All about LOL ft. Anuvab Pal

[00:00:00] The Bandra, where I live, some 200 new buildings are coming up

[00:00:03] Some of the names that are coming up are just next level

[00:00:06] We have been driving down this morning and I saw some really strange names

[00:00:09] And I thought of your show, I said, I'm sure Anubhav has seen those

[00:00:12] One Greek god and builder's son, those two

[00:00:15] So like...

[00:00:15] So Varun Helios, Rajiv Pegasus

[00:00:18] That is, Sudhir Herculees is a building in Sakina

[00:00:22] Like a Bengali wedding, The Father of the Bride

[00:00:25] It's like a funeral, like he's saying,

[00:00:28] Why have you come? Come, come

[00:00:29] There's some food, come

[00:00:30] So that's the vibe that he sends out

[00:00:32] Right

[00:00:33] Punjabi wedding is a good...

[00:00:34] The wedding is in Chandigarh, people in Toronto are dancing

[00:00:37] You know what I mean?

[00:00:38] It's just some other level of stuff

[00:00:49] Hello everybody, we are back this week with a very exciting guest

[00:00:53] Our guest wears many hats

[00:00:55] He's a polymath of sorts

[00:00:57] A screenwriter, a storyteller as in a novelist

[00:01:02] He is an actor, a podcaster and above all

[00:01:07] He is a stand-up comedian

[00:01:10] The New York Times have called him India's most intelligent comedian

[00:01:15] Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to Anubhav Pal

[00:01:19] I have done some of those things

[00:01:21] But I've never been in the company of charming young women being introduced like this

[00:01:26] So thank you for having me

[00:01:28] This is quite rare

[00:01:30] The life of stand-up comedians is usually surrounded by criminals and murderers

[00:01:34] So I don't often get to visit very cool podcasts hosted by Gen Z people like you

[00:01:42] We'll take that, we'll take that

[00:01:44] We are dying to be Gen Z actually at this stage

[00:01:47] What I'm saying, yeah

[00:01:49] So congratulations, you just got married

[00:01:52] Again

[00:01:53] Yeah, I thought we'll talk about funny things of the week

[00:01:58] I didn't know that personal life was going to come up

[00:02:01] Actually what I was getting at is that you got married and you got married in Calcutta

[00:02:05] And Calcutta's been in the reviews recently because of Sita and Akbar

[00:02:10] That is correct

[00:02:11] Sita and Akbar are a very interesting couple who have gone into our courts

[00:02:16] So the tiger, Tigress

[00:02:20] I've been to that zoo quite often and they keep

[00:02:23] Basically they would have kept these two tigers quite close to each other

[00:02:27] Calcutta Zoo doesn't have a lot of place for tigers to roam around

[00:02:30] And of all the zoos in India, if you follow the stories

[00:02:34] There's always some crazy shit going on in Calcutta Zoo

[00:02:37] Did you read the story about the guy trying to garland the tiger who was eaten?

[00:02:41] Yes, recently

[00:02:43] Often around New Year's Eve or during Kalipuja

[00:02:46] There's one alcoholic Bengali man who will jump into the thing and try to garland the tiger

[00:02:51] And more often than not, it ends the same way

[00:02:54] They all eat it?

[00:02:55] All eat it

[00:02:56] And initially the tiger will be like, I'm a tiger man

[00:02:58] What are you doing here?

[00:03:00] And the tiger was also like another drunk Bengali shown up

[00:03:04] It adds to the flavor

[00:03:05] Yeah, he didn't want to eat the person

[00:03:08] Then they slap him around

[00:03:09] Then the guy is constantly trying to garland the tiger

[00:03:12] He's like, oh god, I've got to kill you now

[00:03:15] Now this is a new one because a tiger of a certain nomenclature

[00:03:21] Obviously two tigers wanted to get together

[00:03:23] They don't know what their names are

[00:03:25] So they're just being a tiger as they're supposed to be

[00:03:28] Man and woman, right?

[00:03:29] It was man and woman

[00:03:30] Yeah, I would imagine, Akbar and Sita

[00:03:32] These days you can't tell, right?

[00:03:34] There's so many genders out there

[00:03:36] Yeah, correct

[00:03:37] And also was there consent sort before the names were given?

[00:03:41] I don't think so

[00:03:42] So now that's ended up in court, what is the court saying?

[00:03:45] Who named them?

[00:03:46] Yes, the poor gentleman has been called to us

[00:03:48] The rationale behind the names I think

[00:03:50] The last I read

[00:03:51] He has many excuses, right?

[00:03:53] That whichever the zookeeper is

[00:03:55] He's like boss listen, I've got to give them names

[00:03:57] These are famous names

[00:03:58] I don't know they'll get together

[00:04:00] And we will live in an India where this will be seen as an issue

[00:04:03] A love to your others happened

[00:04:05] Yeah, so he's saying one is a king

[00:04:08] The other is a mythological goddess

[00:04:11] I didn't know that these people

[00:04:13] Like why are you blaming me?

[00:04:14] I had to come up with names

[00:04:16] But living in India, is there ever a death of material?

[00:04:20] Never, never

[00:04:21] So you just have to open up the newspaper

[00:04:23] And see the city briefs and something or the other happens

[00:04:26] Yeah, but the main thing I enjoy

[00:04:28] Is also looking at the world from their perspective

[00:04:31] Right, like in this story

[00:04:33] I'm fascinated by the names the zookeeper would have rejected

[00:04:37] You know he's like Govind, Govind, Tiger

[00:04:40] And now he's like Tiger

[00:04:41] He must have gone through the list

[00:04:44] He must have thought of some Bengali name

[00:04:46] Shawmoresh, that's not going to work for a Tiger

[00:04:48] The Bhalo name, Dark Nam

[00:04:50] Yeah, all of that

[00:04:51] So nicknamed then they'll think female names

[00:04:54] Can I call it Aparajita?

[00:04:56] Sounds like a Ray film

[00:04:57] I don't know

[00:04:58] So like they would have ultimately got to these names

[00:05:01] And then the tigers went and jacked him by getting together

[00:05:04] In a very polarized India

[00:05:06] So he's just the wrong man on the wrong end of history

[00:05:09] That's all

[00:05:10] These otherwise normal zookeeper, right?

[00:05:12] Like 15 years ago

[00:05:14] Someone would have told him, what is Akbar doing?

[00:05:16] He wouldn't have gone to court

[00:05:18] So I just think that

[00:05:21] Constantly if you just keep your eyes and ears open

[00:05:23] There's something that's always happening

[00:05:25] Anu Bhav, were you always...

[00:05:26] So this is what I want to understand

[00:05:28] Are you an only child?

[00:05:29] I'm an only child

[00:05:30] And did you...

[00:05:31] At what age did you start becoming this person

[00:05:33] And did you crack jokes to amuse yourself

[00:05:36] How did this sense of humour develop in you?

[00:05:38] You know, I don't know if I ever thought that I was a f***ing person

[00:05:43] But because I was an only child

[00:05:45] I spent a lot of time observing

[00:05:47] And I see this...

[00:05:51] I have a little nephew

[00:05:53] And I see this in him as well

[00:05:54] If you're on your own, you read a lot, you observe a lot

[00:05:56] Because my parents, you know, they are their friends

[00:05:58] They're out

[00:05:59] So you don't grow up into too many people your age

[00:06:03] So you just tend to observe

[00:06:04] And some of those things you observe as a child

[00:06:06] You think are absurd

[00:06:08] And you think as an adult they'll seem normal

[00:06:10] You grow up, you realise they're not normal

[00:06:12] They're still absurd

[00:06:13] That's where I think the humour comes from

[00:06:16] It's just...

[00:06:17] You keep thinking, this is ridiculous

[00:06:20] Something anything like this

[00:06:21] Things you'd see in India

[00:06:23] Or something someone will say to you

[00:06:25] I attended a stand-up show

[00:06:29] By Anu Bhav in London recently

[00:06:32] And I think you were the fifth or the sixth act that evening

[00:06:36] All the guys before him

[00:06:38] The men as well as the women

[00:06:40] I felt they were trying so hard, Anu Bhav

[00:06:42] And I'm not saying this to flatter you

[00:06:44] I'm seeing in terms of material, comic timing

[00:06:46] And just authenticity as a funny person on stage

[00:06:49] You know, there were sex jokes

[00:06:52] There were all sorts of jokes to try and elicit

[00:06:55] A few chakals from the audience

[00:06:57] And then comes our man

[00:07:00] And you don't know this reaction

[00:07:02] Perhaps you do

[00:07:03] But maybe you're just so used to it

[00:07:05] But for me, this was delightful to observe

[00:07:08] That everybody in the hall was cracking up

[00:07:12] Wily

[00:07:13] And you just had to

[00:07:15] With your poker face say things

[00:07:18] So this kind of...

[00:07:20] I mean there is comedy and there is comedy

[00:07:23] And what do you attribute the success of your comedy to

[00:07:27] Even in a very clinical detached manner

[00:07:29] Well, you know I think that if you're not the winner

[00:07:32] In any situation

[00:07:34] You know

[00:07:35] And this goes back to everyone from

[00:07:38] Because we are a little...

[00:07:40] I'm a child of the 80s, right?

[00:07:42] So I grew up in India where that kind of

[00:07:45] Failed hero was still around

[00:07:47] So your Amol Palikas of the world

[00:07:50] The early Rishikesh Mukherjee

[00:07:52] And that coupled with British humor

[00:07:54] Where the protagonist is always a loser

[00:07:56] He's failed in something

[00:07:58] And then American influences like Woody Allen

[00:08:01] Or Seinfeld are all about not winning

[00:08:04] So when you come from that perspective

[00:08:07] Then in all your stories

[00:08:09] If you've somehow not understood the world

[00:08:12] Or failed in some way

[00:08:14] The audience is with you generally

[00:08:16] The kind of comedy that exists in the world now

[00:08:19] A very sort of...

[00:08:21] Like American comedy like Kevin Hart

[00:08:24] That kind of comedy where

[00:08:26] You're like I'm a winner and I'll tell you something

[00:08:28] And you're a loser and I'm above you

[00:08:31] That kind of comedy is very alien to me

[00:08:34] Because if you're already a winner

[00:08:37] Then where are your weaknesses?

[00:08:39] I think people love vulnerability more than humor

[00:08:42] If you can be vulnerable

[00:08:44] I think as a storyteller

[00:08:46] And all those other things punchline

[00:08:48] Where people love, those are mechanics

[00:08:50] What will happen?

[00:08:51] But if you can be vulnerable

[00:08:53] People enjoy that

[00:08:55] And if you're...

[00:08:57] I think the most important thing in comedy is truth

[00:09:01] Like at some point everyone in the room

[00:09:03] More than the joke should be able to say

[00:09:05] Ah, this happened to me

[00:09:06] So with comedy a lot of it

[00:09:09] When you write your material

[00:09:11] It's observed

[00:09:13] It's either political observations

[00:09:16] It's lived experiences which are painful

[00:09:20] How do you filter out what you're going to use?

[00:09:23] What is your barometer for knowing that this is something

[00:09:26] That I'm going to turn into a skit?

[00:09:29] And that it'll work

[00:09:31] Yeah

[00:09:33] It's hard

[00:09:35] Like technically everything can be material

[00:09:38] But some things just strike you, right?

[00:09:41] So lately, I don't know if you guys have experienced this

[00:09:44] But lately because of the number of flights over Bombay

[00:09:48] Usually when you're flying into Bombay

[00:09:50] You'll probably hold for 45 minutes

[00:09:52] At least, right?

[00:09:54] It's a thing now

[00:09:56] Where the pilot will come on and say

[00:09:58] Hello, Mr. Dharpan

[00:09:59] This is your captain

[00:10:01] The pilots all have cool names

[00:10:03] Like Ravi Goval speaking

[00:10:05] We'll just be...

[00:10:07] We are tennis to landing but we have no clearance

[00:10:09] So we'll be hovering for 15 minutes

[00:10:11] 20 minutes hovering

[00:10:13] He won't say hovering

[00:10:14] He'll say we'll just be holding back

[00:10:16] And for 10 minutes

[00:10:17] But he'll keep buying time

[00:10:19] He'll say flight attendants, 5 minutes to landing

[00:10:21] 40 minutes to landing

[00:10:22] 20 minutes to landing

[00:10:23] He'll just keep announcing

[00:10:24] And I was like this is dead time

[00:10:25] Because you look at the audience on the plane

[00:10:27] And they're like

[00:10:29] You know because they just want to land

[00:10:31] And get damn annoyed when that happens

[00:10:33] I think that would be a great place for the pilot

[00:10:35] To do something surprising

[00:10:37] Ladies and gentlemen, we're holding back

[00:10:39] I will now sing you a song

[00:10:41] So that's where I get absurd thoughts

[00:10:43] I'm like you know, we really go to the pilot

[00:10:45] Everyone's complaining, grumpy

[00:10:47] They're hovering for 15 minutes

[00:10:49] The flight from Chennai was 2 hours

[00:10:50] They're already circling for 30 minutes

[00:10:52] Imagine the pilot just said

[00:10:53] Ladies and gentlemen, just a...

[00:10:55] Like he just starts

[00:10:57] You know, and you go like that would be a good place

[00:11:00] So that's the thing

[00:11:01] So I make a little note on my phone

[00:11:03] I was like this would be a good place

[00:11:05] For a pilot to start singing

[00:11:07] And then I'll say it at the first show

[00:11:09] And it won't be good

[00:11:10] But I'd have said it

[00:11:12] And some mechanics will form

[00:11:14] Say oh this is broadly where the joke is

[00:11:16] The laughter is coming here

[00:11:17] Okay

[00:11:18] Do it again, expand it a little

[00:11:20] By the fourth show it'll become a little thing

[00:11:23] And then that by the sixth or seventh show

[00:11:25] It'll get a little longer

[00:11:27] And the whole thing that I'm telling you

[00:11:28] Which was 30 seconds might end up being four minutes

[00:11:31] So a lot of it is also improv

[00:11:33] Because you have your basic material

[00:11:35] But so what happens, do you ever have nerves

[00:11:37] And when you first started doing stand-up

[00:11:39] And you were working on Wall Street

[00:11:41] I was, I started working on Wall Street

[00:11:44] In the late 90s, I worked for two years

[00:11:46] Where did you do your education?

[00:11:48] In the US

[00:11:49] So what did you study?

[00:11:50] I did my undergraduate

[00:11:52] I did in English literature and economics

[00:11:55] And I went to grad school

[00:11:58] To study dramatic writing

[00:12:00] Okay

[00:12:01] And I did an MBA in the evenings

[00:12:03] My God, you are really seriously qualified

[00:12:06] Well I'm not really

[00:12:07] Not compared to most people

[00:12:08] I'm going to stand up straight

[00:12:09] And I'll give you more respect

[00:12:10] No but this was years ago

[00:12:11] And it was much easier to get into college

[00:12:12] Okay

[00:12:13] It was much cheaper

[00:12:14] So it wasn't that difficult at all

[00:12:16] And then after that, as a Bengali kid

[00:12:19] You announced to your parents one day

[00:12:21] That I'm coming out as a comedian

[00:12:22] Many years

[00:12:23] Professionally

[00:12:24] How did they take it?

[00:12:25] So I started as a script writer

[00:12:29] So when I was working

[00:12:30] I left, I worked on Wall Street

[00:12:32] Only for two years

[00:12:33] Then I worked for Reuters

[00:12:34] Okay

[00:12:35] Now Thompson Reuters

[00:12:36] For a long time

[00:12:37] In the US

[00:12:38] First seven years in the US

[00:12:39] Seven years in India

[00:12:40] Okay

[00:12:41] So in the US for seven and a half years

[00:12:42] In Bombay seven and literally

[00:12:43] Exactly 15 years, you know

[00:12:45] And stand up was never in my horizon

[00:12:48] So when I was in New York

[00:12:50] I met the film director Manisha Charia

[00:12:53] Who was at NYU

[00:12:54] Yeah

[00:12:55] Which is how, you know

[00:12:56] We met each other many years ago

[00:12:58] Correct

[00:12:59] And he was at NYU studying film

[00:13:02] And I had gone to a screening of his

[00:13:04] And I was studying

[00:13:07] And working at Reuters

[00:13:08] And writing plays

[00:13:10] And he came to see a play of mine

[00:13:12] And I came to see a film of his

[00:13:13] We became friends

[00:13:14] And together

[00:13:16] Over the years in New York

[00:13:17] We wrote a film called Loins of Punjab Presents

[00:13:19] Which did reasonably well

[00:13:21] Which is when I told Reuters

[00:13:24] Can I move back to India

[00:13:25] Because I've been

[00:13:26] You were a fantastic film

[00:13:27] Yeah

[00:13:28] Many years ago

[00:13:29] Because I've been writing films

[00:13:31] And I'd like to pursue that

[00:13:34] So my fear when I asked my boss this

[00:13:37] And my boss was a very tall Englishman

[00:13:39] He's still around

[00:13:40] I said, you know

[00:13:41] I have this side hobby

[00:13:43] I have this moonlight in career

[00:13:45] Is it going to be a problem?

[00:13:47] You know, because

[00:13:49] You can fire me now if you want

[00:13:51] Because this is the thing that

[00:13:53] I've always had

[00:13:54] And news is coming out about it

[00:13:56] And it's in the press

[00:13:57] And my name comes out

[00:13:59] So if that's an issue for the company

[00:14:01] Because they don't want their employees

[00:14:03] Often to be doing 30-40 other things

[00:14:05] Although nowadays it's much cooler

[00:14:07] I've heard the Goldman Sachs CEO

[00:14:10] Global CEO of Goldman Sachs is also a dj

[00:14:13] How cool

[00:14:14] Like he's a world famous dj also

[00:14:16] So I said, you know

[00:14:18] I'm just telling you

[00:14:19] You can fire me if you want

[00:14:20] So he gave me a story

[00:14:22] He said, you know

[00:14:23] Do you know how I'm in this company?

[00:14:25] I said no

[00:14:26] He said I had so much spare time

[00:14:27] That I built a company on the side

[00:14:29] And sold it back to the company

[00:14:30] So if anything

[00:14:31] You're not doing enough with your moonlighting

[00:14:34] It's not like you're not

[00:14:35] I'm discouraged

[00:14:36] You're not doing it enough

[00:14:37] How fortunate though

[00:14:38] He was very kind

[00:14:39] As long as whatever

[00:14:40] I was in sales

[00:14:41] And as long as the numbers were okay

[00:14:43] They were very kind

[00:14:44] Yeah

[00:14:45] Then you came back to India

[00:14:46] I came back

[00:14:47] And we were very lucky

[00:14:48] Because Loin's ended up being

[00:14:49] A bit of a success

[00:14:51] And that sort of

[00:14:52] President is coming for us

[00:14:54] Allow me to write another play

[00:14:55] And which the film producer

[00:14:58] And director, Ron C.P

[00:14:59] Was kind enough to watch and pick up

[00:15:01] And that began my collaboration

[00:15:02] With Kunal Rakhapur

[00:15:03] When did Chaos Theory come?

[00:15:05] Just around that time

[00:15:06] So then I wrote Chaos right after that

[00:15:08] Chaos was originally a play in New York

[00:15:10] It was originally in 2002 as a play

[00:15:13] And then became a stage play in New York

[00:15:15] In Bombay because of Raul de Cunha

[00:15:17] Okay

[00:15:18] He had seen the play in New York

[00:15:19] And wanted to do it here

[00:15:20] So they were like very active years

[00:15:22] One after the other

[00:15:23] And I was

[00:15:24] Then the comedy store of London

[00:15:26] Opened the comedy store in Bombay

[00:15:28] In 2010

[00:15:29] And that's what made me switch to comedy

[00:15:33] Had you not stand up before?

[00:15:35] Never

[00:15:36] What made you decide to go up on stage

[00:15:38] And be in New York?

[00:15:39] So I had actually

[00:15:40] You know what

[00:15:41] I had gone there for

[00:15:42] You guys will understand this

[00:15:43] I had gone there to write an article about them

[00:15:45] Okay

[00:15:46] So I was told

[00:15:47] They're opening

[00:15:48] You've written English comedy

[00:15:50] They're opening a comedy store in Bombay

[00:15:52] Man's World magazine

[00:15:54] A gentleman called Murli

[00:15:56] Who is very much around I think still

[00:15:58] Said Anavar, would you want to do an article on it?

[00:16:00] And I said, yeah okay

[00:16:02] I've got an article on it

[00:16:03] I just thought

[00:16:04] And Don Bort

[00:16:05] Who has subsequently been very kind

[00:16:07] And almost like a mentor to me

[00:16:09] Who is the owner of the comedy store of London

[00:16:11] He said

[00:16:12] I'm not giving you an interview

[00:16:14] I'm short of comedians

[00:16:16] Only four comedians had come in

[00:16:19] To audition

[00:16:20] And at the time

[00:16:22] There were no one

[00:16:23] There were just four little boys

[00:16:24] Today

[00:16:25] Their names are Tanmay Bhatt

[00:16:27] Rohan Joshi

[00:16:28] Oh

[00:16:29] Abish Matthew

[00:16:31] I think Saurav Panth

[00:16:32] Saurav I don't think even audition

[00:16:34] Because he was already doing stand up at the time

[00:16:36] So all these people are now legends

[00:16:38] So you were filling in a gap

[00:16:40] He was short of one audition person

[00:16:43] He didn't know who I was

[00:16:44] He didn't know who any of these people were

[00:16:45] Come come audition

[00:16:46] None of us were anyone

[00:16:47] But he knew bases your work

[00:16:49] Your writing work

[00:16:50] How did he know you were going to be that funny?

[00:16:52] He didn't know anything

[00:16:53] He had come to India

[00:16:55] To audition people to put up at the comedy store

[00:16:57] Because he said

[00:16:58] I can't run it only with British comedians

[00:17:00] So this was after the audition

[00:17:02] You were the token in India

[00:17:04] Yeah

[00:17:05] And for the first few months I was

[00:17:07] First few months all of us

[00:17:08] And did you not feel nervous

[00:17:10] Did you not feel that

[00:17:11] What if I can't get people to laugh

[00:17:13] Like an angry person

[00:17:14] At the time

[00:17:15] Those were my best years of comedy

[00:17:17] My first five

[00:17:18] Because I never thought I was going to do this

[00:17:20] For a living

[00:17:21] So you were not self conscious at all?

[00:17:22] At all

[00:17:23] I was very relaxed

[00:17:24] Because I'm like this is something I do for fun

[00:17:26] Some people pay squash

[00:17:27] I do stand up

[00:17:28] And all my most fun writing were those years

[00:17:30] Because there was no pressure

[00:17:32] Because I was like obviously

[00:17:34] I'm essentially going to keep writing plays

[00:17:36] In screenplays

[00:17:37] This is just going to be a thing on the side for fun

[00:17:39] Right

[00:17:40] But had you done stuff like

[00:17:42] School plays

[00:17:43] And performances

[00:17:44] Yeah I've done all that

[00:17:45] So you were comfortable with the stage

[00:17:47] But you know like there was

[00:17:48] The thing I always

[00:17:49] Want to know about standard comedians

[00:17:51] Is that

[00:17:53] You're used to a certain sort of an audience

[00:17:55] Now you go to a new city or a new country

[00:17:57] And you can see the Pact Hall

[00:18:00] And then to come and be funny

[00:18:02] So do you ever get nerves

[00:18:04] I mean do you ever get you know

[00:18:06] A little

[00:18:07] So I think now in hindsight

[00:18:08] I've done maybe about

[00:18:10] Two three thousand shows

[00:18:11] My goodness

[00:18:12] And I have played audiences from

[00:18:16] Thane to Oslo

[00:18:18] Really

[00:18:19] Norway with 300 Norwegian people

[00:18:22] Oslo with Thane

[00:18:24] With 200 people from Thane

[00:18:26] They have a sense of humor

[00:18:27] They have an excellent

[00:18:28] Brilliant Roy sense of humor

[00:18:30] I'm reading some of the new writing

[00:18:32] From there today

[00:18:33] So like across the board right

[00:18:35] I've had audiences

[00:18:36] I like that challenge

[00:18:37] There has not been a single show

[00:18:39] From the first one

[00:18:40] To the one I did last night

[00:18:42] Where I'm not terrified

[00:18:43] Really

[00:18:44] Terrified

[00:18:45] Even today

[00:18:46] Not only terrified

[00:18:47] Terrified now I've got better with

[00:18:49] I drink less coffee just before the show

[00:18:50] Not terrified

[00:18:51] I'll tell you the thoughts that go through my head

[00:18:54] I am quitting

[00:18:56] No

[00:18:57] Every single one

[00:18:58] Every single

[00:18:59] And the show finishes

[00:19:00] And I go that was okay

[00:19:01] But you could ask my wife

[00:19:03] You could talk to my family

[00:19:04] There's not been one show

[00:19:06] Over the three thousand

[00:19:07] Where I'm backstage

[00:19:08] Like what am I doing

[00:19:09] I don't even do this for living

[00:19:10] I have a master's degree

[00:19:12] I can get a job

[00:19:13] I don't need to do this

[00:19:14] Like I'm just grumpy

[00:19:15] So you're pacing back and forth

[00:19:17] Yeah

[00:19:18] So pal

[00:19:19] I wanted to ask you

[00:19:20] You know

[00:19:21] I don't know if you've observed this

[00:19:22] But Indians are suddenly doing really

[00:19:24] I think Indians are doing the big fat

[00:19:27] Indian weddings

[00:19:28] Tempo has just a few notches higher

[00:19:30] Okay

[00:19:31] And you do a lot of sketches about

[00:19:33] Bengali wedding versus Punjabi wedding

[00:19:35] Yeah

[00:19:36] Whatever

[00:19:37] So what is your personal take on

[00:19:38] Weddings where

[00:19:39] You know all sorts of

[00:19:41] International stars and singers

[00:19:43] Are attending, singing, performing

[00:19:45] The florist itself

[00:19:47] The florist's budget runs up to

[00:19:49] Cross

[00:19:50] And I'm not talking about

[00:19:52] Even very well known families from India

[00:19:54] I'm just talking about

[00:19:56] Successful business families

[00:19:59] Across India

[00:20:00] Absolutely

[00:20:01] I stay at a lot of hotels for gigs

[00:20:04] And usually when I finish my show

[00:20:06] Which will be for some corporate

[00:20:07] I'll go to the hotel room

[00:20:08] Usually in the garden

[00:20:09] There's something going on

[00:20:11] So I think that

[00:20:13] The quality is quite high

[00:20:15] For comedy

[00:20:16] But it can be higher

[00:20:18] Well did you see on Instagram

[00:20:20] One of the weddings

[00:20:22] They were being lowered

[00:20:24] So they were lowered in a crystal ball

[00:20:26] I think it was in India

[00:20:28] It wasn't outside

[00:20:29] Lowered crystal ball

[00:20:30] But four sides of the crystal ball

[00:20:32] Fireworks

[00:20:33] Were coming out

[00:20:34] It has to be India

[00:20:35] So the crystal ball

[00:20:37] So from

[00:20:38] I would imagine it would be

[00:20:39] A 30 foot height

[00:20:41] Slowly lower crystal ball

[00:20:43] And dancers dressed as angels

[00:20:45] Were basically

[00:20:47] Like on different gymnastic poses

[00:20:49] Along with them

[00:20:51] Something happened to the central bar

[00:20:53] From which they were being lowered

[00:20:55] And the fireworks

[00:20:57] Started basically splintering

[00:21:00] And setting little bits of things on fire

[00:21:02] Brightened room obviously fell out of it

[00:21:04] Dangling onto the ball

[00:21:06] And then you see all the Bharatis

[00:21:08] Rush onto stage

[00:21:09] To save them or whatever

[00:21:11] But clearly

[00:21:12] High level event management collapse

[00:21:14] Very Ashaguni kind of a start

[00:21:16] I mean even very creative storyteller

[00:21:18] Will have to really struggle to come up with a scene

[00:21:20] That's why I'm saying comedy is very hard in India

[00:21:22] So tell me this has to be an Indian wedding

[00:21:24] Now that you tell me I think I read about it somewhere

[00:21:26] But there are so many I've seen where the bride

[00:21:28] But they survived, they didn't get injured or anything

[00:21:30] I think they were injured but they didn't die

[00:21:32] Like I don't think they've died, they're living

[00:21:34] That would have cancelled the wedding

[00:21:36] Definitely

[00:21:37] Because if you're missing bride in the wedding

[00:21:39] It's a problem

[00:21:40] No, you have a joke about bride

[00:21:42] And it would be short dead also

[00:21:44] The mafia wedding I thought that was the theme

[00:21:46] That at the end of it, Kisi wo goli maal di

[00:21:48] It's part of the thing

[00:21:49] But you know when you had weddings in India

[00:21:51] Where they shoot in the air

[00:21:52] 12 p.m. weddings, they're shooting there

[00:21:54] And the groom

[00:21:55] One time the groom died

[00:21:57] One pregnant dancer died once

[00:21:59] One dancer died and often

[00:22:01] One or two guests will die

[00:22:03] You know like in Chandigarh

[00:22:05] One of the not Chandigarh so much but Haryana

[00:22:07] That old chart bell

[00:22:08] So attend at your own peril

[00:22:11] Because you just follow

[00:22:12] The natural damage of a good wedding

[00:22:14] 2-3 guests will die

[00:22:16] And the caterer will tell you

[00:22:17] They said they're dead

[00:22:19] So they didn't die

[00:22:20] You have a 3-layered bill

[00:22:22] That mushroom didn't go down because it's dead

[00:22:24] So you know so they'll get matter of fact

[00:22:26] They'll tell you

[00:22:27] But then that orb fell

[00:22:28] Then the sparks went everywhere

[00:22:30] And then you can hear the guests say

[00:22:32] Natasha whatever the bride's name is

[00:22:34] So then they ran on the stage

[00:22:36] And some poor event manager will get a firing

[00:22:38] Saying what are you doing?

[00:22:39] It's not his fault also

[00:22:40] We have no basic safety standards

[00:22:42] Can you tell us about

[00:22:46] You know when you go to a Punjabi wedding

[00:22:48] Versus when you enter a Bengali wedding

[00:22:50] You said something about the shows

[00:22:52] About it being like some sort of a chautha

[00:22:54] Yeah yeah like a Bengali wedding

[00:22:56] The father of the bride

[00:22:57] It's like a funeral

[00:22:58] Like he's saying

[00:22:59] Why have you come come

[00:23:01] There's some food come

[00:23:02] They're there give them bread

[00:23:04] I don't know they'll all be dead soon

[00:23:06] I don't know what the point is

[00:23:07] So that's the vibe that he sends out

[00:23:09] Right

[00:23:10] Punjabi wedding is in Chandigarh

[00:23:12] People in Toronto are dancing

[00:23:14] There's some other level of stuff

[00:23:17] They're not even invited

[00:23:18] They're just dancing in Toronto

[00:23:20] Two three people die

[00:23:21] It's fine

[00:23:22] The vibe is just the whole culture

[00:23:24] Is very different

[00:23:25] You're like ahhh

[00:23:26] Why you shout

[00:23:27] No reason

[00:23:28] But it's like

[00:23:29] That's what you know

[00:23:30] Like when I do shows in Delhi

[00:23:32] Sometimes unfortunately

[00:23:33] My audience is smaller

[00:23:34] Because I do it in English

[00:23:36] Also Delhi people don't get

[00:23:37] Delhi it's South Delhi

[00:23:38] A kind of Delhi

[00:23:39] What is South Delhi

[00:23:40] And then if you go

[00:23:41] To the extended area

[00:23:42] Not Delhi

[00:23:43] But I still do the thing

[00:23:44] You know because

[00:23:46] Like there are brilliant Hindi

[00:23:48] Comedians in India

[00:23:49] Who have a huge market

[00:23:51] Like Anubha Basi

[00:23:52] Who I'm very fond of

[00:23:53] You know

[00:23:54] Harsh Kujral

[00:23:55] They have massive markets

[00:23:56] They do it in Hindi big

[00:23:57] Now because I do it in English

[00:23:59] And I

[00:24:00] You know my audiences are small

[00:24:02] It's South Bombay

[00:24:03] South Delhi

[00:24:04] Bangalore

[00:24:05] So but I'll still get some of the

[00:24:07] Mass comedy crowd

[00:24:08] And if there are Punjabis

[00:24:10] In the audience

[00:24:11] Like proper

[00:24:12] You know Jad Selby

[00:24:13] Like

[00:24:14] What are you saying

[00:24:15] Three days later

[00:24:16] They're like

[00:24:17] I go on my social media

[00:24:18] What did you say three days ago

[00:24:19] You know they'll get it

[00:24:20] Three four days later

[00:24:21] I'm coming to kill

[00:24:22] I said I'm gone

[00:24:23] Where will you kill me

[00:24:24] So it gives me a little

[00:24:25] Time to escape

[00:24:27] I should be taking offence

[00:24:28] Like a lot of people today

[00:24:29] One other thing skin

[00:24:30] But I'm Punjabi

[00:24:31] Right

[00:24:32] Correct

[00:24:33] And you're clever

[00:24:34] So not three days later

[00:24:35] You what did I say in English

[00:24:36] You know it won't be like that

[00:24:37] This is the next question

[00:24:39] You know he is always

[00:24:41] Actually giving

[00:24:42] Giving it off to

[00:24:43] The Brits

[00:24:44] And they seem to

[00:24:45] Soak it up

[00:24:46] They love it

[00:24:47] Tell us a little about

[00:24:48] The reactions you get

[00:24:49] So I've always been interested

[00:24:51] So the work in the UK I do

[00:24:53] As I've always been interested

[00:24:54] In the history of Britain

[00:24:56] In India

[00:24:57] And the history of Britain

[00:24:58] And the British

[00:25:00] Comedians are just

[00:25:01] Generally very funny

[00:25:02] Right

[00:25:03] And I think that

[00:25:04] When they talk about contemporary British things

[00:25:06] It's very hard to come up

[00:25:08] With something funnier than that

[00:25:10] Today they had something

[00:25:12] Where they're interviewing Rishi Sunak

[00:25:15] And clearly he's speaking

[00:25:17] Outside some conference

[00:25:18] Okay

[00:25:19] And you can't see the interviewer

[00:25:20] The woman is off sweet

[00:25:22] So there's Rishi Sunak

[00:25:23] And within the frame

[00:25:24] There's some sculpture of a horse

[00:25:26] Some within the frame

[00:25:28] So it's probably in the lobby

[00:25:29] Of a five star hotel

[00:25:30] Or a convention centre

[00:25:31] There's some horse

[00:25:32] And Rishi Sunak

[00:25:33] In the frame

[00:25:34] So now they've posted the interviews

[00:25:37] So the woman is asking legitimate questions

[00:25:39] What do you think are the chances

[00:25:40] The Conservative Party is answering

[00:25:42] But in the frame

[00:25:43] You see that

[00:25:44] In the distance

[00:25:45] The sculpture of the horse

[00:25:46] And Rishi Sunak

[00:25:47] And the first tweet goes out

[00:25:48] First time a Prime Minister

[00:25:49] Has been interviewed by a Floral horse

[00:25:51] So you can't do better than that

[00:25:53] Right

[00:25:54] So I'm like

[00:25:55] Then can I do that

[00:25:57] For the history of Britain

[00:25:58] In India

[00:25:59] Can I bring humour to a serious topic

[00:26:01] So that's my interest

[00:26:03] In the work I do in Britain

[00:26:04] The work I do in India is

[00:26:06] I'm interested in contemporary India

[00:26:08] Like this sort of stuff

[00:26:09] Train going off on its own

[00:26:10] Like this sort of stuff

[00:26:11] For example

[00:26:12] The things I'm interested in India

[00:26:13] Are very different

[00:26:14] Like things I'm interested in India

[00:26:16] Are like children's names nowadays

[00:26:18] That'll have more relevance in Britain

[00:26:19] Tell us a bit about that

[00:26:20] You know like

[00:26:21] Everywhere I go now

[00:26:23] All the boys

[00:26:24] And you would have seen this

[00:26:25] In the posh schools

[00:26:26] The parents are making

[00:26:27] At least a certain class of Indians

[00:26:28] Want to make their children

[00:26:30] West ready

[00:26:31] Okay yes

[00:26:32] So they would not want to name their child

[00:26:33] Abhimanyu

[00:26:34] Or Mohan

[00:26:35] So all the men have the same name

[00:26:37] Vivaan, Tahan, Ahan, Shahan

[00:26:39] Correct

[00:26:40] Vahan

[00:26:41] And the women are all

[00:26:42] Shanaia, Tanaya, Vanaya, Shanaia, Kiarra, Kaira

[00:26:45] Uvara

[00:26:46] Everyone sounds like a restaurant in Tehran

[00:26:48] You know like it's just

[00:26:49] Uvara

[00:26:50] Yeah

[00:26:51] So the Uvara is probably not a name

[00:26:53] But it's

[00:26:54] I also love the section that you

[00:26:56] When we're talking about names right now

[00:26:57] About the names of buildings in Bombay

[00:26:59] Oh yeah

[00:27:00] I just did a show for builders

[00:27:02] Yes

[00:27:03] Saturday

[00:27:04] And they

[00:27:05] They were telling me that

[00:27:07] You know if you think this is bad

[00:27:08] You should see the bandra

[00:27:10] Where we were riding

[00:27:11] Some 200 new buildings are coming up

[00:27:14] And some of the names that are coming up

[00:27:16] Are just next level

[00:27:17] Absolutely

[00:27:18] I was driving down this morning

[00:27:19] And I saw some really strange names

[00:27:20] And I thought of your show

[00:27:21] I said

[00:27:22] I'm sure Anuva was seeing those

[00:27:23] Yeah

[00:27:24] The Greek

[00:27:25] Can you just

[00:27:26] We doda something

[00:27:27] Yeah yeah

[00:27:28] So one Greek god

[00:27:29] And builder's son

[00:27:30] Son

[00:27:31] Those two

[00:27:32] So Varun Helios

[00:27:33] Rajiv Pegasus

[00:27:34] That is

[00:27:35] Sudhir Hercules is a building in Sakina

[00:27:37] Sudhir Hercules is a real building

[00:27:40] Inside

[00:27:41] Inside exists

[00:27:42] But apparently new ones are coming up

[00:27:44] There's a building coming up called Wakanda

[00:27:46] Wakanda

[00:27:47] Okay

[00:27:48] That's interesting

[00:27:49] Going away from the Greek god mythology now

[00:27:51] Correct

[00:27:52] And Wakanda is from that Marvel film

[00:27:53] Yeah that's right

[00:27:54] Exploring new mythologies

[00:27:55] Yeah

[00:27:56] But it'll be like Kalpatru Wakanda or something

[00:27:58] Which is just

[00:27:59] What do you think is this affectation of our builders

[00:28:02] With wanting to have

[00:28:03] No it's because they want posh people to buy it

[00:28:06] Right

[00:28:07] Like if the building was called Sooksagar

[00:28:08] None of you would have

[00:28:09] You know

[00:28:10] Everything is online these days

[00:28:13] Instagram is such a big medium

[00:28:15] Everybody is an influencer today

[00:28:19] What is your take on that

[00:28:21] This whole influencer culture

[00:28:22] Especially in India

[00:28:23] I mean our whole entire game has changed

[00:28:25] Right

[00:28:26] Like comedy

[00:28:27] When I began

[00:28:29] Was like theatre

[00:28:30] So you sold tickets

[00:28:32] Physically people came

[00:28:34] And you left

[00:28:37] And whatever you made from the box office was your living

[00:28:40] You saw your audience etc

[00:28:42] Now if you want to build any comedy audience

[00:28:45] And it started with YouTube in 2010

[00:28:48] And some comedians

[00:28:50] Were brilliant at adopting to YouTube

[00:28:53] Much earlier than some others were

[00:28:55] I was very late at it

[00:28:56] But say Anatole Khatri or you know people

[00:28:59] Colleagues, friends, Kunal Khamra

[00:29:02] They were very good at adopting to YouTube

[00:29:05] And really comedy blossomed in India and social media

[00:29:08] If you really think about clips you watched and enjoyed

[00:29:10] They've been on your phone

[00:29:12] And you have then maybe later

[00:29:14] Much later gone and seen the person like

[00:29:16] Correct

[00:29:17] But most of it has been on the phone

[00:29:18] So social media has completely transformed the comedy game

[00:29:21] Just like it has music for example

[00:29:23] So what happened with us is

[00:29:27] For the first 7 or 8 years it was YouTube

[00:29:30] You became big on YouTube

[00:29:32] Then you travelled around

[00:29:34] So comedians were already having stage careers

[00:29:37] Had to switch to putting out a lot of their content

[00:29:41] Basically for free

[00:29:43] All over the internet

[00:29:45] And then be clever enough to write new stuff

[00:29:47] When the public came

[00:29:49] Because in our country

[00:29:51] Culture will be consumed for free

[00:29:53] Anything people like for free

[00:29:55] They don't want to go and pay

[00:29:57] But there's also an ease of consuming from your phone

[00:29:59] Instead of going and queuing

[00:30:01] I'm getting tickets and sitting inside it

[00:30:03] And will he be good, will he not be good

[00:30:05] So then slowly a lot of us realised

[00:30:07] That social media is really an advertising tool

[00:30:09] So you don't want to put up your whole show

[00:30:11] Then you want to put up bits and pieces

[00:30:13] So who are your favourite actual comedians

[00:30:15] I won't put you in a spot with the Indian ones

[00:30:17] So many, so many

[00:30:19] But the ones you find most inspiring

[00:30:21] And you look at them and you're like

[00:30:23] That guy's got a huge influence

[00:30:25] I've been very blessed to spend a bit of time

[00:30:27] With Eddie Azad

[00:30:29] I got into comedy because I was obsessed

[00:30:31] With Eddie Azad

[00:30:33] Because he just tells stories

[00:30:35] He doesn't even think of the punchline

[00:30:37] He just makes whole films on stage all alone

[00:30:39] All unscripted

[00:30:41] Well they appear unscripted

[00:30:43] He compares them in his head

[00:30:45] And we'll talk about

[00:30:47] His trans thing and all that

[00:30:49] But he's a brilliant

[00:30:51] I spent most of his life being a brilliant

[00:30:53] Comedian but world history

[00:30:55] That mostly was his topic

[00:30:57] And I was in America

[00:30:59] I had nothing to do with comedy

[00:31:01] And a very dear school friend of mine

[00:31:03] Samir Gandhotra

[00:31:05] Who's in a different line of work

[00:31:07] He has a start up

[00:31:09] And he said

[00:31:11] Pal you need to watch this guy

[00:31:13] I think he's right up your alley

[00:31:15] And it was a four minute clip

[00:31:17] I saw about Eddie Azad talking about

[00:31:19] The history of the Roman Empire

[00:31:21] Hannibal and it was just

[00:31:23] I didn't know that that could be stand up

[00:31:25] That you could just tell stories

[00:31:27] Play all the characters

[00:31:29] And make a whole film on stage

[00:31:31] Alone, I just didn't know that was possible

[00:31:33] Now he's doing Hamlet etc

[00:31:35] And 27 years later

[00:31:37] I was

[00:31:39] I'm still very fortunate to have

[00:31:41] At least in the UK to be

[00:31:43] In the same, so we have the same agency

[00:31:45] Where represent people

[00:31:47] And 27, 30 years later

[00:31:51] I got to finish my Edinburgh show

[00:31:53] And

[00:31:55] The people producing the show said

[00:31:57] Do you have two minutes? I said yeah

[00:31:59] Eddie Azad is here, he saw the show

[00:32:01] He wants to have a chat

[00:32:03] So we're walking

[00:32:05] In Edinburgh and Eddie Azad goes

[00:32:07] My name is Eddie

[00:32:09] You know, I just

[00:32:11] My name is Eddie, I don't know if you

[00:32:13] I'm a comedian and I said

[00:32:15] I don't think you know, because mam

[00:32:17] He had already transitioned

[00:32:19] And I said mam I got into comedy

[00:32:21] Because of you etc

[00:32:23] And we've been in touch

[00:32:25] On and off ever since

[00:32:27] It's surreal to

[00:32:29] It's almost you

[00:32:31] In many ways it's so intimidating

[00:32:33] Because you get into a profession

[00:32:35] Like it's too intimidating

[00:32:37] Say if you got into writing books

[00:32:39] Because of someone like Rashid

[00:32:41] And then your friends with them

[00:32:43] So I am still very

[00:32:45] I have now had a chance

[00:32:47] Of meeting her about eight or nine times

[00:32:49] And we've exchanged messages

[00:32:51] And also

[00:32:53] She's been a bit of a mentor

[00:32:55] When you say that last bit

[00:32:57] Move that last bit around

[00:32:59] It's just surreal for me

[00:33:01] Before we let you go

[00:33:03] So this writer, Alan Pease

[00:33:05] He's a body language expert

[00:33:07] I've written this book called

[00:33:09] Why Men Don't Ask for Directions

[00:33:11] And Women Can't Read Maps

[00:33:13] And he was telling me that

[00:33:15] We, I met him over lunch

[00:33:17] And he was in India

[00:33:19] And I had to take him out to lunch

[00:33:21] Because he was performing in the evening

[00:33:23] For an audience that I was a part of

[00:33:25] So he says that it was very interesting

[00:33:27] So he says that

[00:33:29] I said what did you observe about my body language

[00:33:31] Because he coaches world leaders

[00:33:33] Like Putin and all, he'll tell them how to sit

[00:33:35] How to shake hands

[00:33:37] The power move, all of that

[00:33:39] So I said what did you learn about my body language

[00:33:41] And he said that

[00:33:43] You must be intimidating to men

[00:33:45] I said why? He said because

[00:33:47] You're tall and you're funny

[00:33:49] So I said you've taken my only two assets

[00:33:51] And turned them into a liability

[00:33:53] So he said you must understand

[00:33:55] Most men, when they say

[00:33:57] I want a woman with a good sense of humor

[00:33:59] Someone who can laugh at my jokes

[00:34:01] He said he was married previously to a woman

[00:34:03] Who was very funny

[00:34:05] The marriage failed

[00:34:07] He said my current wife cracked the same joke 25 times

[00:34:09] She laughs at it every single time

[00:34:11] And I think the whole

[00:34:13] The whole, you know

[00:34:15] Idea that women can't be funny

[00:34:17] Possibly

[00:34:19] Either comes from this

[00:34:21] Need in men to be funnier

[00:34:23] Because I think humor is about power

[00:34:25] Would you agree? So this is definitely what he's talking about

[00:34:27] It's like a power thing

[00:34:29] Power and seduction?

[00:34:31] So what is your take on women being funny

[00:34:33] And humor as power

[00:34:35] So I don't think

[00:34:37] In terms of gender, for example

[00:34:39] People would think that

[00:34:41] Between my wife and me

[00:34:43] I'm the funniest one in the house

[00:34:45] Because I work as a comedian

[00:34:47] My wife is much funnier than me

[00:34:49] At home, much funnier

[00:34:51] In fact if you guys socialize

[00:34:53] I wouldn't say I'm dull

[00:34:55] I contribute but the silliness

[00:34:57] That happens in my life

[00:34:59] Comes much more from my wife than me

[00:35:01] She's fun

[00:35:03] And most of the women I know

[00:35:05] Have been funny

[00:35:07] I mean I've met as many funny men as well

[00:35:09] I just, I don't think you can break it up by gender

[00:35:11] I do think that

[00:35:13] Men want to do a power thing

[00:35:15] By making women laugh

[00:35:17] But maybe they don't receive humor as well

[00:35:19] They don't

[00:35:21] Most funny men actually

[00:35:23] You are one of the few people I've interacted with

[00:35:25] Who can laugh at someone else's

[00:35:27] Joke

[00:35:29] But most men who are funny

[00:35:31] Professionally or otherwise

[00:35:33] Do not want to acknowledge

[00:35:35] Anybody else's humor

[00:35:37] Least of all women

[00:35:39] Then they're not listening

[00:35:41] Why? What is the thing?

[00:35:43] So then they're not really interested in comedy

[00:35:45] They're interested in power

[00:35:47] They're interested in humor as a tool

[00:35:49] For what I can do

[00:35:51] For comedy

[00:35:53] Like we were

[00:35:55] Going somewhere

[00:35:57] We were going to Mud Island

[00:35:59] And

[00:36:01] We were going to an event

[00:36:03] And I looked at Shanali

[00:36:05] You may not remember this

[00:36:07] So I said, is this a boat?

[00:36:09] I asked her and she said

[00:36:11] It does the job of a boat

[00:36:13] So it looks like a boat

[00:36:15] It does the job of a boat

[00:36:17] Which I found very funny

[00:36:19] Now I'm not thinking

[00:36:21] What is the gender of

[00:36:23] Shanali my friend

[00:36:25] And how is this humor coming from him

[00:36:27] But if you are thinking like that

[00:36:29] Then you're not thinking of the joke

[00:36:31] Or the comedy that's coming

[00:36:33] So if a group of men are making a joke

[00:36:35] That they deem

[00:36:37] It may not even be offensive

[00:36:39] That they deem offensive

[00:36:41] They somehow would be like

[00:36:43] Say Anita walks in

[00:36:45] And they're like, what are you guys talking about

[00:36:47] For you

[00:36:49] So you're using double standards

[00:36:51] How do you decide whether it's not for her

[00:36:53] Maybe it's a very profane joke

[00:36:55] But she's a 40 year old woman

[00:36:57] She can decide whether a profane joke is a profane joke

[00:36:59] Who are we to...

[00:37:01] That's where I think it's discriminatory

[00:37:03] Like the world is a world

[00:37:05] It's a terrible joke

[00:37:07] It's about some horrible thing

[00:37:09] It's about sex and animals

[00:37:11] Let her decide if it's offensive

[00:37:13] Having said that with today's posh standards

[00:37:15] Maybe they'd prefer to play safe

[00:37:17] In the workplace

[00:37:19] Of course

[00:37:21] So yeah, it's again depends

[00:37:23] First of all maybe you shouldn't be cracking this joke

[00:37:25] At all because it's a workplace

[00:37:27] So our final question now

[00:37:29] What is your...

[00:37:31] You juggle so many different careers so to speak

[00:37:33] How do you find

[00:37:35] And they all involve thinking and writing

[00:37:37] Ideating

[00:37:39] What is your writing routine like

[00:37:41] We know Kiran and I want to know this as writers

[00:37:43] And for other creative community

[00:37:45] What is your process like

[00:37:47] How many hours in a day can you

[00:37:49] Devote to consuming world news

[00:37:51] Because that's where your material comes from

[00:37:53] And finding the time to write

[00:37:55] Not just your sketches but also write

[00:37:57] Whether you're working on a novel or a play

[00:37:59] Or something, just tell us about that

[00:38:01] And also I have the additional problem of

[00:38:03] Half my life is UK, half my life is Bombay

[00:38:05] Correct

[00:38:07] Are you working with the BBC on something as well?

[00:38:09] I am currently

[00:38:11] So it's also writing

[00:38:13] For two different entirely different audiences as well

[00:38:15] I don't know

[00:38:17] I mean, I haven't solved it

[00:38:19] Maybe you guys have solved it

[00:38:21] Step one

[00:38:23] You've got to cut down social media intake

[00:38:25] I need to learn that

[00:38:27] The other day my wife said

[00:38:29] Hey they made this new computer

[00:38:31] See this new computer where there's no

[00:38:33] Social media on it

[00:38:35] And I was like do you mean a typewriter

[00:38:37] We used to have the

[00:38:39] And she said yeah, yeah, a typewriter

[00:38:41] They've come up with a new type

[00:38:43] So it's like are we going to go back to that

[00:38:45] Because I see the point of it

[00:38:47] Because now you need that machine

[00:38:49] Without all that stuff in it

[00:38:51] Every two minutes I'm like I've got to check Gmail

[00:38:53] I've got to check my WhatsApp

[00:38:55] There's got to be at least an hour

[00:38:57] I have a relative who does

[00:38:59] Productivity workshops

[00:39:01] And he says that you need 30 minutes

[00:39:03] At least 25 minutes

[00:39:05] It's called a Pomodoro

[00:39:07] Pomodoro techniques

[00:39:09] You need 25 minutes of focus

[00:39:11] To be able to finish a thought

[00:39:13] Or just whatever you're writing

[00:39:15] Because I haven't figured it out

[00:39:17] Have you removed Insta from your phone as well

[00:39:19] I did for a while, I have it back now

[00:39:21] I think I'm going to get rid of it again

[00:39:23] I don't have the discipline

[00:39:25] I just don't have the discipline

[00:39:27] To be on drive, like for example

[00:39:29] Why am I not listening to a podcast

[00:39:31] No

[00:39:33] Because I have Insta Reels that's why

[00:39:35] I think our fundamental relationship

[00:39:37] With the

[00:39:39] Why am I not reading an article

[00:39:41] At least it's long form than 10 seconds

[00:39:45] But

[00:39:47] I think you need peace and quiet

[00:39:49] To be able to create

[00:39:51] I think for me

[00:39:53] What works the best way to write

[00:39:55] Is I write comedy every day

[00:39:57] So I write a couple of jokes every day

[00:39:59] And then I see where I'll try it out

[00:40:01] But every show

[00:40:03] I try to

[00:40:05] Put in one new gag at least

[00:40:07] Depending on the audience

[00:40:09] Even to keep myself fresh

[00:40:11] Otherwise it's like playing the same ten songs

[00:40:13] But another one in your case

[00:40:15] Because you write comedy

[00:40:17] And so much of it is based on current affairs

[00:40:19] And what's happening in the world around you

[00:40:21] And for Kiran and me now that we do this podcast

[00:40:23] We have to especially be clued into some of the stuff

[00:40:25] That's happening

[00:40:27] So that also needs extra time

[00:40:29] So the first two hours of my day

[00:40:31] The following things

[00:40:33] I wake up, I listen to the

[00:40:35] BBC World Service

[00:40:37] Podcast for Hafena

[00:40:39] Indian Express Three Things

[00:40:41] It's an excellent podcast

[00:40:43] They tell you the three top news stories of the day

[00:40:45] So those are my news podcasts of the day

[00:40:47] In my inbox

[00:40:49] I don't have a newspaper

[00:40:51] In my inbox I get

[00:40:53] The signal

[00:40:55] It's a thing that some people have

[00:40:57] I get

[00:40:59] Indian Express Espresso

[00:41:01] Which summarises Indian news

[00:41:03] I get the days Guardian

[00:41:05] And the days New York Times

[00:41:07] On weekends I read Mint Lounge

[00:41:09] And I get the

[00:41:11] Summary of the film

[00:41:13] Weekly from the Guardian

[00:41:15] And the Sunday New York Times Magazine

[00:41:17] So that's broadly my reading

[00:41:19] But it's just all newsletters

[00:41:21] If I like something I'll go to it

[00:41:23] And I get the Economist

[00:41:25] The new summary

[00:41:27] That's a lot of reading

[00:41:29] That's broadly the summaries

[00:41:31] But then I don't have a

[00:41:33] But I think broadly

[00:41:35] I've read this my whole life

[00:41:37] Like a bit of the Economist, bit of the New Yorker

[00:41:39] New York Times Guardian

[00:41:41] You broadly get

[00:41:43] So on that note, thank you so much

[00:41:45] This has been delightful

[00:41:47] I don't get invited by young women

[00:41:49] Anyway, so this is quite nice

[00:41:51] Thank you for joining us

[00:41:53] Thank you so much for all that

[00:41:55] And I'm definitely going to try that insect

[00:41:57] No social media

[00:41:59] If it works for you, I'll try it

[00:42:01] I'll go