East India Comedy’s Sorabh Pant gets chatty with us prior to their comedy tour in Bengaluru at UB City today.
1 How would you describe your comic element?
Loud, energetic, occasionally stupid and sometimes smart.
2 What’s that one joke that never gets old?
Sex jokes. Innuendos. Invariably make me giggle. I'm barely a 35-year-old man.
3 What do you do when people don’t laugh at a joke?
Laugh at the fact that they aren't laughing. Sometimes they aren't laughing despite the joke being funny: in which case I mock them. Sometimes they aren't laughing because the joke sucks: in which case I mock myself.
4 What’s the one joke people just cannot take?
Different strokes for different folks. Everyone has some topic or joke they don't want to make or hear a joke on. I try not to get too extreme in general. But, after a point - it’s impossible to pander to everyone.
5 What types of crowds are the worst to perform for?
I enjoy all crowds. Corporates, colleges, public shows - are all great and tremendous fun. Very rarely you’ll get a crowd that has a language barrier - and, that makes me feel bad for all concerned. I had a show where a majority of the crowd spoke ONLY Gujarati. I wish I was that linguistic. I'd love to have entertained them in Gujarati!
6 One joke bashing Bollywood that might have gotten you into trouble?
For about 3 years I did jokes about Sonakshi Sinha’s terrible choice in movies. Where she kept repeatedly playing the character of this bimbo/hapless woman. It really irritated me that in this modern era she kept perpetuating that stereotype. Well, this year she did Akira and Force 2 where she played a badass. I don't think I caused this. But, let's assume I did!
7 How do you fend off hecklers?
There's good and bad hecklers. Good hecklers add more fun to the show with fun lines and then know when to shut up. Bad hecklers are just drunk morons who after a point should be farted on by Kim Jong Un. I deal with both. I enjoy dealing with both. But, if you're drunk and obnoxious and unaware of when a comedian is repeatedly and successfully insulting you - please don’t come for a show. Go on Arnab’s show, if you want to be humiliated.
8 You make a living at this?
No. I sell novels to earn all my money. My novel Under Delhi has made me a billionaire. Please believe me, because, my publisher and wife don’t.
9 What would you have been if not a comic?
I’d be writing novels that no one reads - already doing that. And, working a shitty job in TV to pay the bills - thank God I don't have to. I’d probably have lost all my hair if I did.
Oh wait...
10 Quick, say something funny!
Quick, give me some money. I don't do jokes for free.
