My favourite comedian...
The list is very long. But growing up, the first guy I thought was amazing was Jaspal Bhatti, and Johny Lever was the first stand-up comedian I ever saw live. Jon Stewart is someone I really look up to and maybe emulate a little because this show (The Rant of the Pant) is basically news comedy.
My first show was...
Horrific! I was opening for Vir Das in Delhi and I was thrown into the deep end with 500 people in front of me. I was given an 11-minute slot, I finished it in four minutes and I spoke even faster than I usually do. It was an epic disaster. In fact, the first 11 shows I did were disasters!
Happiness is...
Comedy, alcohol and my son (two-year-old Vikramaditya) make me happy.
When I’m not making people laugh, I’m...
Making people sad. Ask my wife.
Handling Internet trolls...
It depends on what mood I am in. Dealing with trolls is mindless, because you don’t achieve anything at the end of it. However, sometimes I do like to engage because it can be an interesting conversation.
People who need to grow a funny bone...
Anyone who deifies someone/ something, whether it’s a politician, a religion, a movie star or sportsperson.
Three things you need to become a successful comedian...
Thick skin, especially if you’re putting your stuff online. You need to work very hard because the competition is really fierce and you need to keep up with everything. The third thing which has worked for me is good looks. My good looks have helped me achieve everything (laughs).
My hobbies...
I’m obsessed with cricket. I love all kinds of sports. I love travelling but I think one of my favourite hobbies is drinking. It is a great activity and I highly recommend it.
Finish these sentences...
1. Memes are… Irritating.
2. If I was Batman, I’d… Kill myself and become Deadpool.
3. Bengali women are… Insane. I mean insanely wonderful. (He is married to writer Iva Bagchi, who’s Bengali.)
4. Being a dad is… The best thing ever.
5. Writing is… Life! (His third book — after Under Delhi and The Wednesday Soul — will be out this September.)
If I wasn’t a stand-up comic, I would be...
A writer.
My favourite sportspersons...
Rahul Dravid, Saina Nehwal and Sushil Kumar.
One observation about Calcutta...
The pace of everything is really slow in Calcutta. To get something done takes a lot longer in Calcutta than anywhere else but that’s all right because the food is so good that while waiting, you can eat!
One Calcutta food I’m fond of...
I’ll tell you one thing I don’t like — hilsa. It’s absolutely disgusting! But among things I like, I went to Mocambo once and I loved it!
