Sridhar Rangaswamy

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

Nice to meet you! My name is Sridhar Rangaswamy, but everyone knows me as Sri—or by my entertainment alias, drjustkidding. I am originally from Tamil Nadu, India, and I am proud to be based in Orlando, Florida.

My journey has always been driven by a lifelong desire to excel in leadership and leave a unique legacy. In my early years in Madras, this creative energy led me to participate in All India Radio youth programmes, compete on the popular Tamil television quiz show Sindikka Oru Nodi, and act in performances at the prestigious Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. My dedication to societal values was even recognized during my time in Income Tax, where I was selected for the ‘Modern Gandhi’ designation.

My entrepreneurial spirit and passion for service only grew over time. In 2003, I founded Sai Sharan Inc., a non-profit organization that later received official IRS 501(c)(3) status to serve the community. Academically, I hold a Bachelor’s in English Literature from the University of Madras and a Master of Science from Colorado Technical University, where I graduated with a 4.0 GPA.

Today, alongside my professional commitments as a cybersecurity specialist for the Department of the Navy, I channel my energy into DR. JUSTKIDDING, INC., my active entertainment and comedy venture. Whether managing mission-critical tech or stepping behind a microphone to bring laughter and premium entertainment to local venues, my ultimate goal remains the same: to ‘Under-Promise and Over-Deliver’ while building joyful, lasting connections in the community.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

What I love most about living in Lockhart is the incredible, tight-knit sense of community and the collective passion for giving back. For me, a neighborhood isn’t just a place where you look out for your own home; it’s an ecosystem where we look out for one another. Over the years, I’ve had the honor of serving our local area on the Orange County Citizen Cops Council and working closely with local leaders to keep our community safe and thriving. Right now, that community heartbeat is stronger than ever as I work alongside the wonderful members of the Apopka Elks Lodge #2422 to organize our upcoming Veterans Dinner this December. Being surrounded by people who prioritize honoring our veterans, supporting local families, and building lasting connections is exactly what makes this area feel like home.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

DR. JUSTKIDDING, INC. is an active Florida profit corporation officially established in April 2024 (Document No. P24000027436). It is a premium entertainment, stand-up comedy, and motivational speaking venture that brings high-energy joy and connection to corporate, community, and social events. The spark for this business started during my youth in India, where I fell in love with public broadcasting and creative media, and it grew into a full corporate reality to deliver top-tier live entertainment and interactive karaoke hosting.

Parallel to my entertainment business, my foundational drive to leave a lasting legacy inspired me to establish Sai Sharan Inc.—a Florida non-profit corporation founded in December 2000 (Document No. N00000008385) and officially IRS 501(c)(3) approved in 2003. While DR. JUSTKIDDING, INC. serves clients by injecting laughter, relieving stress, and creating vibrant, unforgettable social experiences, Sai Sharan Inc. focuses heavily on global unity, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief. Together, both entities allow me to live out my core philosophy: ‘Under-Promise and Over-Deliver.’ We help our customers and communities by providing a unique blend of technical excellence, uplifting laughter, and profound, compassionate service.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

My biggest piece of advice for anyone starting a business or a non-profit is to build your foundation on absolute compliance, transparency, and personal accountability. When I founded Sai Sharan Inc., I went through the entire process of getting our official IRS 501(c)(3) status completely independently—without relying on external legal or accounting teams. It taught me that understanding the core mechanics of your organization from day one gives you unmatched clarity and control.

Secondly, let your reputation be your strongest currency. I run my ventures under a very strict personal motto: ‘Under-Promise and Deliver More.’ In a world full of flashy marketing, clients and communities value consistent, ethical, and honest execution above everything else. If you protect your integrity and stay deeply connected to the execution of your vision, your brand’s authority will naturally grow.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

One piece of feedback that stays with me came from a client after a high-energy comedy and interactive entertainment event. They mentioned how rare it is to find a business owner who can seamlessly bridge the gap between people of completely different backgrounds and make everyone in the room feel connected through laughter. They told me, ‘You didn’t just host an event; you created an atmosphere where we could completely forget our daily stress and leave feeling uplifted.’ Hearing that the brand successfully delivered on its core purpose—using humor as a universal tool to unite and re-energize a room—is the ultimate validation for what we do at DR. JUSTKIDDING, INC.

Where do you see your company in the future?

In the future, I see both of my ventures expanding their reach significantly by scaling our digital footprints and content distribution platforms. For DR. JUSTKIDDING, INC., we are heavily building on our momentum following our 30-year celebration features published in India on BigNewsNetwork and StreetInsider. Moving forward, we are expanding our permanent digital media presence to share specialized articles, highlight creative projects—such as our recent St. Petersburg journey—and capture the spirit of community through our dedicated space for the RKM North Classmate 1978 and Income Tax friends blog.

Parallel to this, Sai Sharan Inc. is entering a vibrant new era of digital outreach. We have successfully launched our active LinkedIn and Facebook pages, and we are now connecting with audiences globally through our weekly video releases on our official YouTube channel. To deepen this spiritual and humanitarian connection, we are currently building a specialized blog to host articles dedicated to Lord Shirdi Sai Baba (Dattatreya), sharing timeless values of unity and service. Ultimately, by combining professional tech standards with creative media and strong digital networks, both organizations will continue to honor my life philosophy to ‘Under-Promise and Deliver More’ while leaving a unique, lasting legacy of joy and community relief worldwide.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

The biggest misconception about the comedy and entertainment industry is that it is purely spontaneous, unscripted, and unstructured. People often think that being an entertainer just means showing up, grabbing a microphone, and letting things flow naturally. In reality, great comedy and engaging public performance require an immense amount of strategic structure, analytical discipline, and precise timing. Balancing my role as a cybersecurity specialist for the Department of the Navy with my work at DR. JUSTKIDDING, INC. has shown me that entertainment is a meticulous craft. It takes careful preparation, an intimate understanding of audience analytics, and structured management to make an experience feel completely effortless and joyful. True humor isn’t random—it is an art form driven by deliberate execution.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

One of my greatest challenges has been finding a sustainable balance between a highly demanding corporate path and my personal entrepreneurial ventures, all while building everything from scratch with my own savings. Working as a cybersecurity specialist for the Department of the Navy requires immense focus, so carving out the creative and strategic hours to scale DR. JUSTKIDDING, INC. and Sai Sharan Inc. demanded meticulous time management and unwavering discipline.

Early on, I also faced the administrative hurdle of setting up a non-profit entirely on my own, which meant independently learning complex regulatory requirements to secure our official IRS 501(c)(3) status without expensive legal teams. I overcame these hurdles by turning my constraints into a system. I treated my restricted time as an asset, learned to automate my business operations, and partnered with highly dedicated global freelancers to handle content distribution. Overcoming these initial operational bottlenecks taught me that true resourcefulness matters far more than a massive corporate budget.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

Growing up in the ’70s and ’80s in Madras, India, my musical taste was shaped by a blend of vibrant global pop and rich cultural traditions. On the international side, I absolutely loved high-energy groups like Boney M, whose rhythms brought people together—a spirit I carry into my entertainment work today. Alongside global sounds, I grew up with a deep appreciation for classical Carnatic music and the legendary cinematic tracks of South Indian cinema.

On the sports front, while I follow dynamic leaders in modern sports today, growing up in India meant witnessing the golden eras of cricket and field hockey. Major Dhyan Chand is universally regarded as the greatest field hockey player of all time. He led India during its absolute golden era of Olympic dominance, embodying immaculate coordination, ball control, and legendary leadership. In cricket, Kapil Dev was the ultimate symbol of inspirational leadership. He famously led a resilient Indian team to a historic victory in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, teaching an entire nation what it truly takes to transform underdogs into world champions through sheer self-belief and leading from the front. These icons taught me early lessons about coordination, staying calm under pressure, and what it truly takes to lead a team to victory.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

I want to dedicate my biggest shoutout to my wonderful wife, Shikha Sridhar. She has been my absolute rock, a dedicated partner in our community service, and the true inspiration behind the legacy we are building together.

Professionally, I want to recognize Alicia Dow (known to everyone as AK), my brilliant business partner who brings unmatched talent, reliability, and joy to our entertainment ventures. A huge thank you to Dr. Gary L. White at the Department of the Navy for his steadfast professional camaraderie, and to Tyler W. at TruHome, who has been an incredible supporter and whom I highly value like a younger brother. Lastly, a special shoutout to Sudeepa, our exceptionally dedicated Upwork contractor, whose hard work ensures that our Shirdi Sai Baba devotional articles and media connect beautifully with audiences worldwide. Success is never a solo journey, and I am deeply grateful for this phenomenal network.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

To follow our journey, explore our content, or connect with us, you can reach out through our official digital platforms and publication channels.

Personal and professional portfolio: connect with me directly on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/sridharrangaswamy for professional networking, leadership insights, and updates on my work. You can also find my collection of published books and articles on Amazon KDP. My writings focus deeply on Life Lessons & Personal Growth, Health & Well-being, Entertainment & Creative Pursuits, and Cultural Articles, all reflecting my personal philosophies on resilience and leadership.

DR. JUSTKIDDING, INC.: visit drjustkidding.com to review our upcoming media releases, creative comedy logs, and specialized community blogs. Read more about our journey via our published interview in the Voyage South Carolina ‘Inspiring Stories’ series and our official 30-year celebration coverage across BigNewsNetwork and StreetInsider.

Sai Sharan Inc.: head over to saisharan.info to access our non-profit updates and community resources. Follow our official Sai Sharan Inc. pages on LinkedIn and Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel @SaiSriRangaswamy for inspiring weekly video broadcasts dedicated to unity, service, and community values.