After being diagnosed with Monday allergies, Jeeveshu Ahluwalia quit his teenage job and walked away to do stand-up. Few years later, he’s happier bringing laughter to thousands than lecturing a corporate professional. In a tête-à-tête with Arindam Ganguly of Orissa POST, he shares his journey from board rooms to colleges and comedy festivals. Excerpts:
Tell us about your experience of performing in Bhubaneswar.
It is always a great experience to perform in front of a crowd which is well read and well travelled. The audience of Bhubaneswar is quite receptive of witty comedy.
How do you go about preparing for your shows?
I am always nervous before any new show. I try to rehearse as much as possible.
You have worked in movies, TV serials, commercials and voice-over. Which is your favorite medium?
Being on stage and making a live audience laugh is the thrill which cannot be matched. Acting in movies and TV has its own charm. It makes you feel free to explore various dimensions as an actor.
Many of the successful comedians in the country are members of groups like AIB and EIC. Being a solo artiste, how do you manage to compete with the likes of them?
Working in groups has its pros and cons. Working alone gives you the freedom to strategise work as per your own convenience and aspirations.
We hardly find any vulgarity in your shows which are based on themes like weight issues, love and divorce. Why do you abstain from profanity which is quite widespread in the stand-up scenario?
I have a particular approach to work which caters to the needs of a wider audience. Hence, I do not indulge in vulgarity. I always engage in content which is wanted by the people.
It’s known that the audience for Hindi and English stand-up is different in India. How do you envision the future of English comedy?
Bring funny has no language. Comedians need to be humorous irrespective of the language they use.
Many comedians of the country have their shows streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Do you have any plans to do the same?
While I haven’t had any streaming shows as of yet, I hope to work on one soon.
How do you see the rise of female comedians in the country?
As language is not a deterrent to being funny, similarly the art form is open and acceptable for anyone irrespective of the gender. I am sure there are lots of brilliant female comedians in the country.
Why don’t you do political jokes like Kunal Kamra and Varun Grover?
I keep my observations limited to family and friends. Hence, I try to focus on the same. From the perspective of content, this is my strength.
