: Politician
Why is She Cool: She's been through a lot of tough times but has always come out on top. Not being completely supported due to her Italian birthplace, Sonia Gandhi is a force to be reckoned with in India and globally. The widow of former PM Rajiv Gandhi is always looked upon for influence and support from the who's who of Indian politics. She was named among the most influential people in the world in 2007 by the "The Time 100" and as the 6th most powerful woman in Forbes' "The 100 Most Powerful Women" list. She is an inspiration to women everywhere.
What's Next: Maybe she'll run for national office during the next elections.
Cool Fun Fact: She rejected the post as prime minister at one time, making Dr. Manmohan Singh PM.

9. Mayank Chhaya
Location: Illinois, USA
Profession: Author
Why is He Cool: Mayank has been a journalist for the past 25 years and has reported on the entire South Asian region. In 2007, he put out a biography on a person/subject that rarely grants such an audience. In 1997, Mayank was given permission by the Dalai Lama himself to write a book on him. The book is called Dalai Lama: Man, Monk, Mystic. It sheds some light on the man who leads so many spiritually and sparks such political debate through the issue of Tibet and his exile in India. Bravo to Mr. Chhaya for giving the world a direct look inside the life of a worldly leader.
What's Next: We can expect journalism to be at the forefront of Mayank in the coming years, and perhaps more books.
Cool Fun Fact: Mayank runs dailysub.com, a news and current affairs site.

8. Bobby Jindal
Location: Louisiana, USA
Profession: Governor of Louisiana
Why is He Cool: This man made history in 2007 by being elected as the very first Indian-American governor of a state in the United States. Bobby Jindal ran as a Republican and was elected by popular vote. He became popular during the 2005 Hurricane Katrina due to the enhanced attention given to his state at the time. With this accomplishment, Bobby Jindal has made history and opened up that door for others to walk through.
What's Next: Governor Jindal has a tough term ahead of him as the state of Louisiana is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
Cool Fun Fact: This fact is not cool for some, but it is a fact nonetheless; Bobby Jindal converted to Catholicism from Hinduism when he was in High School.

7. Shahrukh Khan
Location: Mumbai, India
Profession: Actor
Why is He Cool: SRK is already one of the biggest stars in Bollywood but in 2007 he accomplished something that people couldn't get enough of. He popped open his shirt to showcase his brand new 6 pack abs! This is ofcourse what all the other Bollywood hunks and babes have been up to due to the increasingly appearance-concious world we live in. Nothing wrong with looking amazing though, SRK is now the "complete package!" He was also the partial subject of a book by Anupama Chopra, "King of Bollywood: Shahrukh Khan and the seductive world of Indian cinema." The book described the world of Bollywood through Khan's life. His film roles in 2007 consisted mainly of Om Shanti Om, but his personal accomplishment is what brings him onto this list.
What's Next: SRK is working on his next production, which is titled Mr and Mrs Khanna.
Cool Fun Fact: Did you see those abs?

6. Mukesh Ambani
Location: Mumbai, India
Profession: Chairman of Reliance Industries
Why is He Cool: As of 2007, Mukesh Ambani is said to be the world's 14th richest individual, with his wealth being valued at $20.1 billion, according to Forbes. To that effect, Ambani is building a $1 billion residential building, Antilia in Mumbai for his family. It is expected to be ready in September of 2008. Chicago's Perkins & Will designed the glass-tower which features a "health club, multiple "safe" rooms, 3 helipads, 168 parking spaces and requires 600 servants to maintain, and physically, the structure stands at 27 stories, or 570 feet tall. Talk about Cha-Ching!
What's Next: Mukesh Ambani will be taking over the world unless he is stopped by 007.
Cool Fun Fact: He gifted his wife Nita a jet plane worth Rs.24-crore (US $6 million) for her birthday. Not a cool fun fact: The two Ambani brothers (Mukesh and Anil) had a well-publicized spat after their father's death, which led to the Reliance Group being split between the two.

5. Indra K. Nooyi
Location: Connecticut, USA
Profession: CEO and Chairman, PepsiCo
Why is She Cool: Leading PepsiCo to another outstanding year, Indra Nooyi received another personal accolade. She was placed as the 5th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes Magazine. She is also only the 12th female to be a CEO of a multinational corporation. As if it weren't enough to be behind numerous powerful decisions being CEO and all, Indra was named Chairman of PepsiCo's Board of Directors effective May 2, 2007. Talk about power! Indra Nooyi has proven herself to be a global player on a scale most men can only dream of. Who knows what next year will bring, we'll just have to wait and see.
What's Next: Indra is running to be the very first female President of the United States. Oh wait, that's someone else.
Cool Fun Fact: Indra can be put into the Working Mom category, yes, she is also a mum. I wonder if her kids drink Pepsi?

4. Vikram Pandit
Location: New York, USA
Profession: CEO, Citigroup
Why is He Cool: In late 2007, Vikram was named the CEO of Citigroup, which had been facing numerous problems with its head management. Vikram has much of the experience necessary for this position with his background in companies such as Morgan Stanley and Worldwide Institutional Equities Division. He was also a former board member for the NASDAQ from 2000-2003. With plenty of the credentials to support Mr. Pandit's new appointment, let's hope he can bring Citigroup back up on its feet.
What's Next: He has a lot of work ahead of him trying to help Citigroup recover from the subprime loans and other factors that struck in 2007 and prior.
Cool Fun Fact: Pandit and his wife Swati live at Central Park West and 81st Street. The apartment was purchased from the late actor Tony Randall for $17.85 million in September 2007. The ten-room apartment has 20 windows facing Central Park.

3. Lakshmi Mittal
Location: London, England
Profession: Chairman & CEO, Arcelor Mittal
Why is He Cool: Mittal is cool because he's the richest man in the UK and the fifth richest person in the world, with a personal fortune of $51.0 billion according to Forbes magazine. He was even called the Indian reincarnation of Andrew Carnegie. This man commands respect and is the epitomy of Indian success in the world. In May 2007, he was named one of the "100 most influential people" by Time magazine and received the Bessemer Gold Medal.
What's Next: Surely he will continue his rise to the top in the world of business.
Cool Fun Fact: Are you ready to read this? Mittal paid over $60 million to host his daughter Vanisha Mittal's wedding celebration in Vaux le Vicomte in 2004, which no doubt is the world's most expensive wedding ever.

2. Azim Premji
Location: Mumbai, India
Profession: Chairman & CEO, Wipro
Why is He Cool: He is the Chairman & CEO of Wipro, the largest software company in India. In 2007, Azim Premji made it onto the Forbes Billionaire list as the 21st. He was also titled the "The Greatest Entrepreneurships of All Time" by BusinessWeek and is the first Indian person to make it onto that list. He is a living example of what is possible with hard work and great ideas. He also founded the Azim Premji Foundation, which does good works for various social and educational causes.
What's Next: Premji's wealth will probably increase from its current $18.5 billion USD value.
Cool Fun Fact: He drives a Toyota Corolla and flies economy class, and even served food on paper plates at a lunch honouring his son's wedding.

1. Pervez Musharraf
Location: Pakistan
Profession: President, Pakistan
Why is He Cool: This guy doesn't have too many fans out there, but let's face it, he has maintained a relatively "cool" position through out all the stress that he and his country has gone through. Yes, he's a dictator, but don't hate, he's keeping things in check far better than any democratic ruler in that country ever has. He's cool because he's been able to stay in office all this time, even avoiding getting clipped twice. If that isn't cool, I really don't know what is.
What's Next: There will be elections coming up in Pakistan in February of 2008 so his days in office might be numbered.
Cool Fun Fact: Musharraf has a son, Bilal, who was a graduate student at Stanford University and currently works in Silicon Valley, and a daughter, Ayla Raza, who works as an architect in Karachi.

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