Samay Raina | Still Alive, India's Got Latent S2 & Standup Comedy | The Longest Interview

Hi, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3. 1, 2, 3.

Samey, you say something. I can't hear you.

Hello, hello. 1, 2, 3. Are you coming?

Let's go. Let's go. Shall we start? Cameras rolling?

Hi, Samey. How are you?

Welcome to ChalChitra Talks.

I'm a little nervous.

Yes, why? Camera's rolling? Hi Sameer, how are you? Welcome to ChalChitra Talks.

I'm a little nervous.

Why?

Last time I started with a podcast and it didn't go well.

That never got released, right?

It's released now.

No, the one that got recorded.

The podcast didn't get released with that. Yeah, that didn't happen. But that got released, thank God!

And if I can establish where we are, we are at the place where the shoot happened later And you are coming here for the first time after the whole thing!

First time! I am coming to this above the habitat, people used to be here, Shiv Sena broke the logo that was there And now I'm back Actually first time, I thought that I'll come here Again if I ever do Latent again But you called me so I had to come

But dude I saw your latest show It is so good I got the feel And where are you planning to release it?

YouTube, the only place I know Members only? No

Okay, from the get go it will be available for the public

People were there the whole time, they saw it everything When I died, it was free When I went to the court, they saw it for free When I went to the police station, they saw it for free Might as well see the special also, for free only

I want to show you a clip Basically, we did an episode with another comedian I haven't shown you that clip yet We haven't even released it yet So I'll show you an exclusive, long-term interview clip

Do I have to pay 60 rupees?

Okay

Which is your favourite Mitch Hedberg joke?

I used to do it always I still do I stillberg joke? I used to do that.

I still do.

Dogs are always in the push-up position.

I have become friends with this joke since a long time. My friend was an athlete. That's a different story. I have also been FIR'd.

You haven't been FIR'd. You have been FIR'd?

You must have been tired. You must have been summoned. It's the same thing. You got an FIR? You got tired? You must have got a summon that you got an FIR?

It's the same thing.

No, it's an FIR.

You just want to have an FIR.

It's very good. I want to put Samay Beer Biceps in jail. Immediately. And the audience who were sitting there, put them in jail too. And the media who covered the news Put them in jail too

And put Basti Zakir in jail too Put Devesh and Shobha in jail So the audience will say, where did you see comedy? Now leave me alone Then my career will be ruined

There is a very good set in Vipul Goyal's case His father said You become a government witness

That you become a government witness That you said that all these are thieves

Yes, I was in jail for a full year I went there late

So we removed it because this episode literally came in March So we were thinking

Thank you for being considerate Gaurav Kapoor, they guys showed our controversy in 2 seconds. Video, stand up. Tanmay bhai did it.

You were on every thumbnail of Tanmay.

Every thumbnail. Everybody, man. Give me 2 seconds, bro. 2 seconds, bro. Thank you. Thank you for not adding to it.

But were you noticing all of this? Who's putting what? Were you getting affected by it?

At that time, I was a little bit.

Yeah.

I was laughing at jokes only. But I was in such a mess at that time that I was just getting afraid. What did he say? Yeah, it's a joke. He said, yeah, it's in support. So it was just like very anxious.

Were there any shocks that he took you?

Bro, there were a lot of these things. There was this news channel guy who used to message me all the time. I'm a big fan, I love your show. How's mom? Let's meet, let's talk podcast. I fucking love your show. Two days later he's sitting there,

fucking my sister on the internet. This show is disgusting, kill them all. I just, my whole world view changed man. Like what the f**k? You know, people started turning on

disappearing messages on their phone. Some of the guests of the next episode were messaging me saying, will our episode come? I said, first ask him, First, ask them, how are you?

Oh, fuck! Then there were so many of these things. There were comedians who I helped out to make, to release their videos. I used to do this show called Samairana and Friends where I would take 2-3 upcoming comedians and we would sell out this above the habitat and they would record their bits for their YouTube because selling 100 tickets is not easy right?

So I helped out a few of those guys like many of those guys. Two people are hitting me after that that I don't watch Latent because I am not 12 years old. I am like dude I f**king helped you. Like what the f**k? I broke it.

You get to know who your true friends friends are when you are in trouble.

Rakhi Sawant and Deepak Kalal. They helped fully at that time. Rakhi Sawant was the first girl, first person to come out publicly in support.

Yes.

The police called her and said, come Saman. So she made a video saying, I am not coming. First solve the rape case first. She said, I won't come that far, let's do it on Insta live. Deepak Karan and Rakesh Sawant are the ones I really have in this life.

And Balraj.

Balraj of course. Jokes about Balraj was just... If not for Balraj, I would have lost my mind by now.

Yes. I would have gone my mind by now. Yes.

I would have been psychosis there alone.

Yes.

I was just a mess. But Balraj was there. During the whole tour, his plan was that he would stay with me for a week and then go back. But he is also involved in what we are involved in. But he chose to stay with me and not with his family. Shame on him, man.

What kind of father he is?

Yeah, habitat 2 is breaking. His wife and kids are sitting here and he's sitting there with me. He's just a horrible father but the best friend you can ever have is Balraj Ghai.

But dude, the way you have also spoken about your father in your latest special. Oh my god. Like, you were doing it and it was very unexpected and the way it landed. So, tell me about this fatherly bit.

What bit? It was just like, in this special I decided to open up. Because till now, everywhere I was, like be it streaming, in streaming, although sometimes I would

open up at late night streams or something like that but if I am on the internet, I used to just play my character, say the funniest thing to say I could say at that time, whatever. My grandfather died in his sleep.

That's better, bro.

No, I mean, he called out to me. We were asleep, bro. But this time I thought that I'll not chase the jokes. I'll chase what I want to say and make it funny. So it was one of those things that I came out from there. Because if you see my other special, Unfiltered,

that's a funny show. But it's just jokes, jokes, jokes, people will go there and laugh. They'll have a great time, but I don't think they'll remember anything from it. But this show, I think the laugh density is lesser but the impact is

greater because I genuinely am speaking from my heart and this father thing also yeah I felt it whatever I felt I said and he was really supportive till today like I love you. Is this post-latent? Yes, it is. Dad never used? Yes, post-latency.

My father never used to say that.

Hello, brother.

How are you? Where are you?

We are on our way. It will take 10-15 minutes.

Okay, take care. Have you reached? Yes, I have. I love you. Bye am on my way. It will take 10-15 minutes. Okay. Take care.

Have you reached?

Yes, I have.

Okay.

I love you.

Okay, bye.

Bye. Love you too. Bye.

Bye.

Bro! I find it fascinating that how you cracked the number system in Latent.

So that makes the judges average 6.5

And... And... And the judges average 6.5

And... 6.5

Everyone's score should be the same I know this one

I've always... I never enjoy winning over the winner Nice Yeah, you're good So now you'll win also

No, you're good

That's your victory. Now don't win. Somebody else will win. Right? Like I did a show called Bhadon Ke Khiladi. You guys have seen Bhadon Ke Khiladi? It was a great show.

I will eliminate them.

You will eliminate all of them? What an asshole. He's eliminated guys. You guys go ahead. Only this guy is eliminated. Only this guy because life is unfair. It's good that the police didn't see that. I did everything on YouTube. But it doesn't come in the suggestions.

Oh.

Yes, it's a shadow ban. Unless you search for it. I had mailed to YouTube, why is this happening? Then they replied saying, it's the title and the content.

Title and content? How will I change it?

I thought, let's keep it on self-awareness.

then you're the winner.

then you're a loser. If you're a winner and you think you're good, so you're a loser. You're a winner and you think you're a loser, so you're a loser. If you're a winner and you know you're a winner, then you're a winner. I really liked this concept. I thought of it myself. And this was my... I was very happy when I thought of it. This was a great concept.

You made 3AM Thought a reality. What were the late latent shows that you watched?

Which ones?

Which one did you like?

To be really honest with you, I haven't been seeing any shows. I know of these shows, I've seen clips of it but I am unable to sit and see the whole show for some reason.

Tell me one thing Samay, I think I want to know from you. Your image in the past, that it doesn't matter. I think I like you a lot because I know you are a very good human being. Whatever it is, I know that you are a good person but I think a lot of people don't know your side. At the core of it all, you are a very sincere person. So, people think that it doesn't really matter.

Does he mean it when he is beating people up? People want to know. Are you like a sincere person at heart or not?

See, people also thought that there are 9 lives of Undertaker. It's a good thing, right? They think so, so Undertaker becomes more famous.

This is the same thing, right? Have you seen the movie Prestige?

Yes.

In which he walks with a fishbowl. Your whole life is that, right? So that...

Every comedian, all creators, all influencers, all celebrities are all just playing a character only. So when do you shut? Like, I'll shut it now.

When you're alone in the room.

Cut the camera and watch it now. But no, like genuinely these days, ever since I've written this special, this is the first special, I'm not playing any character. I'm saying it as it is from my heart. And I'm really enjoying it. Of course, there are some things I cannot say but whatever I'm

saying is the truth and it's more than the truth it's how I actually feel. Earlier I used to say stuff for the laugh even if I don't agree with a joke if I don't agree with the politics of a joke I would still say it because it would make the room laugh. Now I am leaning towards that, that I don't need that. I want to explore who I am as a person by putting out my actual thoughts in the world and then learn from it. Okay, maybe this thought is

bad and this is bad and then I learn from it, whatever. So I am kind of moving in that direction now.

This is very good. I mean next once you have it all. What's next? What excites you now?

To explore my ideas, what I actually feel to make it funny, to say what I feel, to genuinely give my honest perspective on things and make it funny. So yeah, I think I'm enjoying that phase. But again, there are so many restrictions on things you can and cannot speak.

In India, how difficult do you think it is to do comedy in India as compared to whatever was our inspiration? Yesterday you saw Kevin Hart. Is it more difficult for Samay Raina to do comedy as compared to Kevin Hart?

I feel both have their own challenges. In the US, the challenge is that now it's saturated. There's a lot of comedy, there's no line. Everyone has made it dark, someone has done this, someone has made it

very observational, everything is explored. It's very difficult to have a fresh voice there. In India, we don't have that challenge. We have another set of challenges. We have lines. There are some other challenges. So both have their own difficulties. I would not say one is easier than the other.

Both have their own set of challenges is what I feel.

You have seen 10 years of life in 6 months. What would be that compulsion you would go towards when you get stressed? Some people do stress eating. There are so many things people do that I need to deal with this.

Guitar.

Yes.

Yes.

Guitar and music, listening to some good blues, playing blues. Blues has saved my life during that whole time. I was just listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan and I was just

it was just the right thing to do. And all the feelings just come out of it. I am very anxious. Like today, before I came to the podcast, I was feeling a little stressed. Because of something. So I just played the guitar and came here.

So I am feeling very present.

Now the reels are being made that Samir Anand 4. But you had me that nothing will happen

You have been playing guitar since when? When was the first time you played a guitar? First time I played in my college My senior was there, shoutout Abhishek bhai He used to play the guitar and I used to find him very cool I was in first year, he was in fourth year He used to drink weed, I was sober Then he used to play guitar, I used to find him very cool. I was in first year, he was in fourth year. He used to drink weed, I was sober.

Then he used to play guitar, I used to watch. Then I came in second year, he was in fourth year. Then I learnt more from him. Then I came in third year, he was in fourth year. Then I told him to teach me, if you're sitting here, teach me. Then he taught me guitar. Then I came in the fourth year and he was left in the fourth year. So I did a lot of jamming with him in the fourth year.

And finally I learned guitar in the college and he is still in the fourth year.

I...

I learned guitar in college.

I ask people who come to Chalchitra, which is your first movie watching memory? But you tell me, which is your first stand-up special memory? The most important memory that you have had that you have performed so much all over Indian world and this is the memory that is with me till date.

My own shows?

Yes.

There are so many, a lot has happened. Like, I don't know where to even begin. So many of these, there are like hundreds, thousands. There are some funny stories, some wild stories, some stories which are heartwarming, some stories are emotional, some are just like, you just got saved.

There are so many stories, bro. Live touring is the greatest thing ever, bro. Yeah, yeah, yeah. In college shows, there's a dangerous experience.

Sometimes something, sometimes something. I think you have performed in the mountains as well. Do you remember J-U-I-T Solan?

What a f**king show that was. That was a great show.

Yes. Do you know I studied in that college for 4 years?

Really?

I am from J-U-I-T.

Bro, Solan was so beautiful. It was such a beautiful time. In fact, the best part about being a comedian in our country is that there are very few comedians, so everyone gets to experience all colleges. So, I have been to such a college where I would have never been able to go after studying. There are so many beautiful campuses. IIT Guwahati, what a campus! What a beautiful campus!

JUIT Solan, Solan the whole place, the fucking auditorium was so good. Dude, some of the colleges are just so so beautiful. So beautiful. Like I'm so glad that my work makes me go to these colleges. Because I think, the best marks are those where you go to a good college, you have a good experience.

I go there and experience it all. I used to play poker with the kids, with the whole organizing committee, I used to pass time. Full college life in college shows.

Was there any overrated college? I heard a lot about it.

There were a few. Just a building in the middle of something. I don't remember those names. That's the thing about shitty things, you don't remember them.

What was your name?

Here we have some images here, I'll show you. There's a Sir, about whom I have been told that I have to talk to you about. His name is... Tell me, Samil, what do you think about him?

I don't think about him.

One thing I learnt very early on in my life is that... ...if somebody is saying shit about others... ...they are going through something, man. I think that's what it is.

I look at him, I don't feel offended. I just... What is he doing? It's in fact better for me only, right? That he's talking about me, whether he's doing it well or not. It's about me. I feel bad for him.

That something is bothering him. Some insecurity. Something is bothering him, some insecurity, something is there, that he is not in mental peace. And I feel bad for him. I wish that whatever, he gets peace. Because the person who is in peace of mind, he doesn't enjoy spoiling the peace of mind of others.

So I think he is some frustration, I don't know what, I don't know him as a person. I have nothing against him. Sunil Pal, like was… You must have seen him in the film. Of course, he was an iconic character. Ratan Noora, although Raju Srivastava was better in that season. But I just feel like, whenever someone says something wrong, in life also, if someone says something bad about you, it will always be because those people will have some insecurity. Those people are not going through something good. Whoever has publicly screwed us in the latent times,

they are the only people who are frustrated in life. Did Kapil Sharma say anything about us? Did any good actor say anything about us? If he wanted, many people could have come in between. Nobody who was at mental peace came. It was only the frustrated people who were like,

yeah, beat them up. And I feel bad for him. I wish him, I wish him, I wish that he solves it all.

And I also think that in a very little time, you have surpassed your mentors in a lot of ways. At least in terms of numbers, engagement. I mean, your ideals are contemporaries, at some times you become bigger than them. Maybe they open up for you.

Like, how do you feel about it? How do you maintain humility there?

Bro, I don't look at these numbers and your trend and your ticket sales as a metric for where you are in life.

Seriously?

Yeah, not at all. Because these are all temporary things. Ek video viral ho jayegi, your ticket sale will increase. Koi, maine kuch aisa joke maadhiya, jisko logon nahi pasand aaya, toh meri ticket sale gir jayegi. But that doesn't change where I am in life. I am to always growing in my life, right? So, I look at all these comedians who...

who I might be selling more tickets than right now... as people who are ahead of me in life. So, I have so much to learn from them all the time, bro. And be it anybody, like... be it any comedian who's not selling tickets, there are so many comedians I... I look up to, I look up to meeting them because I feel they're very funny. I feel that they have a lot to learn.

They have seen a lot of the world. Even if they're selling 20 tickets, that's not a metric. If two of their videos get leaked, they'll have a thousand. They'll have a thousand too. That is not... Being viral is not a metric of where you are in life.

It has luck involved, it has you have to be in the right place sometimes, you have to have that one joke that people like, kuchh topical tumne kar diya, whatever, that's your work. You can make a great painting or you can make a shitty painting but that doesn't mean that you are changing as a person because of your painting. So I am very humble with all the comedians that I grew up watching and be it anyone, be it Karunesh Talwar, be it Abhishek Upanyu, be it Zakir Khan, be it Saurabh Pant, be it Sapan Verma, be it like all the EIC gang, all the AIB gang, Rohan Joshi, I find Rohan Joshi so funny. I, to watch their videos.

He is laughing at my joke. That means everything to me. Tanmay, all these people. I was in school when Sudhakir Khan had done AIB Divas. What the f**k? I am selling out Indira Gandhi Stadium with him? That's everything to me.

It's a dream come true. I just cannot believe, I was just a college kid who used to love comedy. come on, it's time. Deep down, I still feel like, I've become one of them.

It's mad. And maybe if my joke was this, my content was this, maybe it wouldn't have worked. Maybe I was in open mic still. So it wasn't in my hands. It was my work. People liked it. It wasn't in my hands. So I just got love from the universe.

It was luck. That I cannot become. See, now I am this. What the fuck, it was luck. That I cannot become... ...that I am this and that. What the f**k? No, brother. Where did you learn all this?

Where? You have to always... Because that keeps you humble. And if you are not humble... ...that's like you are getting destroyed very soon. Because I see... ...I see Azeem Banatwala special...

...I say, what a joke! I saw Nishant Suri's joke and I was like, I want to write a joke like this. Have you heard his joke on Gandhi ji? Which one? He said, have you seen Gandhi ji? Of course, he was saying, let's do non-violence. Like, how do you not look at that and get inspired?

How can you be like, this is how I am. No, this is a great joke. you have to write something like that.

Do you think once a comedian or anyone becomes big, they are obligated to make others bigger? Like you have given sets to so many people via Latent, I came to see you in Bangalore, the guy who opened with Nishant, so good, like he was in Latent. So does this feel like an obligation or does it come from within that you bring more people? I have done a bit, now let's do the rest.

It comes from within, a deep, a deep happiness to help out to somebody. You know, like Sire Maut had said, I never thought I would ever

quote Sire Maut like this.

That, I like him,

even today, but... No, no, no, sorry, sorry. Another one, another one. He said this too. He said this too. He said, first make money,

then make time, then spend time on the people you love, first go up yourself, then make way for others. And that is genuinely, that's the route to be happy. I'm not doing it because I feel that I'm going to help them out.

I'm just doing it because I feel very happy. Because so many people helped me out when I was coming up. Jaspreet Singh used to give me spots in Canvas Laugh Club. Anirban used to give me spots all the time. All the comedians used to help me so much that they would say, come on, you do it. So I got experience from that. Because I had never performed in front of a thousand people.

But Kanan Gill let me perform, they gave me a chance to perform, Gaurav Kapoor. So I got experience. So I became better. So this is only like,

I am just trying to be like my people, like who came before me.

I have a question for all my guests. In every person's life, there is a BC to AD event when the calendar restarts. Which has been the first BC to AD event of your life?

I think being born. That was the first life changing thing.

No, but in general, anything?

First of all, school life. That was the first big hit. Pre-school life too, I mean when I was in 1st to 6th grade. I say pre-school because for me school is just associated with 7th to 10th horrible years But when I was in 6th grade, that was a very good time in my life I was just... I didn't know about the world

I was in my bubble In the village, in the side, in Hyderabad There is a corner near Rammuji Film City Called Sanghi Nagar There was no connection with the world We used to live in a big compound.

My father's colleagues and his family used to live there. My father's friends, his wife and his age group, his children were all my age friends. It was a dream. And those years are the most rich years of my life. Just filled with fun.

Just filled with joy. Pokemon cards, Beyblades, fights, cycling. And we didn't know the world outside of that. School was the same. It was a good school. We used to come from school. This was the world. I didn't even know that there is a world outside of this.

That this happens, that happens. Worldliness. I had no idea that there is a world outside of this. That this happens, that happens, what happens. I had no idea about the world. In 7th, when I went to that school, the big school of the city, that was a big BC point. That was a big BC point. That was a big BC point.

So, BC, MC, everything was there. So, BC, MC, everything was there.

This is the bullying.

It was just the worst experience.

I want to ask you something else. We are sitting here for a long time. I have been thinking about this for the past two days. We are also getting conscious that at this point you have the numbers that people... I mean, you have seen the numbers of people in their life. We don't have to the podcast either.

And you do very few podcasts. Why are you doing this with us? I genuinely want to know. I am a little anxious and conscious about this. We have 3.5 lakh subscribers. And the rest of the million subscribers,

who are 3, 4, 5, 6, the biggest. Why are we doing it? Genuinely.

Because... the people who become famous after a point, they cannot be honest. They have to play the game. Right? Like, Mr. Raj Hem, he's a good friend. Ranveer is also a good friend.

They cannot open up because...

It's a business. I understand because I'm also playing the same game. But there I'll be like in the character, I'll do some... It's more fun.

It's a business meeting.

But with you, I think because you're not popular.

No one gives a shit about you.

You are the bottom of this... You're nothing to lose. So you can be honest and you are not conscious about how your image is. And I understand because I love Rajshamani, nothing to take away from it. If you were in his place, but you'll never be there. But if you were there, you would have 10 people, your PR team would have been there. They would have told you not to put this, ask this question, do something so that the podcast explodes.

Which I understand because he is looking for it to make money and you are looking at it for just, I don't know what you are looking for. Why you are doing this, I don't know. But I think I can be more, I can open up my heart here with no pressure of being anything. But I also love that. When I go there I'll gain more from it. Here I'll gain nothing from it. It's a favour that I'm doing to you. And you better remember this when I need you.

I don't think I'll need you but if I do then you better come there fast! Crazy! Tell me Samay, if you don't do Latent Season 2, if you start a reality show, in which zone do you think you can go?

I have done a lot of shows. I was on the way to make an OTT platform of crazy content.

You made an app too?

I made an app, I started membership on YouTube. I had a lot of members, I was shocked to see YouTube. How did I get so many members? Because they had no idea that some creator will monetize membership like this.

So, I was like, dude, I can now make an OTT. The YouTube membership, I hire five people to make a show. I started calling everyone.

You make this show, you make this show, you make this poetry show, I started calling everyone to make a show. You make a rap show. I'll fund it. It will go on my YouTube members only.

So my YouTube members only would become like an OTT. So I made an app. If you have my YouTube membership, you can click on that app and now you're in an OTT platform.

Oh wow!

I was going to do a very funny show on that. I was going to do a funny show on that. I was going to do this show called... I was going to do a show with Puneet Superstar. Decoded with Puneet Superstar.

Yes.

Puneet Superstar will sit like this. There are four chairs. There are two people here and two people there. Puneet Superstar is in the middle. And in every episode, some people come and teach Puneet Superstar something.

Like in the first episode, the LGBTQ people come and teach Puneet Superstar what is the importance of LGBTQ in our world, why we need this movement and Puneet Superstar will listen to it for half an hour and then he has to give a speech in 500 seats about what he has learnt about LGBTQ So Puneet Superstar decodes LGBTQ, Puneet Superstar decodes World War II, French Revolution by Puneet Superstar So there is a lot of nonsense in it World War 2, French Revolution by Puneet Subhash. So, it's a mess. One was my Deepak Kalal's justice.

So? That me and Deepak Kalal will sit in a panel and we will solve actual property disputes.

F**k!

I also spoke to a lawyer. I was like, whatever crazy cases you have, tell them to give me their number, I'll call them, I'll pitch to them, this is the idea, we'll pay them very well and we'll get their actual collection and solve it, Deepak and I will sit there. Fucking viral show. Viral show.

I had 8-10 ideas which I was working on and then this happened and just took away all my motivation at that time. And I want to do something for them sooner or later. Because they really really supported me. I used to put, I didn sooner or later. Because they really supported me. I didn't post anything during the controversy. I just put a heart on the members only.

I saw your first heart when all this happened.

Because I was in such a bad mental state at that time. I just wanted something positive. So I used to put a heart just so that I can read the comments. And people would give me love. Like, we are with you, don't worry, we are here. Don't worry, you can say whatever here.

I used to feel very... That there is love for me. Because in your weakest moments you just need some hope. That everything is not lost. People are still... People are still there.

Whenever I felt very low, I used to put my hand on it and say, bro, just comment something so that I can read it and feel better.

Yeah, in that way, guitar is also such a nice safe space to have. What will you get out of it?

No, not for that. I play guitar because it brings me to the absolute present.

Yeah, but when you are also streaming it or when you go live with it, people see it.

People don't understand that. I've seen a lot. The level of passion I have for playing, people say, Bro, what's wrong with him? Is he okay?

Bro, everything will be fine. What's wrong with our brother Samey? I'm like, bro, I'm playing so well. Does anyone care? I think this clip will be released after 20-30 years. Did Samay play this song?

I get the same comment now. Please come back to comedy. Can't see bro like this. I'm enjoying. I'm having so much fun playing this guitar. Brother, what happens to good people. Life is so unfair.

Some people genuinely think that you flip it. Yeah, some people think that Samay Rana is a fool. Owl, owl, owl. Another round. Because, there was a guitar at the time. This thing called guitar face. Because you put a lot of soul in the guitar.

Your face looks like this. So people are understanding. People say, what kind of a face is this? Bro, you're fine. Why don't you smile? Bro is depressed.

Did you cry? Take a bath. Listen to the song, you idiot. Then a couple of people comment on it. This is very good. Can you cover this song? Then you feel there is some hope. Yeah. In another universe, I am a blues guitarist.

I want to become. I am still learning only.

You are a big fan of S.R.V.

Stevie Ray Vaughan.

I am talking about Sandeep Reddy Vanga.

I thought about it.

It was good.

Very good

You didn't hit that much on the latent

Bro, people counted I said 7 words in total

It was a good episode

Now I'll show you I'll show you an image We'll talk about him What does this guy mean to you?

Genius, inspiration What's this guy mean to you? Genius. Inspiration. What's your favourite work of his? He's Borat. Borat and all his characters. What do you do?

I'm recently retired. You are retired? Yes. Physical or mental?

He's Audacity. I'm a fan of his Audacity. Audacity bro. Yes. I learnt the same this from him. He used to say, go to Aryan Khan's event wearing a shirt.

Oh man! I support Mohak Mangal. I support Mohak Mangal.

Say no to Cruise. This is all, this audacity I have learnt from him.

Bro, because he is so cool. You are always tuned in. I mean, when you... I support Mohan... Mohan Mangal is one of my favourites. Because people were thinking that he must be crying.

Because my thing was, I'll dress up. It's a very big place to be. So, I'll wear a... A nice lawyer said, no, no. Tuck in, clean shave. I was in a mess, then he came. What will you say?

We found your blog. Do you know? The one you used to write. Can we speak about that?

Yeah, why not?

It's really good.

You can speak about anything. Why it's your podcast?

Unsophisticated author, Samer Anand. Dude, it's actually good. I've done mythology, science fiction. I don't know, like, why did you stop doing this?

I just... I didn't do anything with it. I mean, it came into my life. This was the phase when I was experimenting. I used to write poetry. I was thinking about singing.

I wanted to sing. I enjoyed writing. I wanted to write a story. So, it was all in that phase, in that era. I used to go to poetry competitions, debate competitions, extempore competitions. So, I was trying everything in that era. I used to see what happens.

But nothing happened. I wrote a few. It was heartwarming.

No one was reading.

I got 5-3 views. Then I was like, nothing is happening. If it had continued, I would not be here. And you did proper poetry, spoken word, not like the Jheer. No, it was actually poetry. I made it a joke on the stream.

The poem was real there. I made it a joke at the end. Because I know it's a joke. You won't get sentimental on the internet. I don't know where it would be today. I used to write a lot like this.

I used to write haikus. Wow. 5, 7, 5, I used to follow the syllables. I remember this. This is about the Bonalu festival. There is a festival in Telangana, Telugu people celebrate.

I went to Bonalu.

You spoke to the uncle.

I wrote a very good story. I was at the railway station. There were booksellers. One was a bookseller who read the book he was selling. The other one was a bookseller who didn't read the book. I felt a huge difference in their attitude.

It was very heartwarming. I used to observe the world, write something. I was very interested in this. I used to collect coins in my childhood. Yes. I used to collect coins.

Different kinds of currency. From different countries. I was very interested in this. I used to put the money I bought in different countries. I used to buy a book and put money in it. Euro, dollar, cent. I was around 15-16 years old.

I remember till date that how my heart was broken. There is a place called Vanasallipuram in Hyderabad. I went to a stationary shop there. On the left side of Loyola Montessori School. I still remember it. Till today I cross that shop and it just breaks my heart.

I enter the fucking shop to buy something and I see a big book there. 150 country coins. I asked him what is that? He showed me. It has a whole collection. It has coins from all over the country and he was selling them for Rs.1000.

It was my dream. I had collected 16 coins. I wanted to do it someday. It's like if somebody just puts your dream and a prize to it. I was crying crying whole night. I threw the coins and gave it to my friends. I'm not keeping anything. I was so screwed with coins.

Once we were in Shimla. It was the coin collection phase. I wanted to collect coins. We were walking somewhere. Me and my mom's wife. Not mom's wife. My Mom's wife, sorry.

My mom's sister's husband. What do you call him?

Mom's uncle.

Uncle, I call him. So, me and my uncle were walking. And there was a man sitting on the road. He was blowing a whistle. He was an old looking guy. He was sitting in front of him, with a glass box.

There were coins inside it. And he was blowing the whistle. I asked him what are these ancient coins. He was telling me one by one. I asked him which is the oldest coin you have. He showed me a coin.

He said it is from 1200 AD. There was a big war in which this coin was given as a surrender to another kingdom. And this coin has a lot of history. It was made in Persia. It's not Indian. It has two snakes on the back. And what this represents back in the day.

He told the whole story. And I was thrilled. I asked him if will you sell this? He said, yes, everything has a price. I asked, how much is it? He said, 20 rupees. So I was like, yes!

This is what I need for my collection. I took it and asked him to give me 20 rupees. He said, why? I said, I got a crazy coin. I took the coin and for years,

I believed his story. That this is something I have. I didn't even keep it in a book. I kept it in a safe. Then, it was around 6th or 7th. I don't know when. Around that time,

a website called OLX was started. In which you can buy and sell shit. So I said, let's see. So I put the coin in the machine. It said, ancient coin, history, history. 50,000 rupees. Okay?

So I got a message from a guy after 2-3 weeks. Hey, we would like to come and see this coin.

I said, yes, man.

I'll earn money now. Okay? So he called me to a cafe. I was a kid, I didn't tell anyone at home that I was going to get money. I took the coin and hid it in my pocket. I was roaming around with Kohinoor.

I sat there and that guy came and did something. He said, get lost. I said, what is this fake coin? He gave me some chips. He was an adult and he came on a bike. He thought there's something big. So I was just sitting there and I thought, did I get screwed?

Then I googled and I got screwed. I was very sad. Then I cut to, I'm in college, I'm in Pune. I met this girl. And she was a beautiful girl. I was having a great time with her. I swear to God, I'm ashamed till date. She doesn't know this yet. When she sees this, she'll know. We were watching a movie. And it was a romantic movie.

So when the movie ended, I took her to a place. And I told her, can I tell you something? Can you tell me? This coin. I told her the whole story. This is a precious coin, 1280.

I would like to remember this day and give this coin to you. Keep it safe. Bro, the tears in his eyes, that night when I...

Bro, you do these street jokes, you meet me so many times to hear a joke. Since when are you doing this? Where you just call people and meet them to hear a joke?

Bro, I was very fond of jokes in my childhood. I used to read Khushwant Singh's joke book.

We have it. We have so many joke books for you.

This one. This is the one. Khushwant Singh's joke book. He has a lot of them. There were so many funny jokes in this. I used to read it and make friends in school. I used to go and tell this only to random classmates, juniors Will you hear a joke?

They used to say yes, I used to tell it to 4 people Sometimes they would laugh And then they would become my friends Because I would think that they are my friends But they would just be very nice to me after that That this guy is funny

So I got this magic to make people like me Because if you make someone laugh, they like you So then I got obsessed because this was the only way for me to build a connection with somebody. And I just kept

reading, kept reading. I had so many jokes in my library of mind that I became a comedian and all that. I never thought of these street jokes for a long time. Then one day someone

told me a joke that I had heard. So I told the comedian and he laughed his ass off. He asked me where I had heard it and I told him I had heard it a few times. And he loved it. And then we sat and we thought about how funny these jokes are. Then I saw Norm MacDonald telling a street joke.

I said this is the actual thing to tell jokes and I have thousands of these. This is my collection. I have thousands of these. So, then we sat down. I called Manik one day. Because I heard Manik is a fan of street jokes. I called him, I told him a street joke. He told me two. I laughed my ass off. Then I told him.

Then we used to call till today. If I get a new street joke, I call Manik, then he tells me one joke. Manik and I did a proper show, Street Joke Night. Main Manik ek do comedians ek ek karke bas street joke pe street joke suna ja rahe hain, log ki gaan pat rahe hain saas ke. Because you cannot top a street joke. A street joke is a joke. Whatever we do is stand up. I feel stand-up is beneath street jokes. Yes. I feel. I feel. Because a street joke is a joke at its purest form.

Stand-up has the adulteration of your perspective. It has adulteration of your... How you think, you can be angry, you can do... I just think street joke is just more... I won't say beneath, I'll say it's more pure. Pure. It's just a joke. If I tell you a joke, you can tell a hundred people. It's like a magic trick. A street joke is that, it's a beautiful thing that is passed on for generations

and generations. If I tell you a joke, you tell someone, they tell their kid, that joke will keep going in the streets. Which is why it's called street jokes. So basically the normal jokes, that is only street joke. Where we are trying to... Yeah, once there were three bears in a jungle. These jokes, some of them are so funny. So funny.

Yeah.

Have you heard that one time a guy... goes to casino and everyone gets robbed. So he earns more money and that too gets robbed. Everyone becomes bald, wears a red underwear, that too turns black, that too gets robbed. Becomes naked. So he says, I played too much today.

He goes out on the road, there is nothing, the car keys, everything is at zero. He is walking down the road, he sees a watermelon. He says, I will eat the watermelon. He picks up the watermelon and smoke comes out of it. He says, I don't even have a watermelon in my fate. A genie comes out of the smoke. He says, I don't even have a watermelon in my destiny. So a genie comes out of the smoke.

He says, wow! What's your order, my master? He says, who are you? He says, I am a genie. I live in this watermelon. Ask for whatever you want.

He says, build a big bungalow for me. Four floors, sea facing, one swimming pool and three attached bathrooms. So the genie says, I live in a watermelon myself.

That was great.

Oh, dude.

So, this is the old-fashioned joke.

This is an old joke, bro. So, these are all street jokes. Now, we'll talk to anti-jokes. Anti-jokes, now I think you'll enjoy. Basically, when you hear a lot of jokes, you start predicting them.

Then come anti-jokes which you cannot predict. For example, but anti-jokes are 50-50. It splits the room. Half will like it, half will not. Once, a guy is waiting for a flight at the airport of course

A guy comes and says, excuse me Are you Chinese? He says, no, I am not Chinese He says, sorry, something is wrong He goes inside, he is in the line for boarding He comes again and says

Are you Chinese? He says, I just told you, I am not Ask again, sorry Now he goes and keeps his luggage. He is also from the same flight. I asked him if he was Chinese.

He said are you mad? I asked him three times if he was Chinese. He said no. I said okay. The flight was about to take off. He comes to him and asks if he is Chinese.

He says I will break your ass. Why are you after me? Are you mad? Get lost! So he goes up. When the flight arrives, everyone takes off their seatbelts. He runs up to him and says,

Bro, are you Chinese? He says, you idiot. What's wrong with you? What's wrong? Madam calls the air hostess. She says, what's wrong?

You've been working since morning. You've become Chinese. He said, you try again. He was peeing in the washroom. He was standing outside. He said, I'll kick your ass if you ask again. He said, are you Chinese? He slapped him.

He fought with the pilot. The pilot stopped him. He said, he's Chinese. He's been bothering me since morning. He said, I won't do it again. He said, if you do it again, just ask me.

Now the flight is about to land. He comes running and puts on the seat belt. I said, are you Chinese? He gets so angry that he breaks the emergency exit and jumps out. He also jumps out. Now both of them are falling in the air.

He comes in the air and says, Are you Chinese? He says, I have 5 seconds left in my life. Let me die, I am not Chinese. But because the flight was landing, there was no height, so he was limping. His legs were broken.

He comes in the air and says, Are you Chinese? He says, Yes, I am Chinese.

But he doesn't think so.

Oh dude!

His delivery was like that. Father's pants were like, make it shorter. Dude, he was so crazy. Have you ever done this in your life? No, no.

It is so good, dude.

Is this your section called discarded jokes?

This is not my joke. This is a street joke. I have told it in my own way. But do people use it when they do stand-up? No, of course not. Stand-up, everything is yours. Street jokes are for the room. If I find a way, I to tell a joke, I can stand up and make some noise. But then you have to do a street joke.

And how much time does it take to tell a joke?

Sometimes I get a chance to tell a joke and I enjoy it. So I tell a joke. I have thousands of these in my head. Because all I grew up reading was these books. So many of all kinds.

And like you were talking about collection in childhood. Like when there were coins, then came Pokemon. And now what? Lego. Like this is... What did you collect in your collection? Like Pokemon is also going to be...

I have collected Pokemon cards, I have collected Beyblades, I have collected jokes. I used to liked stones. It's as stereotypical as it is. I liked stones a lot. I used to like different colored stones in the lake. Some things are in your DNA.

I liked those. There were a lot of such things. What did I do in the last collection? There is nothing like that. The collection that I can think of now.

But you were making something like Harry Potter's Lego.

Yes, Lego set. Lego is there. Lego I like.

And Lego is also very meditative. You are in it. There are a lot of documentaries on on Lego that this is an adult toy and you can take money from them.

You can shove it in your ass. You can shove the Lego Eiffel Tower in your ass. What better toy than that?

Now I will take some stand-up comedians' names. Tell me one thing that fascinates you the most about them. Which you like the most. Okay. Kunal Kamra. Audacity. I'll take the names of the comedians, tell me one thing that fascinates you the most about them which you like the most.

Okay, Kunal Kamra. Audacity. Nice.

Varun Grover.

Versatility.

The depth, he is a writer also, movies, songs, stand-up.

Karunesh Talwar. Karunesh Talwar perspective

Being funny with talking sense He's not just being funny, he's being funny and he's talking sense

And there was a guy in this film, a soldier who's smoking a cigarette

A warning comes up that says cigarette smoking is injurious to health What do you want him to think?

There are bullets in front of me

But I hope I don't get cancer is injurious to health. What do you want him to think? There are bullets in front of him but what if he gets cancer?

I get to learn something new with this stand-up. You get a good perspective that yes, this is right.

Yeah.

Makes you a better human being by listening to it.

Shreeja.

Shreeja, her cadence. Her tone and delivery. Especially when it comes to roast.

Maheep sir is a very senior comedian in our scene.

Maheep sir, I'm telling you, you're a very senior comedian.

Did you see Shreeja's... I've been told that someone here is even known as Kunal.

Like...

One of my favourite bits is... when you and Akash Gupta and Shreeja Kaiz, you go like, ooooh. That is something I really like. Yeah. What do you think about Prashasti?

Prashasti is again, her perspective is very fresh.

Yes dude, like I saw her in Habitat. She did one on a local train. I really liked it.

Actually, the raincoat you wore in the monsoon and got on the train,

very bad manners.

This is why people can't stay away from you.

She had a joke that all these single guys used to roam around and be f**kboys. Now they have all come to shahadi.com. There is a lot of hype. So that gave me perspective that yes, one shouldn't be so arrogant. Everyone gets to that point someday. So that I learnt.

So yeah, it's a very nice perspective. Urooj. Urooj, I like how she's the only English comedian. Ustaad English mein usne machaya hai globally. So that I really, something to learn from. Bhai, Fringe Festival jeet gayi bhai. That's mad. And to stick with your English comedy and to basically stick with what you believe in until it works.

Tarang Hardikar.

His absurd thoughts. Tarang and I started at the same place in Pune. We started comedy together. I had my first open mic and he had his second open mic. And we used to jam all the time in Pune.

I want to open this segment for the house. Hindol, any name? Anyone? Any name?

Kullu.

I like his game. And his dance. He dances so well. I mean, of course, he has comedy. And he's very funny on reaction videos. Like, he's very quick with the jokes in reaction videos.

But in general his style and the way he carries himself. He is a very well read person. He has a lot of knowledge about things. He has a lot of history. If you ever sit with him he will tell you Ramid Rana Tagore's stories. Maheep sir.

Maheep sir. Maheep sir? Maheep sir's best part is his timing. His timing is like he'll wait for the punchline, he'll take his time and then just knock you out. Pakistan was a part of India.

But she started singing after the partition.

I was there.

Nishant Tanwar is the funniest guy to have around. Bro, Nishant Tanwar is the funniest. There is no company like him. I did a whole tour with Nishant Tanwar. There is no one funnier than him. He is now getting back to his stand up and all that shit. But bro, you spend two weeks with him,

he will make you laugh so much. Him and Vipul Goyal. But, bro, you spend two weeks with him, he'll make you laugh so much. Him and Vipul Goyal. They make me laugh so much. But, Vipul Goyal hurts also sometimes. Vipul Goyal will say something that you'll think while taking a bath at night,

why did he say that? Nishant Dhanwar will make you laugh like he will. Vipul Goyal will say something and go away. He'll go something that is so true and so mean. That he's a mean guy. He's a f**king mean guy.

So he'll say something very mean. But he'll also make you laugh. But while laughing you are inside. I wish he didn't say this. But Nishant Tanwar, he'll make you laugh. And he'll make you feel very comfortable, very safe.

And Nishant Tanwar has a very weird hobby. Nishant Tanwar, we've been through so many things. We were on a flight and when you travel with someone you get to know new things about him, right? That's how you know a person, travel with them. So Nishant Tanwar has a kick, he just enjoys talking to foreigners. He just likes it when I talk to foreigners.

So whenever a driver or someone in the lift would ask me, Hey where are you from? I would say, there are two floors Nishant, stop. We were in a flight, I was sitting on the window and Nishant was sitting in the middle. And someone unfortunate was about to come to our left. So a German guy came.

Thin, young looking guy in his 21-22 years old, very ambitious, passionate suit. He took out his suit and placed it on top of the other. Nishant was like, hey, we are comedians. So I told him to stop. He said, okay, okay, good man, good man. He sat down.

Where are you from? I said, I am from Germany. I am trying to do this. He said, what do you do? I said, what is your family? You have family?

Who is living in your house? He asked everything. Social security number, everything. So I told him that we are performing. You know this, you know this. Great hall, this and that. He was so pissed off. And he was very polite. He was not refusing. Then a point came.

He said, Hey, I don't want to be rude to you. But I have to send this important email right now. There is internet in the flight. So his laptop was open. He said, if you don't mind, I want to just send this mail. So, just... I was thinking, just sit quietly for 2 minutes.

But he was very polite. Hey man, can I just... 2 minutes, I have to send this. Very important. Nishant bhai said, okay, okay. Yes, yes, yes.

So, Nishant bhai was sitting. Suddenly, he was like this. Oh shit, shit, shit't worry, I got you. So Nishant bhai took out the power bank and put it in his laptop. And the power bank started charging from the laptop. And the screen turned black, he was so confused.ened. He didn't get any medicine or tea.

He was so sad. So, where were we?

Okay, more comedians. Abhishek Upmanyu.

His tight writing. The tight writing, his cadence and his delivery.

There was one solution. Go to a speech therapist. What they do is, they make you do tongue exercises.

Tongue exercises.

You have to lick the number.

Sonali Thakkar.

Sonali Thakkar is... Her clarity of thought. She just enjoys doing stand-up.

I changed my surname after marriage. So, I'm legally Sonali Desai. Because if I'd kept mine and his, I would be Sonali Thakkar Desai. Making my initials STD. So...

She writes new material every day. She doesn't have to upload videos, then buy tickets, then do this and that. She enjoys doing stand-up. She enjoys it and I like her. Not exactly a stand-up comedian but Vishal Dayama. Vishal Dayama is a great writer.

He is one of the best writers. His skill set is his best part.

I like his one-liners.

He is good even when he says a few lines. Yes, exactly.

What else guys?

Madhur Virli.

Madhur Virli, the amount of content he puts out. He puts out a lot of stand-up material. Yeah, I mean he does shows also, he does live shows also. He does so many things. How he manages so much is

something to learn from.

You already mentioned Kaustubh.

Kaustubh, yes.

Kaustubh Agarwal, one of the funniest guys. Very rude, but very funny.

Interesting.

People think that it's easy to abuse and say bad things. No, it's very easy to make that be unlikable. You go on stage and talk about your land for 20 minutes. People will be like, by the 5th minute, they'll be like, stop it. But to do that and still be likable and still hold the room is also an art form. It's also a skill set.

I asked my girl, she got angry. And I'm saying, yaar, you're close to me. And I was saying it repeatedly. And I was talking about the neck, I don't know why he did this.

So the bad thing that he does that's funny, he's one of the best at it. How important is likability in general for a stand-up comedy? Likeability is everything. If you're not likable, nobody will laugh at what you say. You go on stage and say, I'm poor. Listen to me now.

Nobody will listen to you after that. Nothing is going to work after that. Unless that is your character and everyone knows you're playing the character like Anthony Jesselnikis. Everyone knows how he's doing it.

So, it's a very complicated thing.

Did you consume Nathan Fielder? Nathan for You?

Of course. I don't know who showed it to me. I think it was Kupman. It was an interview type episode. It was very good. Have you seen that?

I don't remember the exact time. There are a lot of funny sketches on Netflix. It's called... I think you should leave. I think you should leave. There are a lot of random and funny sketches.

It's a very fresh thing.

It's episodic sketches.

Yes, I remember that from Nathan For You.

You're dressed like a hot dog.

So is that guy.

Oh no.

What do you think of Kapil Sharma?

Kapil Sharma is the greatest. Greatest of our time, I think. I mean, the body of work, you see, for so many years, he's funny and how big the stakes are. I mean, in every episode, he has set up a set of 2-3 crore rupees, he has got a great guest, he never misses.

Always funny, always shows up, always does. Been through a lot in life.

Yeah.

And he's still relevant after all these years. He's a legend.

I find it fascinating the way relevance works. There are so many people who are not relevant for a continued period. There are only a few people like Kapil Sharma

who for so long I used to talk to my friend on call about comedy circus.

I saw your film Delhi Belly on radio. I mean the story youy on the radio. I mean, the story you have fitted in the abuses. I have spent 300 rupees to get it done.

And how many years has it been? 15 years. And still, we talk about each joke, each episode. That's why they are legends.

Yeah, yeah.

Do you like more people who…

Apart from Kapil, who do you like the most?

Sunil Grover, come on. Sunil Grover is so talented. His characters are just insane.

What's your favourite character?

There are so many. What did Salman Khan do? Salman Khan was so good, so funny.

I use both of them. I don't like this shit, man.

In general, I liked Ghalib a lot. Gulzar. Gulzar also, I liked him a lot.

I don't need anyone. Not half, not quarter. I am full jar. I am full jar.

Very, like, I found it very funny. And of course, Amitabh Bachchan is a legendary act. The one where he grinds leaves, it's very fun. It's fun. That was very funny. And in general, he's famous for his gulati and all of those.

Everything he does is great.

Khali. My name is The Great Kya Khali Hai. You must have heard what's in the name. When did you get the time?

Yes. So, in Feb? When I was going through this, everything started in Feb.

So in Feb, I was low and I had a show in 4 days which I could not cancel.

So I had to address the elephant in the room. If I go on stage with a sari, a vermillion and a garland, I can't start doing crowd work. What do you doing? Why are you wearing a sari?

Right?

So you have to address... ...everyone knows something is happening. So you have to say something about it. So I had just written one or two jokes about this. And the first time I went on stage... ...Balraj, do you remember that day?

Yeah.

Washington DC. Of course. Washington DC? Bro, Washington DC when I went on stage bro, the floor of the stage was shaking.

Send me there, I'll go there.

It was shaking by the applause. People were standing like this. It was so much fun and I made one joke about this and it blew up. And I told them that I don't have any other material about this because it happened to me the day before yesterday. So, I said, I'll tell you a joke. They said, okay. Then I did jokes. That worked well.

But the applause I got for the first joke when I addressed this controversy, that was the biggest laugh of the night. So, I realized that I had to write about this. Because I like it, people like it. It's therapeutic. Then I wrote 3 jokes for my next show. All three of them were a flop.

Then I realized that I'm doing it in the beginning so the rest of the set is getting lost. So I wrote 5 jokes and spaced them out. I wrote them one by one and they were a flop. Then I wrote 8 minutes on it. By the end of the tour, I had 15 minutes on this.

And it was the best part of the show. So then when I came, all my shows got cancelled. I actually had called Veer Das during that time. He said, when the 2 Indias thing happened with you, what did you do? So he said that, I just wrote about it. Right now whatever you're feeling write it down. Later it will come in handy. So just whatever

you're feeling just note it down. Now you won't get any perspective, you'll get it tomorrow. But whatever is happening with you, just note it down, note it down, note it down. I kept and I took their advice because why not. So I wrote it all down. Now you will see my folder, it is full. And in March, April, I just kept writing, kept writing. Then in May, I decided I will do a tour abroad.

And I just started doing trial shows with that material. I started doing surprise spots in Habitat. People would not know I'm going to show up. There were 20 people in the open mic. At last, I gave it up for surprise act. Please put your phones down.

Stay in time. People are crazy. Stay in time. Stay in time. So, I had the best time, those 20 minutes. Then 30, 45. The last show I didn't have it at, the 7th show.

It's called the 7th, I put it on my voice note, 7th magical show. Because in that show, I got an end. And it was the last show, after that I had a tour. And I did not have an end until then for the hour. I got the end, it became one hour, people stood up, they had tears in their eyes, I had tears in my eyes, I knew I have done something magical. I have taken my pain and put it down on paper and showed it to the world as it is and helped them through it, helped myself through it. This is the

best piece of work I have done so far. And then I went on tour with it and it kept getting better and better on tour and I kept getting all the love everywhere I did it. So that's how I wrote it. I wrote it in two months.

Otherwise, it takes a year or two to write a special. I wrote it in two months, got it ready, tied it up and did the tour. A lot. I am like this today because of that. Otherwise, Balraj has seen me. I was like a dead body. I was like this and anything. I have videos from that time when I am just like... Zero. Just unable. Just depersonalized. Detached from the world. Just looking at people smiling and feeling like shit.

Living corpse.

He used to try to take me to Canada. I said no I don't want to be here. In between he didn't have a Canada visa. Those 10 days I have been so lonely because he was with me in US and he didn't have a Canada visa. So I applied but he didn't get it. So I had to go alone to Canada for 10 days for those shows and it was minus 27 degrees Celsius. Bahar, like in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary.

And I was dead at that time. I was just crying all the time. I was just fucking demotivated. Kamre mein leta padha rahe tatha. Bahar minus 27 hai. Andar akela hu.

The worst would you rather situation?

I think second worst.

When I understood that jokes are the solution, I wrote and wrote and wrote. It was fun after that. I had fun writing for an hour. So, music comes out of broken heart. Music comes from a broken heart, but it's good.

It comes from a broken heart,

but it takes more effort. Right. I have to go deeper. When I upload this on YouTube, I'll write the next hour. Because I don't have a pen, I'm thinking of getting a leg cut. I'll put it on YouTube. To write the next hour, because there's no pain now.

So I'm thinking of cutting one leg.

If you had to select one worst day for your mental health, was it the Canada one when Balraj wasn't around?

Worst.

The whole time was worst. But it was the worst of the worst. But it was worse than that. I would just be sitting alone in a dark room. Curtains were down. Curtains were not open. I was in bed all day.

I would just keep my phone on. I would not move. I would not take a bath. Just be there. Whole day, order fries with mashed potatoes. Eat fries and mashed potatoes.

Go to sleep. Fish and chips. Eat. I ate fries and mashed potatoes, went to sleep, fish and chips, ate them, kept them there, didn't even call for cleaning. If someone came into the room, I'd ask, what is it? They'd clean it and leave.

And I'd just sit like this in the whole bed. Just looking at Twitter, looking at something, calling parents, telling them I'm fine. Just fucking worst, worst experience.

And like, was chess helping? Did you play chess?

I used to play chess. I used to lose all the games.

Even he was making news. That he was playing chess.

Poker helped. When I used to play poker, the white people used to sit. So they didn't have any idea what was happening. So I used to spend some time with them.

If you have to talk about anyone else like that Balraj family, who else was there? Tanmay was there. Tanmay was there a lot. He used to sit with me for 4 hours on the call. He used to reassure me that it will be fine. Give it time. All the work will come back. All the brands will come back, all your shows will come back. It's okay, it's a temporary dent, look how much you have done, don't worry. I used to bring some sense into it. He was also scared and I found out through someone else.

And he was showing me strength. Back then he was calling, he was like, everything is fine, what happened? They were there. And so many silent people who helped. Chandni for example, because Balraj was with me.

So there were police in the habitat, people were coming in the habitat. So Chandni was helping. Balraj's parents were doing their thing. Balraj's dad was doing as much as he can. So many people, so many people were there.

I couldn't have been alone. I remember on that Zoom call with lawyers, I am just dead. I am like, Chandni, please figure this out. I cannot say anything. I cannot do anything. I was just like this.

And I used to just... I used to sleep. I slept like this. They used to say, do this statement, do that. I will do whatever you say. I cannot think. I tried to make an apology video, I had to run away 6 times.

Should I show you? I have those. 6 times I tried to apologize. Should I send you all of them? Please, please, please. So this is the second day of the controversy.

BR Biceps has apologized. It's the morning after that. Now, my lawyer has said you also have to put an apology. Nine times I recorded that apology. I will look funny now. I haven't seen this since that time.

One by one. Okay.

See this. This is the morning. First video.

Oh dude.

First attempt at apology.

And all this back to back.

I was just recording and trying. Hello friends. It's been a while.

Laughing. Laughing.

Then I realised that it's funny. I'll have to change it. Take 3. Friends. Take 3. Friends... Friends, I do a show called India's Got Latent.

Because of that, a lot of people have been hurt.

Because... Because if something happens... Laughing Laughing

Laughing

Take 4

Laughing Laughing Laughing

What's with you closing your eyes for a second?

Bro, I just that time I mentally got upset. That man, you are not looking at a human being. You are looking at a human being. He's looking at a corpse. Friends, I'm not in India right now.

Why did I say that?

What was the need to say that? Cut.

How much does his lunch increase with this?

I don't know, I don't remember.

Director's cut.

He's watching it for the first time.

Friends, I'll do a show.

I do it a little.

I used to.

Yes, largest file.

Friends, we'll do a show called India's Got Latent. Because of which, recently some people have been hurt. They have been hurt. But that wasn't the intention of this show. We just wanted to...

Oh, it's coming.

It was almost there. Oh, dude. This is it. Crazy video.

This was also a loss. A lot of people have been hurt. I didn't like the word loss.

So, that was it. And you didn't get a call to make an apology video.

At that time, I was just doing whatever people were saying.

I was just f**ked.

F**k dude. I'm hungry. Should I eat something?

Yes, please. Please. Please. Come, we can eat. You can have a bite.

What?

Is this sponsored?

Yes.

Hey!

A bite.

A bite.

Is this non-veg?

No.

Then leave it. I don't eat veg on Monday. But nowadays I'm actually doing a lot of fitness. Is it sugar free?

No, it's sugar free.

How is it?

Very nice. Actually it's good!

Do you know the origin story of the Makhana bit I showed you in Bangalore? You know Anupam Kher episode because of Raj Chamani bit! Actual bit is he's throwing a Makhana on me!

Oh!

He had a movie called Tanvi The Great! I hadn't seen it.

I got a call from him. Hmm. He had already seen the episode. So I told him that I'm in the middle of something. I'll call you. I saw Tanvi The Great and then I picked up the phone.

I was like, I don't want to die today. It was a good movie. Then I asked him how was it. He said it was like Kashmiri. I said Rajshamani's... Rajshamani's...

There was such a funny comment after your podcast. I sent it to him. Rajshamani had put a poll. This poll... So funny. Who should I send it to?

Send it to Sharma. Look at poll. It's so funny. Who should I send this to?

Send it to him. It's not funny. Don't read it. I'll read it here. Raj Sharma had posted this. Let me just say it.

Which pain gave you the biggest life lesson? Breakup, Losing memory, Career failure, Losing friend. career failure, losing friend. Comment below. The pain of not being able to hear Anupam Kher's advice uncut.

Oh man!

Raj Shamanik will pick up the phone. Aren't you ashamed of doing this?

What did I do? You just kept it. I'll pick up the phone. Aren't you ashamed of doing this?

What did I do? You just put it back.

Oh man!

I didn't know that...

You didn't know? You have 10,000 subscribers. I didn't know. I was born yesterday. I have 3 FIRs. I've seen the whole world. I was born yesterday. I have three FIRs. I've been in this world too. I know you.

He knew exactly how viral that clip was going to go when Anupam sir was saying that. Yo, Raj bhai.

Hi.

Yes, sir.

Sitting with your best friend, bro.

Who's my best friend?

Guess.

Guess?

I don't know.

Look at this guy. Look at this guy!

Hi bro!

I hit him so hard! I hit him so hard! I told him that you knew exactly what you were doing! For a few views you threw your colleague under the bus! Vaibhav Munjal!

No bro, I didn't do anything! And you won't cut this Vaibhav Munjal! You won't cut this Vaibhav Munjal. No, I didn't do it on purpose. And you won't cut this Vaibhav Munjal. You won't cut this Vaibhav Munjal.

What can I do for the views on purpose?

What can I do? Let's go. There you go brother.

But Raj, I love you so much. Raj is one of the sweetest people I know. Genuinely. I love you so much brother.

Love you too, brother. Love you too.

Take care, bro.

Are you making a podcast?

I'll make a podcast of him too.

Are you making a podcast of Chalchitra?

I'm making a podcast of Chalchitra.

Nice, nice. Enjoy.

I'm coming to you too.

See you.

I'll kick to Raj and say, this looks fake, I'll stay here.

Very good.

How will you break it?

You want more?

No.

I had already killed you. Take some more. Should I? No.

I had already had enough.

Chal Chitra Vox.

Should we move on, sir? Yes, move on.

Are my lips dirty?

Yes, they are.

Why are you looking at my lips? What's going on in your mind? You are stuck with this one bite. You will put this too? If you don't put it,

then you can put it.

We will put everything.

Yes bro.

When I listen to old songs, genuinely speaking, whether it's blues or jazz, I never understand the differentiation between blues and jazz. So, tell me what's the difference? I never understand the differentiation between jazz and blues.

So, tell me about it.

There are different chords, different progression, different sound. Blues is resolved, jazz is always on the move. Jazz has a weird chord progression. It has 1, 4, 5. It's a little complex. The thing is, it's a different art form.

And blues is a culture. It started in the late 1800s. People started it on the streets. All the African Americans have started it. They used to play their pain when they were young. I got no money. And they used to play...

So Blind Lemon Jefferson, these people used to play it on the streets.

Give us an idea, what are you doing now?

So, in guitar every note is an alphabet. Or in music I'll say. Like this is one alphabet. This is another alphabet. We are all alphabets. You can combine two alphabets and say a word. It's a word.

You combine two words, you can say sentences. This was a sentence. Like, this was one word, this was another word, I combined them both. This was a long sentence. So this is the vocabulary of blues guitar. There is a scale in this, you play that. But what's fun is in playing a backing track. Is the sound coming?

Let's say something. Yo, yo. Mere saath hai Vaibhav Munjal I am feeling good I am in his podcast Yaan hain bahot hi log Mere ko nahi aata hai gaana Par mujhe aata hai bajana But I know how to play What will we do now

When we are done talking

Check this out now, yo! so so so Yeah, you failed it, you felt it! So that's the blues! Bro, nice! So cool dude, so cool!

My strap came off, everything is fucked up! Let's go!

I'm so excited!

I'm so excited! I'm so excited! I'm gonna fuck you up too so ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ Nice. so so Let's go!

Let's go!

Bro!

This is not a song by the way, I played it. It's not a new song.

Very nice!

Why? I just got lost, I played it. Yeah. It's not a new song. Very nice. Why? I just got lost, I forgot there were cameras. I forgot what... So that's what music does. Or anything that you really like. It drives you into it.

I don't know if I could explain it to you but...

Bro.

I hope you got it.

Nothing better than this. Nothing better than this. I'm loving this. You are enjoying it, right?

Full fun.

So nice.

Fun would be understated.

I am so glad and happy. You have taken out a whole day for this. What's next, dude? What's next?

I am on vacation Every single day since I lost my occupation Eh eh eh, I'm on vacation Every single day since beer biceps asked that question Eh eh eh, I'm on vacation Making more money since my cancellation

Ay ay ay

I'm on vacation Every single night I'm doing Baition Ay ay ay I'm on vacation Baba Munjal and Rajshahmani got some friction

Ay ay ay I'm on vacation. This part of the video will give you a lot of traction. Ay ay ay. This is what's going on.

Bro.

Oh dude. I want to learn rapping too.

We've seen your old videos. Understanding rap videos.

Always try to say more and less.

Okay. I'll come standing rapper. Always try to say more in less. Okay.

I'll come and stop you. I'll cancel your boot.

You figured it out automatically.

There's a lot to do in life. Just do something. Don't keep enjoying.

What's next in the checklist? Like, this is done. My parents are happy. I have money.

I want to travel the world. I want to taken a break. I just want to take out time and do nothing. Just travel the world, sit in mountains, sit near lakes. Just chill, exist, look around, have fun.

But people will come there too, when is the next season?

No, I mean, it's not like that. There are a lot of places in Europe. In India, go to the North East, sit in the jungle. Can you meditate? This is what meditation is for me. Meditation is what? Bringing your mind to one place.

Absolutely.

Do you remember the last time you came to our house, you left some things to talk about. You commented on it. Do you remember the comment?

Sorry if I said something like that.

This is also good.

I'll show you, it's beautiful. Basically it was everything that you forgot to say. And those were the recommendations. If you have it, you can give it to me. It's a beautiful book. Oh damn!

You can read these out loud.

Some more. Last time you asked me on the spot, I had nothing. Then I thought about everything and then I messaged you. September 22, 2022. Some more recommendations I forgot. Watch Rajshamani and Beer Biceps.

They make way better podcasts. They're doing successful for a reason. I hope you learn from them a little bit. I hope you don't throw other podcasters under the bus.

There was something like music theory if you want to learn this. There's a thing called move forward music theory. You can learn all of music theory. It won't be useful. But if you want to learn, then learn.

Play a sport. Give me some more recommendations. Give me some more recommendations. Play a sport. But actually, yeah. Play a sport. It'll be fun.

I play table tennis because it makes my reflexes very fast. Usually, I don't fall. I fall, my damage... I don't get damaged because I don't fall. And... What do you call it?

In general, I have fast reflexes. If my phone falls from my hand, I catch it in the air. Because of table tennis. So that has really helped me. I don't know where one would use that. But I enjoy playing sports. I'm playing pickleball.

This is important. Have a reminder in your phone to call your parents everyday.

Twice.

It will be fun. Best investment. Talk to your parents twice. Make sure it's more than 5 minutes. We call and ask how are you? Have you eaten? You said you are going. No, talk to them. 5 minutes minimum. Talk to them twice a day. You'll feel very good.

What else did I write? Yes, this is a genuine thing. B12 is less, Vitamin D3 is less. A person is in depression. He doesn't understand why he is feeling tired. You do a full body checkup. Go inside your own house.

Okay?

You'll spoil the mood of others. And then you'll spoil yourself. Eat oranges. Take Vitamin C. Eat fish oil. keep your heart healthy. But mostly the same.

Make some money and detach yourself. I don't have a recommendation to watch this or that. I have a recommendation to do this, it will be better.

We had taken the second one last time. We had gone there. We have gotten this and we have also gotten this now.

Yeah, detach yourself from your work. Best thing. We have gotten this and we have also gotten this now.

Yeah, detach yourself from your work. Best thing, play it like a game. You clearly played a crazy game with Rajshamani. Made enemy, bro.

Don't do this, I just got beaten up.

Art of war's first rule, don't go into battle if you cannot afford it. But in your case, it doesn't apply. You're a rich guy. How did you sleep that night? By insulting Raj Shaman?

No, I messaged him. Do you want me to read the message? Please, man.

You'll keep this? Do you want me to read the message? Please, man. What have you kept? So, Raj, how did you like it?

Oh, man. Oh man! This literally means laughing face. Laughing face.

Relax.

I have to talk about books now. I am genuinely saying that I am not a fan of books.

Do you have a sponsor?

Yes, Audible. See, I am genuinely saying that.

I am not a fool. I'm not a fan of books. Do you have a sponsor? Yes, Audible. See, I'm genuinely saying that. I'm not born yesterday. I have three FIs.

Do you have some book recommendations for us?

There's a book called Things You Only Notice With A Calm Mind. It's a thick blue book.

It's great. There are pointers and lines on it. There's a thick blue book.

It's great. There are pointers and lines on it. It's just written with wisdom. It's good. Apart from that, I enjoy reading Indian history. Freedom at Midnight.

Freedom at Midnight is a great book. There are a lot of things in it that you get to know about your own country. You feel, wow. You know, Mountbatten didn't know that Jinnah is sick and he is going to pass away. When they researched and told Mountbatten about this, he was like, what are you saying? He was going to die? Had I known, I would have delayed it and the partition would have never happened.

Because he did not know, he signed whatever and that happened. There are many such things. When the partition happened, they called a random person. They wanted to have a guy who is not biased. He didn't know anything about the Indian continent. He just drew a line here and there. Any village got divided, anything happened.

Then we had to follow the line. Other than that, so many stories from our own history are so funny and so like, what? You will find them in the book. There are many such stories. Nice. Other than that...

You have written about Rick Rubin's...

Yes, The Creative Act is a very good book.

It's a very good book.

Did I recommend it to you?

I have spoken about it a lot.

I gifted that book to a lot of people.

Yes.

But half of it doesn't apply here. It's a good book. An ideal world where you can be free to express yourself. It's good for that. How to become a true artist. Not here.

Karan Ajla says, remove it from the song. Remove the motherfucking song. It becomes Amagabru. Here, bro. Survival act. I will write a book for this.

Survival act. The way of being sane.

I think, as much as you are health conscious now, I think, you know about Outlift. Dr. Peter Atia's book Outlive? It is one of the best books on health.

I get scared after reading the book. Why? Because it says something like, Sleep, do not underestimate how strong the sleep can be. A bad sleep means bad life. And I feel like I'm screwed.

I'm screwed. Then I read something else and it says never forget vitamin D3 if you don't take, you're fucked. Then I feel like I'm already here. I feel like I'm doing something wrong.

I get mentally fucked with it. With these books.

We have a segment. Can you give it to me? We take an audition for an audible. For their audiobook. So this is from an audiobook. You have to

read this. I'm 30 years old and I have signed 5 separate divorce papers. Whose 5 are these? 4 are there in Delhi. None of them were mine. Okay. Don't worry. I was merely autographing the papers of people whose divorces I have caused. They lined up in the rain to meet me and thank me for causing their breakup and then asked me to sign the papers as a memento of their lives, which they said I have saved. Like a white Jesus.

If that opening doesn't get you to buy this book, then honestly, just put it down and fuck off. It's not for you. I don't even get you to buy this book, then honestly, just put it down and f**k off! It's not for you! I don't even want you to read it! Have a wonderful life! Still here? Brilliant!

Thanks for the money! Please subscribe to Rajshamani!

So this is Daniel Slavsky's Everyone You Hate Is Going To Die! Nice! And because of Jigsaw, obviously you know right, like how many divorces and all happened. So this is the whole context.

OJ Simpson was a scumbag of a human being and what he did was horrific. But I now officially understand why he thought he could get away with it. If you're famous, people believe

you. You should like check it out and comedy related, Mel Brooks' has an audio book that you should listen to.

Okay, bro.

Okay.

Should I read it? Please. I'll read it after I get there.

Thank you. No, I want to listen to it. Audio, audio.

I'll listen to it.

Great.

And what are the podcasts... Shit, I got scared asking this question.

You know the punchline already. Everyone can sense the punchline.

What are the podcasts that you listen to?

Where's the...

You say it, bro.

Say it, he's here. Say it. I was going to video about him. Tag bro. But honestly. Do you listen to T1? I listen to T1 sometimes.

I listen to Naval Ravikant's podcast. Star Talk is one of my favorite podcasts. I don't know about Star Talk. Do you know Neil Degrasse Tyson? Yes. Do you know Chuck Nise?

Yes.

So, they both do a podcast together. One is a comedian and the other is a serious one. They talk shit. He tells Neil deGrasse Tyson that white colour has all the colours in it. All colours are actually one. It's the same thing. So Chuck Nise says, I wish the society also operated like that.

So he laughs, it's a color racial joke. Then he says, no, no, Chuck, if you mix all the colors, you know, then they become the sunlight. So he says, oh, I wish the society also thought that no matter what, you're black, you're white,

you're brown, you're all white. One day we will recognize

the white, black, red or brown.

We're all white.

So he puts a punchline like this. It's funny. His juggles are very good.

Which is your favorite podcaster or comedian?

I don't have to be honest right now the time to do all this. I do gym when I am at home.

Do you do gym properly? Cardio and strength both?

My trainer is with me since 6 months. He travels with me everywhere. All the shows he comes.

He must have seen everything you have been through.

He has gained 3 kilos. He is roaming around with me, eating in the hotel. I have gained 4-5 big ones. But the way I look at it is that if I didn't have a trainer, how big would they have been? So I think net-net is a positive. It's the way you look at it.

Do you also have a nutritionist?

Yes.

Yeah? Genuinely?

Makhana is great.

Yeah.

I have nutritionist, I have therapist, I have CA, I have AC. So it should be done, it's too hot here. I have financial advisor, I have manager, I have executive assistant. I'm doing great.

I have one last brand question.

There's no heart in this. There's no heart in this. I was just being wholesome. I was feeling grateful. I want to find a brand. If you cut this, don't cut this.

Okay, fine.

Where are you going?

Our sponsor is Lit School. It's a Bangalore based school. They focus on challenge based learning. Brands come here and solve problems for brands. And they take a lot of sessions also. I've also given a session for them.

So, what is it that you've learnt without studying? Like something you can give a session on.

I've learnt that if you abuse someone on YouTube, anywhere, in a video, like, sisterfucker, motherfucker, put it in the middle, it works. It doesn't get demonetized. If you abuse in the first minute,

it gets demonetized. If you abuse anywhere else, it won't get demonetized. If you abuse someone else, it be demonetized. If you say anything about bullshit, it gets demonetized. Yes, this video will be demonetized. I swear on my mother. If you say anything about bullshit...

...I'm not even joking. I've uploaded around 1200 videos on YouTube. I've seen it all. We've said anything about bullshit. So, when it gets demonetized, you can ask for a review. So, why did it I demonetized? Because every time I get a spike on the word BOSUDIKE.

So... Don't ever say BOSUDIKE. BOSUDIKE... Someone will keep calling the founder of YouTube at a vulnerable moment BOSUDIKE!

So he demonetized that word. I don't have any other learning in this life. Someone will call me to give TED Talks. What's the time? I don't have any other learning in this life. If someone calls me to give a TED talk, I'll say, you know, when I was 55 years old, what did you learn from this journey?

Don't say bullsh** on YouTube. Don't say bullsh** on YouTube. If you cut this, bullsh**.

My team had a lot of questions, so I want to give it over to them. Hindol?

Hindol's face?

I mean, it's not worth showing. One was related to guitar, because these are two people I really like. Mark Knopfler and Jimi Hendrix, whom do you like more? And tell me one favorite song from both of them.

Mark Knopfler's Lady Rider. There are a lot of Jimi Hendrix? Whom do you like more and which is your favourite? Mark Knopfler's Lady Rider There are many Jimi Hendrix songs Jimi Hendrix's Straight Ahead I like that a lot Jimi Hendrix's Born Under A Bad Sign

I like that better than Albert King And if you talk about impact Jimi Hendrix is more impact He is a greater guitarist I mean yes, people listen to Jimi Hendrix I feel is a more impact, is a greater guitarist. I mean yes, people today listen to Jimi Hendrix and say what was so special about him. He was the first guy to do that thing.

He created that thing for others to then have that foundation. He built the foundation of rock. So Jimi Hendrix any day is the greatest guitarist of all time. Maybe today you can say that Stevie Ray Vaughan plays cleaner. But whatever, it's like, that time what he had, Richard Pryor was still Richard Pryor. He's still the greatest. Although he didn't have as many punchlines as today's comedians.

But today's comedians would be nowhere if not for Richard Pryor. So it's the same thing for him.

And Slash?

Slash is very, very, like, I like him. I'm more into blues and.. Got it. You also upload a lot of ghazals on your Instagram.

Like any recommendations that you listen to?

I love all the ghazals of Ghulam Ali. It's been a while since I've heard one of my favourite ghazals. Dil Mein Ek Lahar Si Uthi Hai. I'm a big Ghulam Ali fan.

How much of the comedy circus have you followed?

Do you have any favourite sketch memories? I mean, there were so many insult comedies. I don't remember the exact one. When the policemen used to play the role. The character's name was Shamsher Singh. I used to really like that character of Kapil.

Madam! Madam!

Listen, let's meet each other. I want to know about crowd work from you. Do you think crowd work is an equivalent art to just normal stand-up comedy or you think it's not prepared?

Crowd work is a different skill set. Stand-up is a different skill set. Two different skill sets. Good crowd work is difficult. Good stand-up is difficult. And both have their own challenges, bro. You ask someone what they do and what they don't do. You might not get a good laugh.

Right.

Yes, this girlfriend will make you laugh a little. But it won't take you anywhere further. Yeah. You'll have a ceiling. Then you'll have to reinvent. And you only get better by being shit.

So, you will be shit for a long time even in crowd work and then you'll get very good. So many comedians do good crowd work. Rahul Subramaniam does it so well. Akash Gupta does fantastic crowd work. So many comedians. Jaspreet Singh does fantastic crowd work.

I sometimes do crowd work. But I prefer not to.

Yeah.

But the whole of Latent was just crowd work only. Yeah. Right? Yeah. How good it was. People were enjoying it.

True.

So I think crowd work is also a different art form. On the spot comedy is a great skill set. I think people who look down upon it are the ones who cannot do it.

Ha ha ha.

Genuinely. So they feel that I am in my safe space and anyone who looks down on something else, it tells always about them. I told you this before, I'll tell it again. Whoever says that this is nothing, he doesn't know how to do it. People give Aakash Gupta shit. People say Aakash Gupta is a dancer, a comedian.

Bro, the idea of what he's doing is so difficult to do.

We don't sneeze, we perform.

Have you ever seen an uncle?

Oh God, protect us. It's our performance. Have you ever seen an uncle? Hach! Hail the Goddess! Protect us!

The one who doesn't know, says he's an act out comedian. Act out is one of the most difficult things to do.

Yeah.

And somewhere or the other, Akash Gupta also feels bad about it. I have heard him on the podcast saying... People say like this. The fact that he brought it up means it hurts him. Yeah. But he shouldn't. He's a fantastic comedian. One of the best.

Because I think, like you've done live streaming in India. Again, the concurrent viewers of that level. Making it a celebration. You can take here, you can do that.

It will become, oh, how he can say this, who wants to deal with that stress. So maybe in few years when I am not as hot, then I might, but right now I am too hot to stream. Genuinely.

And what about like chess live streaming, you will do that like COD?

I do that sometimes, I am very careful with my words and I do chess, so I'm very careful with my words. And I do chess, so it already filters out a lot of people. Even in that, I get very itchy after making a joke. But then I just... But I enjoy it. Live streaming is better. Very few things in life are as good as live streaming.

Because it is your on the spot. You're on the spot for six hours. And as a comedian, it helps a lot. Because I think my my on-the-spot comedy that I developed, it's all because of live streaming. You see my first live streams, I'm fucking eating shit.

I'm saying stupid shit. I'm saying cringe stuff. I look back now and say, yeah, that was cringe. But that was needed for me to become, to reach where I am today

and from here somewhere else I'll go. You have the liberty to fuck up so that you become good. That right now in streaming I can't do. But when I used to do, I used to love it so much. I used to love streaming. You sit for 6 hours and you learn scene building. Like now in the podcast, I have in my mind that I will make a Rajshamani joke at the right time.

It will be fun. This podcast edit is going on in my mind. What will be the high point? I have to give a high point for the end. I told you in the beginning that I don't fall. I might fall and get a high point. So, all these things are constantly running in my mind.

Because of live streaming. Because I've done streaming, I've seen comments, I've understood, okay, okay, 2 plus 2. I've understood all that, so I've learnt scene building. So I learnt how to build a scene.

See, I told you I don't fall.

Dude! So good.

Any other questions? You can pass on the mic.

When you're a good comedian, does it increase your tolerance? Do you become immune to jokes?

Do you feel that other people are making jokes and you're not laughing because you've done so much?

Sometimes you see them coming. Most of the time you see them coming. But every now and then you don't. And then you need more of a misdirection or more of a crazy thought. I really liked Nishant Suri's joke. That Gandhi ji joke.

Now I'll think about it for a week, that joke. I called him and said, what did you do? But there is a simple flip that I see coming now. So I don't laugh at it. But I still appreciate that it's good. I can understand why people are liking something.

His was really good, outside Vanity Van, the N word one.

Have you thought of the N word here yet? Namaste.

That was really good. That is one I really liked. The quick highlights or story moments that you did with the kidnap where you get the body and the wardrobe opens.

What do I do with this? It was something at the time.

No, but it's in your highlights and it lands a lot. Everything is different, the livestream is different, the long form is different, the short form is different. So, the life you've given it, in the story format it works really well. Because a lot of people don't use the story like the story. So, that is also something I really like.

Thank you, bro.

Anything else, guys? I'm very curious. Balraj, do you have a question? Do you enjoy going up on stage right now as much as you used to when you first started off?

After everything, after what? 8 years of doing this?

Yeah.

Yeah.

No, I enjoy it way more. Now I have so much to talk about, now people want to listen to my life. Usually in comedians, there's a they are stressed about what to talk about. This topic is already done. Sometimes, you think of a joke, you say it, you do it. Then you're like, this guy said this too. You have a thought clash, you are stressed.

This is the same, that is the same. What should I say? What should I say fresh? What should I do? Now, it's like, I can say my story and that's as unique as a fingerprint and people are interested in listening to my story so I am really enjoying going on stage now even more because I have lots lots and lots to say about where I'm using my skills as a comedian I'm using joke writing I'm using cadence I'm using delivery I'm

using all the fundamentals of stand-up comedy but I'm not doing a classic set like Dosto yeh barish kitna weird hota hai, plane vs train taking nothing away from that but I think that already people are so tired of listening to engineering vs MBA and all of those topics mother vs father

Do you relate to people lesser now jo pichle 6 mahine mein ho iske wajah se ki in logon ne dekha nahi hai Do you relate to people lesser now? Because of what happened in the last 6 months, they haven't seen what life is like. Because they've seen so many roller coasters, what do they listen to? They haven't seen life.

Why would you be arrogant on your failures? Or your traumas? You can only be like, in fact it makes you more grateful. That, we came out of this, so now we want to make sure that this mental peace remains. And you empathize more with people because somewhere I realized that everyone is going through something.

Your stress might be as much as my stress but it might give you as much stress as my stress gave me. And everyone here in this room has something. Someone's relationship is going bad, someone's family is sick, someone's money is stressed. Everyone's going through some shit, man, in this life. And I feel that that's what we all have in common.

And it makes you more empathetic. Someone just yelled at me yesterday. So I know, okay, he must be going through something. I'll go and ask him what happened, you didn't behave nicely, something, are you alright, what's happening? That's my approach. Earlier it was like why did he get angry, why did he do this, why did he do that, now I understand. So then I've become more better as a, more empathetic as a human being.

It's the opposite of what you asked me. That's… I don't blame people for how they behave.

Which is your favourite Would You Rather joke?

Would You Rather watch Rajshahmani or Beer Biceps? Because they are the only two good podcasters in this country.

I don't fall.

We want to give you some gifts. Please give me some first. We like Makhane and Deadbyte. We want to give you some gifts. Please give me some first. We like Makhane and Deadbyte. We want to give you a few. We also have a merchandise. It says, recommend me a film. Here you go, sir.

Thank you so much. My trainer will be very happy.

And this is our...

Thank you so much, brother.

And we want to do one last bit for which I want to call Balraj on stage.

Thank you so much.

It was fun.

Give me one.

Let's go.

Let's go.

You also say a little.

No, no, no.

Okay.

Let's go.

One, two, straight right? Yes

AHHHHHH with our time, let us know in the comments. And if you have watched the episode till here, use the hashtag, would you rather in comments and tell us your favorite would you rather joke in the comments. Now I quickly want to tell you about the sponsors of this episode, the people who make the whole show of longest interview possible.

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