Eleven shows back to back, in two weeks in four cities (phew!). Do you really love performing that much?
It’s actually 14 shows now. The reason for that is I asked to be booked on more shows so there aren’t many down days. Performing is my passion. I would would love nothing more than to do shows every night if I could. I don’t know what to do on days I don’t have a show.
It has been 12 years in comedy for you. One, how do you ensure you don’t get jaded? Two, what’s the boring/ not so glamourous part about it?
I truly love making people laugh. It’s what makes me the happiest. The way you get jaded is if you are using this as a vehicle to do something else (films, commercials etc) and it doesn’t happen. If you are doing it to be famous, and that’s your only goal, then it doesn’t happen, you blame this business, not your intent. I love performing, anything that comes out of that is a bonus.
Everyone has their story of what got them to dive bravely into the world of stand up comedy. What is yours?
Growing up in a town in Texas that was 85% white, as the only Indian kids, (my brother and me) we were bullied quite a bit. I used humour to help get out of situations like that.
Also, amongst my friends, I was the comedian. I always did whatever it took to get the laughs. Then one day I saw Eddie Murphy’s ‘Delirious’ and it blew my mind. I think it was then I knew I wanted to be a comic. As I got older, I got involved in theater and went on to study that in college. After college I went into our family business. I hated it. Then a girl I was dating took me to a comedy club as she knew my love for the art. The MC that night was an Indian guy. I was blown away. I talked with him a few weeks later about his start.
He told me of a workshop being taught at The Improv Comedy Club (an extremely famous chain of clubs in the US). I did it and the rest is history. 11 years later I’m still making people laugh. I’ve gotten to work with people I grew up watching. A highlight of mine is when I was asked to be on The Kevin Nealon Show (of SNL and Weeds fame). I did my set and at the end, HE interviewed ME. It’s moments like that that make it all worthwhile.
Anyone with a good sense of humour can probably get a show or two. What do you think a comedian needs to stick around and succeed?
I disagree with the idea that if you have a good sense of humour, you can get a show. I know a lot of people that are funny, but couldn’t do it. It’s hard to make a room full of people, you’ve never met before, laugh. I think you need to have a real passion for the art.
I think... no... I know that you need thick skin. There are days when it all goes wrong. You need to be able to bounce back from those days and get right back on stage. Being able to handle rejection is a must. There are nights where no one is listening to you. You’re just background noise while they drink their beers and watch the match. Knowing that it is part of the process and that it won’t always be this way really help getting over that feeling. Every great artiste, at some point in their life, was told they would never make it.
Even Walt Disney was fired from his first job for “not being creative enough”. If you believe in yourself and you love it, it’s all there for you.
As an Indian American, do you in writing your sketches make an effort to break stereotypes that the western world has about India and Indians?
I decided from day one, I would never make fun of my people. I’ve seen comics in the US and UK making fun of Indians because they know it will get a laugh. I talk about my parents, and I talk about my friend having the Indian accent in America and trying to hit on girls. I’m not making fun of the accent, I’m making a joke about specific people. I never do bindi, cow, turban jokes. Why on Earth would I! This is the land of my Mother and Father, my ancestors, I would never make fun of that for the sake of a laugh. I want to inform people about India and Indians, not encourage them to further stereotypes.
Humour us: what are the typically Indian mannerisms that crack you up and you love to joke about?
I love our hand gestures. They are the best! And it doesn’t matter how long someone has been out of India, or if they are first generation kids growing up outside the country. We all do the same things. My favorite hand gesture? Well. You’ll have to come to the shows and find out.
Finally, how should the audience come prepared for your show?
Be prepared to have a good time and don’t come with preconceived ideas of what to expect. This is my first time here, so don’t automatically come out with what you think I’ll be like. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show. I’m going to work extra hard to make sure you have an amazing time. I promise that.