Stand up comedian Aditi Mittal: 'We need more women on the table laughing out'

Carving a significant position for herself in the peaking stand-up comedy space, one of the first woman stand-up comics, Aditi Mittal, believes that comedy uses truth and logic in the writing meanwhile constantly questioning the ‘aise hi hota hai’ ideology behind things that range from sanitary napkins to eve teasing. In a refreshing conversation with AFTERhrs, Aditi talks about her Netflix special, gender revolution, transformation in the stand-up comedy industry, the crowd of Pink City and a lot more. Here are the excerpts from the interview...

You’ve often been heckled for your jokes on sexism like for your Netflix special ‘Things They Wouldn’t Let Me Say’. How do you take it? And who do you refer to as ‘they’ in the title?

I deal with it with more jokes, that’s what I know, so that’s my way. ‘They’ that I refer to, is everybody and everything. We live in a society that tells women to shut up all the time. My personal journey is also about finding that little by little. And that’s why when I wrote the show, I knew I had to write something about how even being able to talk is a problem and specially with stand-up comedy which is a job of just talking; there’s nothing else, no singing, no dancing, no fancy life, it’s just talking. So I felt that I need to address that. 

Is it easier to talk about taboos and make the content rich enough to bring gender revolution through comedy than a serious debate?

Just keep talking about it, be it seriously or jokingly. I don’t believe one method is better than the other. The fact is that we have not spoken enough about gender issues and sexism which is why we are in the condition that we are in today. So ‘just talk’, whether it’s a joke or whether it’s serious. The thing with jokes is that people tend to listen to them more.  Personally, I’m not trying to do anything, I’m just making a joke. I want to talk about this crazy world that I am living in. I’ve realised that muh bhi kholo toh revolution bolte hain. Mere ko duniya bohot funny lagti hai.

What is your take on the transformation in the stand-up comedy scene in our country?

I’m just blown away by it. Eight years after being in this industry; I get to perform in front of such an amazing audience. As an industry too, it has just taken off, thanks to the Internet. It’s a combination of so many things that has led to this explosion – aaj main apna ghar chala rahi hu inn paiso se jo main banati hu just by telling people jokes and vo bahut badi baat hai.

Where is the comedy scene in India headed especially for women artistes? What new trends can be expected?

There’s been an explosion in the number of women who are coming out on stage and performing-smarter and stronger women at that. Mera bhi vo hi inspiration tha; I saw people who were strong, confident and speaking their mind, and being able to see someone, triggers you more easily so I think in the coming year, there will be an explosion in the number of women artistes which I am very excited about. The world needs it right now. We need to hear women speak. The culture of laughter for women has always been very secretive and private. We need to have more women on the table laughing out.

What are you expecting from the crowd of Jaipur for your performance?

This is my first public show in Jaipur and I am really excited about it, I really hope people enjoy it. I’ve heard people talk about Jaipur’s crowd which is into stand-up comedy now. Also, in Jaipur, every building looks like a palace to me, it is just so beautiful. I wish to experience all of it when I visit the Pink City.

Aditi Mittal’s comedy special titled “Global Village Idiot” begins on March 18 with her performance in Jaipur at Indralok Auditorium.