He represented India and was one of the top ten contenders at NBC’s 2008 'Last Comic Standing' in Las Vegas after beating thousands. Said to be the global face of the cutting edge Indian stand up comedy, this Oxford educated stand-up comedian gave up his corporate job in 2004, before dedicating his life to making fun of people and animals! India’s best comic, Papa CJ chats with City Express at the Allen Solly store in Indiranagar.
You returned to India 3 years ago after a successful stint in UK. What do you think about the comedy scene and audience here?
I started open mic nights in Delhi three years ago, when I had moved back to India. A lot of the comedians you see performing today, I have seen them perform for the first time at the nights that I started. Comedy is picking up and now I have done over 1,000 shows. India is now picking up and our audience is fantastic. To be honest, I love performing in India more than anywhere else because its home and I don’t even have to crack jokes. I can simply chat with the audience.
Which is your favourite city in the world to perform?
As a comedian, I love going to many different places because each place brings its own nuances, challenges and interesting facets. I have performed in Malta, which is off the coast of Sicily. When I was in Singapore last week, I just read the newspaper on stage and I was pulling out funny things from there. I was in New York the week before that and I was on stage with Chris Rock’s brother.
We heard that you abstain from joking about certain subjects?
I don’t abstain from anything. This a profession which has no boundaries or rules. But, I personally wouldn’t joke about Mother Teresa or Gandhi. Its not in my value system and I don’t want to make fun of them. Being Indian and being proud of being Indian is a very important part of who I am.
You have an MBA from Oxford University and had a corporate job too. You gave it all up, which would have otherwise been a typical Indian parents’ dream.
Our Indian way of thinking is always, “Beta settle ho jao.” Everyone wants their child to get ‘settled’. Nobody actually knows what the meaning of settle actually is. You go to school, you go to college, you get married, you have two kids and you have a hundred responsibilities, then beta you are settled. They never say, “Follow your heart or what is it that you love doing.” I believe if you love what you do, you will get good at it. If you get good at it, the money will come.
Any advice for the budding or aspiring comedians?
Go for it! Don’t hold back. Today, India is the easiest place in the world to do stand up comedy. There are not many doing it and it is easy for you to get noticed. But the trick is to focus on getting good, not focus on getting famous.
Who are your favourite comedians?
George Carlin, who died recently and Chris Rock.
You did the Showtime USA stand up comedy special with Russell Peters last year. How was the experience?
It was fantastic because they had 24 of the most provocative comedians supposedly, from all over the world. I was the only comedian from Asia. So, it’s quite an honour to be selected in that kind of a line-up. It was great fun and you are being introduced on stage by the most successful stand up comedian in the world. Today, Russell sells more live tickets than anyone else in the world.
Tell us something about your charity, One Child.
I started this charity about 8 years ago. I am passionate about children and education. And I believe that a lot of our problems in India can be solved by education. We run 3 non-formals schools on the India-Bangladesh border. We are basically getting children out of child labour and back into the schooling system.
Is it easier to generate content while performing for a country like India?
India is a country with a lot of soul. There is a lot going on. It’s got a lot of flavours and there is character. As a comedian, it gives you a plethora of sources to explore. In India, if you are getting bored, just sit on any street and look at people.
What are your future plans?
The plan is to have fun. I do this because I love doing it. I am not dying to be famous or to be in the movies.
Who’s your biggest critic?
My mother. If my mum says that I had a good show, that means its been an amazing show.
Do you think Indians can’t laugh at themselves?
No. Indians are very good at laughing at themselves. Its the media which gives them a bad name. You just have to know how to make them laugh. I keep saying that we are the largest democracy in the world and we are also the largest hypocrites in the world. Give them 2 drinks, turn off the lights. Everything will be fine!