How do you prepare for your shows?” t2 had asked Papa CJ in 2011. “I get a massage from two beautiful, topless women. That gives me all the mental and physical stimulation that I need!” the “ambassador of happiness” had replied. Three years later, the Calcutta boy is back from a show in Kuala Lumpur. We don’t know how he prepped up for that one but we do know that he was awarded Asia’s best stand-up comedian at the 2nd Top Asian Corporate Ball 2014. The man with the long locks shares his short story with t2...

Did you expect to win this award?

I’m not stupid or arrogant enough to believe that receiving this award actually makes me Asia’s best stand-up comedian. I have far too much respect for the many talented comedians I have worked with on the continent to believe that. The above being said, it feels nice to know that the 10 years I’ve spent as a comedian traversing the globe and trying to make people laugh has touched the lives of enough people for them, in the subjective world of comedy, to choose me as one of the comedians they most enjoy watching.

Papa CJ addresses the crowd at the 2nd Top Asian Corporate Ball 2014 in Kuala Lumpur

 

What is a regular day in Papa CJ’s life like?

I have performed at comedy shows, corporate shows, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and even baby showers. Basically I’ve performed at every kind of event you can think of besides a suhaag raat — but you never know, even that day might come! My audiences have ranged from the age of two to 90. I have performed on a plane, in a bus, on a boat, on a train, at comedy clubs, theatres, universities, hospitals, palaces and even at a police station! I’ve had a gun pointed at me before a show and knives pointed at me after a show. So to answer your question, there is no such thing as a ‘regular’ day in Papa CJ’s life!

Between 2004 and 2014, what has been your highest point and your lowest point, professionally?

Once an 86-year-old lady in Calcutta said, ‘Thank you so much beta, I haven’t laughed so much in 30 years’ while an elderly gentleman in Singapore said ‘today you made an old man feel like a young man’. The times when I performed for free in hospitals and the countless times people across the world have told me that I made them feel proud of being an Indian — all these have been the highest points in life till now.

I haven’t had any low point in life yet, I am an eternal optimist who is inherently wired to always find the positive in any situation.

Papa CJ with the Asia’s Best Stand-up Comedian award

LOL

A one-liner that always works well with the wife?
No idea! I don’t have a wife. And you can’t possibly be asking me if I use lines on other people’s wives…!
Yo Yo Honey Singh or The Beatles?
The Beatles on a Monday. The Beatles on a Tuesday. The B…you get the drift.
If you had to go gay for a day — who would you choose: Fawad Khan or Aamir Khan?
I’m sorry, who is Fawad Khan? And why just one day? Why aren’t you giving me the option for a longer time on the off chance that I like it? And are you saying Aamir and Fawad are already on board and hence the question? And if you’re so keen on seeing men sleep with each other, why not just hook Aamir and Fawad up with each other!
If you were a joke, which one would you be?
I’d be crowd interaction — spontaneous, unpredictable, perfectly timed and a little bit scary for the person I’m talking to!
Your worst nightmare is…
Going back to a day job!

What else keeps you busy?

My focus is on spreading happiness and not just laughter. That means that I do a bunch of different things. My foremost passion is of course stand-up comedy and I plan to keep travelling to different countries and do bigger shows. In addition to the many shows in India, in the last 10 months alone I have done four tours in Singapore, four tours in Malaysia and one tour each in Thailand and Indonesia.

I also do motivational speaking and executive coaching and have worked with over 50 blue-chip companies all over the world. It gives me great satisfaction to be able to inspire or equip people with either the right tools or the right thinking to realise their dreams. I’m also about to set up a foundation, of which one key objective will be to support talented artists financially until they are in a position to support themselves while living their passion.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken home from making others laugh?

My biggest takeaway has been the blessings I receive. An audience member once told me that I’m like a ‘blessings collector’ — that I travel the world giving people happiness in exchange for blessings. That totally works for me.

Do you think the Indian audience is ready for ‘intelligent banter’?

Indian audiences are fantastic. They are ready for anything. You just have to know how to get them to give you permission to take them down that path. Once they understand that your intentions are simply to entertain, they will allow you to play with them. I have no problem teasing and embarrassing those in my audience in jest, but I’m very careful not to ever be hurtful.

Where have you had the best and the most bizarre audience?

I love all audiences. Each of them bring their own unique characteristics that as a comedian you have to learn to adapt to and entertain instantly. I relish that challenge.

I’ve performed in hospital while holding the head of a girl on whose head a doctor was putting 32 stitches. I was entertaining her to distract her from the pain.

An attractive girl came to me after a show and said, “Papa CJ, people tell me I’m quite witty. I must try my wit out on you sometime”. I replied instantly, “Well… people tell me I’m quite cocky”!

Where do you see yourself five years hence?

In bed with Monica Bellucci — although I was hoping it would be much sooner than five years from now.

Swati Tewari
What joke would you like to send Papa CJ? Tell t2@abp.in