To let go of a job that you have held for over 16 years to follow your passion is not an easy decision. But Delhi-based Jeeveshu Ahluwalia did it anyway! And now there is no looking back. Always considered as the funny guy among his circle, Jeeveshu left his job to do stand-up comedy. “I was always considered to be a funny guy by friends and colleagues. One of my best friends suggested that I take up stand-up comedy as I am funny. But I was too embarrassed. We went for stand-up comedy show to see how it goes. And that’s how I started and I have not looked back since,” says Jeeveshu who left a stable job and salary to fulfill his passion. “Initially, people questioned my decision saying, ‘I have to think before going ahead,’ ‘where will the money come from?’ or ‘it’s very unpredictable,’ but the only constant support was my mother who said, ‘jo accha lagta hai woh kar!” Jeeveshu adds.
On what pushed him to take it up, “Other than doing anything for others, it was more to do with myself. Since it’s a solo art form, it’s a very selfish way of going up on stage and talking about issues that bother you,” he says adding that he is paid to put his stories out there rather than he paying for a doctor to listen to his stories. He considers his mother one of the funniest persons he has met. “My mother is quite a funny woman. She literally kills it and manages to crack me up almost every hour,” he adds. Jeeveshu shares that inspiration and concepts come from everywhere. “You live, learn, observe, travel, meet new people, go out and all these things motivate me,” he adds saying that since he is constantly on the move, any funny quote or comment he finds, he writes it down and starts working on it.
Surprisingly, Jeeveshu shares that the one thing that a stand-up comedian needs to have is right intent. He explains, “One needs to do stand-up comedy for the right reasons and you need to be honest to the passion itself.” Jeeveshu feels that the comics in Bengaluru are very polished and since he has worked with them so closely, he really admires them. “It is great how they have shaped up. There are all sorts — from Hindi comics, Tamil comics, English comics and mixed comics. It’s phenomenal how the scene manages to cater to all sorts of comics.” He is all set to debut his new show Jeev Katha in Delhi on March 14.
— Catch the performance on March 10 at Forum Mall.
