Meet Vasu Primlani

Ritu Vasu Primlani is an Indian stand-up comedian and environmentalist. She has received the 2015 Nari Shakti Puraskar from the Government of India for her work.

Vasu Primlani is a celebrated speaker, environmentalist, actor, professor, somatic therapist, triathlete, baker, and is one of India’s top comedians.

Ms. Primlani employs comedy to disseminate issues of social messaging, particularly around boundaries, civic sense, gender equity, and the concept of consent, per US civic society standards.

Ms. Primlani is one of the most prominent social entrepreneurs in the United States and India. For her innovation, she received over a dozen environmental and economic leadership awards globally.

Primlani founded the non-profit Thimmakka’s Resources for Environmental Education in the United States. This organization provided environmental consulting services for restaurants and it received the California Governors Environmental and Economic Leadership Award in 2003 and she was appointed an Ashoka Fellow for her work with restaurants. Ms. Primlani's organization also received a US EPA region 9 award in 2003.

Primlani has produced, headlined in, and performed in hundreds of corporate and comedy club shows across the world, including in New York City, San Francisco, Mumbai, Dubai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Pune, and Delhi. She tackles social messaging through her comedy, giving voice to daring issues such as the environment, human rights, and rape. 

Vasu has Taught in the US and India at the following universities: University of Michigan, USC, XIMB, IIT Delhi and IIT Hyderabad. Courses: sustainability, green design and writing comedy.

Vasu is also an Actor Latest film: Badrinath ki Dulhaniya. Best actor awards at IIT and AIIMS inter college competitions. 

Is a triathlete of nine years (podium finisher), rock climber of 17 years, is a runner, cyclist, swimmer, has practiced Aikido, Capoeira, Taiko, Russian ballet for seven years

Awards
  • Nari Shakti Award by the President of India 2015
  • Global Ashoka Innovators for the Public Social Entrepreneur fellowship 2004
  • U.S. EPA Region 9 Environmental Achievement Award 2003
  • California Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award 2003

A motivational speaker and corporate trainer, Vasu Primlani covers a broad range of topics from professional boundaries, communication, to motivational talks.