Vandana Khanna is an award-winning Indian American poet, educator, and editor known for her beautiful mix of immigrant stories, Hindu mythology, and modern womanhood. She was born in New Delhi and raised in Virginia, where she learned to balance two cultures. Today, she teaches creative writing, edits for The Los Angeles Review, and writes poetry that touches readers around the world. Vandana Khanna is also widely known as the wife of actor Jason George, and together they have built one of Hollywood’s strongest and longest-lasting marriages.
Profile Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Vandana Khanna |
| Born | Early 1970s, New Delhi, India |
| Age (2026) | About 51–53 years |
| Nationality | Indian-born American |
| Ethnicity | Indian / South Asian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Education | B.A. – University of Virginia; MFA – Indiana University (Yellen Fellow) |
| Profession | Poet, Educator, Editor |
| Known For | Poetry collections based on identity, mythology, and womanhood |
| Major Works | Train to Agra, Afternoon Masala, The Goddess Monologues, Burning Like Her Own Planet |
| Awards | Crab Orchard Prize, Miller Williams Prize, Pushcart nominations |
| Teaching Roles | Antioch University, USC, Pitzer, Whittier |
| Editorial Role | Co-Poetry Editor, The Los Angeles Review |
| Spouse | Jason Winston George (Actor) |
| Children | Jasmine, Arun, and Nikhil |
| Residence | Studio City, Los Angeles, CA |
| Social Media | Instagram: @vankhanna • Twitter: @vankhanna |
Her Early Years & Heritage
Vandana Khanna was born in New Delhi, India, in the early 1970s. When she was still a child, her family moved to the United States. She grew up in Falls Church, Virginia, a place very different from where she was born.
At home, she heard stories from Indian traditions. Her grandmother played a big role in this. She shared stories about Hindu mythology, including gods and goddesses like Sita and Parvati. These stories stayed with Vandana Khanna for many years. Later, they became an important part of her poetry. At school and in daily life, she experienced American culture.
Vandana Khanna has described herself as an “in-between girl.” That phrase explains a lot about her work. She grew up hearing stories about Krishna and Hindu traditions, but she also lived in a world filled with American culture. She once described this contrast in simple images: samosas and hamburgers, Krishna and Jesus, India and America. Her love for storytelling began early. When she was only nine years old, she tried to write her first novel.
Her Education
Education played a major role in Vandana Khanna’s life. After finishing high school, she attended the University of Virginia. There she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
During her studies, she discovered how powerful poetry could be. Poetry allowed her to express feelings about identity, culture, and memory in a very personal way. After completing her undergraduate degree, she continued her education at Indiana University. There she earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in poetry. During this time, she received the Yellen Fellowship in Poetry, a respected award given to talented students.
Writing Career
Over the years, Vandana Khanna has written several important poetry books. Each one explores themes of identity, mythology, and belonging in different ways. Her first book, Train to Agra, was published in 2001. This debut collection looks closely at the experience of immigration and cultural identity. It explores what it feels like to move between India and America. The book received the Crab Orchard Review First Book Prize, a major recognition for a first-time poet.
More than a decade later, she published Afternoon Masala in 2014. This collection continued her exploration of cultural identity and the immigrant experience. The poems describe memories, food, landscapes, and traditions from different parts of life. The book received the Miller Williams Arkansas Poetry Prize, another respected literary award. In 2016, Vandana Khanna released The Goddess Monologues, a chapbook published by Diode Editions. This collection includes twenty-two persona poems that give voice to famous mythological figures.
Her most recent major work is Burning Like Her Own Planet, released in 2023 by Alice James Books. In this collection, Vandana Khanna reimagines famous Hindu goddesses such as Sita and Parvati. Throughout her career, Vandana Khanna’s writing has appeared in respected literary journals. Her work has been featured in places like The New Republic, Guernica, and New England Review. She has also received several Pushcart Prize nominations for individual poems.
Teaching & Editing
Besides writing poetry, Vandana Khanna also plays an important role in teaching and editing. She currently works as a faculty member in the MFA program at Antioch University. In this role, she helps guide new poets and writers as they develop their own voices. Teaching allows her to share what she has learned from years of writing and publishing. She has also taught creative writing at several other institutions. These include the University of Southern California, Pitzer College, and Whittier College.
In addition to teaching, Vandana Khanna is deeply involved in the literary community as an editor. She serves as the co-poetry editor of The Los Angeles Review, an important literary journal. Editors play a key role in discovering and supporting new writers. Her work has also appeared in the Academy of American Poets’ Poem-a-Day series and in the well-known anthology The Penguin Book of Indian Poets.
Vandana’s Marriage and How They Met
Vandana Khanna and actor Jason Winston George share one of the most stable relationships connected to Hollywood. Their story began in the early 1990s when they were both students at the University of Virginia. They lived in the same dorm during their first year of college. At first, they did not spend much time together.
Jason George once ran into the hallway doing a playful “King Kong” impression. He jokingly picked Vandana Khanna up and carried her over his shoulder. It was silly and unexpected, but it caught her attention. After college, their paths became busy. Vandana Khanna continued her studies, while Jason George worked toward his acting career. For a time they lived in different places while finishing graduate school.
Eventually, they decided to build a life together. Vandana Khanna and Jason George married on July 10, 1999. Over the years, their marriage has remained strong. In 2024 they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They marked the moment with a trip to Italy, returning to the same place where they had spent their honeymoon years earlier.
Jason George often speaks about their relationship in interviews. He says the secret is simple: “fight fair.” In other words, disagreements are normal, but they must be handled with respect and honesty. He also says their relationship is a team.
Her Husband: Jason George
Jason Winston George is an American actor known for his long television career. He was born on February 9, 1972, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. As a young man, he was a strong student and athlete. At first he planned to become a lawyer. But during college he discovered acting and decided to follow a different path.
He studied at the University of Virginia, where he earned a degree in rhetoric and communication studies along with drama. Later he attended Temple University and earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting. During his graduate studies he got a major opportunity. He was cast in the television soap opera Sunset Beach.
Jason George later became well known for his role as Dr. Ben Warren in the television drama Grey’s Anatomy. He joined the show in 2010 and quickly became a popular character. Later his character moved to the firefighter series Station 19, a spinoff connected to Grey’s Anatomy. After Station 19 ended in 2024, he returned to the main Grey’s Anatomy cast. Beyond acting, Jason George also works as a leader in the entertainment industry. He has served on the board of SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union.
Their Children
Jasmine George
Jasmine George is the oldest child of Vandana Khanna and Jason George. Her parents have always tried to give their children a normal and private life. Because of this, Jasmine usually stays out of the public spotlight. However, she has occasionally appeared with her parents at movie premieres and public events.
Some of these appearances include family-friendly movie premieres such as The Jungle Book and The LEGO Batman Movie. Jason George once shared that watching Jasmine grow up has been exciting for him as a father.
Arun George
Arun George is one of the twin sons of Vandana Khanna and Jason George. His birth came during a very dramatic moment for the family. While Vandana Khanna was pregnant with the twins, her car was hit by another vehicle that ran a red light. The accident caused an emergency delivery.
Thankfully, both twins were born safely. Arun has grown up in Studio City, Los Angeles, where the family lives. Like his sister, he is mostly kept away from the public spotlight.
Nikhil George
Nikhil George is the second twin son of Vandana Khanna and Jason George. He shares the same birth story as his brother Arun. Their unexpected arrival became an important family memory.
Their mother is Indian American, and their father is African American. This means the children grow up learning about different traditions and histories. Vandana Khanna has spoken about how her sons sometimes notice differences in skin tone within the family and ask questions about identity.
Creative Vision
One of the most unique parts of Vandana Khanna’s work is how she uses mythology in modern poetry. She often writes about famous Hindu figures such as Sita, Parvati, and Lakshmi. Instead of showing them only as powerful goddesses, she imagines them as real people with feelings and choices.
This approach allows Vandana Khanna to explore questions about women’s lives. For example, what would Sita say if she could speak freely? What would Parvati think about destiny and independence? These questions help her poems feel both ancient and modern at the same time.
Her poems also use strong sensory images. Readers may notice descriptions of colors, food, smells, and sounds. Another interesting part of her writing is how she builds poetry collections. Instead of writing many unrelated poems, she often creates “project books.”
Final Thoughts
Vandana Khanna has built a meaningful career as a poet, educator, and literary voice. Her journey from New Delhi to the United States shaped how she sees the world. Living between cultures helped her create poetry that speaks about identity, belonging, and memory.
Through books like Train to Agra, Afternoon Masala, The Goddess Monologues, and Burning Like Her Own Planet, Vandana Khanna has created work that connects mythology with modern life. Her poems remind readers that old stories can still help us understand today’s world.
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(FAQs)
1. Who is Vandana Khanna?
Vandana Khanna is an award-winning Indian American poet, educator, and editor known for her poetry about identity, mythology, and womanhood. She is also the wife of actor Jason George.
2. Where was Vandana Khanna born?
She was born in New Delhi, India, and moved to the United States as a young child.
3. What is Vandana Khanna known for?
She is known for her poetry collections, her teaching, and her editorial work at The Los Angeles Review.
4. What books has Vandana Khanna written?
Her major works include Train to Agra, Afternoon Masala, The Goddess Monologues, and Burning Like Her Own Planet.
5. Who is Vandana Khanna married to?
She is married to actor Jason Winston George, known for Grey’s Anatomy and Station 19.
6. How many children do Vandana Khanna and Jason George have?
They have three children: Jasmine, and twin sons Arun and Nikhil.
7. What awards has Vandana Khanna won?
She has received the Crab Orchard Review First Book Prize, the Miller Williams Poetry Prize, and multiple Pushcart Prize nominations.
8. Where does Vandana Khanna live today?
She lives in Studio City, Los Angeles, with her husband and their three children.
