Stand-up comedian Anirban Dasgupta

‘You can get a solid hour of comedy out of threats and abuse on the internet’: Stand-up comedian Anirban Dasgupta

It is always exciting to watch comedians perform on stage or on-screen, and it is even quirkier reading about them. Indus Age spoke to Stand-up comedian Anirban Dasgupta on the sidelines of Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2019 where he opened up about his popularity, the perks of being a known face, the most hilarious moment and more. Read on:

By Nidhi Kumari

You’ve gained huge popularity and acceptance today, did you expect it, when you started?

Not at all. When I started out, I was just happy to be doing open mics after a long day of selling furniture. I’d be content with much less than what we have right now back in India. The comedy scene just exploded and I was lucky to be around.

 What drove you to this field of stand up comedy? When was the time you decided that you wanted to do this?

I watched international acts at the new comedy club in Bombay in 2010 and fell in love with it. A couple of years later, we had an open mic in my hometown Kolkata and I signed up for it and have just kept doing it since.

 You have millions of fans who connect with you, what do you think makes the audience identify with your acts?

I don’t really know. When I am writing a joke, my main concern is whether I like it. It’s impossible to second-guess what the audience wants, esp. in a wildly diverse country like India, so I don’t think about it much.

How do you create that charm, coming up with new and unique ideas every time? And what is it that you have to do to stay relevant?

All I have to do is be better than the previous night. Only that is in my control.

To make someone smile and laugh is a very serious business and is extremely difficult, as there are chances of offending someone . What do you have to keep in mind as a comedian? Also do you think, it curbs creativity?

Yes, the possibility of outrage over every little thing definitely affects my thinking and writing process. But then I realise it’s an opportunity to go deeper and write better. My special on Amazon prime is a show completely on the hate I have been receiving, so even when you get threats and abuse on the internet, you can get a solid hour of comedy out of it.

You are visiting Australia for the ‘Melbourne International Comedy Festival’, is there any special preparation that you’ve done for the show? What’s instore for the audience?

I just finished filming for the fiction series I am creating for Amazon Prime, and that kept me busy till the day before I flew to Australia. But I booked several gigs in the last few days before coming here, and that helped me get my rhythm right for the shows at the festival.

In this competitive world of entertainment industry, what do you think sets you apart from the others?

I just want to surprise myself every time, and if I am able to do that, I know enough people will notice it and like it and come along.

 If you had to tell us about the most hilarious moment/s you have had while performing on stage . Your answer would be?

While on stage at a show in a hotel in Kolkata, a drunk woman came up on stage to hit me because she wanted to dance and I understand it’s difficult to dance on jokes. I ducked right on time, proud of my reflexes. However, we lost our beloved mic stand that night. It was destroyed.

There might be times when you aren’t in a good mood, still you have to do the show, how do you motivate yourself?

I forget everything when I am on stage. Even if it’s a temporary relief, the first round of laughter resolves everything.

 What is your advice to aspiring stand up comedian?

Do stand-up for the right reasons.

 Your Message for the people in Australia?

Firstly, thank you for giving stand-up comedy the respect it deserves. It’s a delight performing here in Melbourne.

Some Quick questions :

Who is the last person you think of before going off to sleep at night?

Haha, I am pretty self-obsessed, let’s leave it at that.

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you recently?

I was flyering outside the State Library the other day and some Indians recognised me from YouTube and were super happy to meet a fellow Indian. They asked me about the elections back home and I told them my preference after which I became Australian to them and they left without saying bye.

A piece of advice someone gave you:

Getting success is easy, striving for excellence is tough and therefore more exciting.

What’s the best thing of being a popular face?:

It’s a mood-lifter on off days.

What is it like to be on the stage as a stand- up comedian?:

It is a therapeutic and powerful feeling. And good-powerful, not dictator-powerful.

If not a comedian, what else would you have been?:

Professional comedy audience. Or maybe a sports writer.