<img style="float: left;" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2015/sep/the-guide-logo.gif" alt="" width="150" height="36" />Q. What can people expect from your gig at Hard Rock Cafe? A. They can expect to fall off their chairs, throw their clothing on stage, and start dancing. The stand-up show won&rsquo;t be bad either.
<img title="Azeem Banatwalla" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2016/aug/Azeem-Banatwalla_3.jpg" alt="Azeem Banatwalla" />Azeem Banatwalla
Q. How has the stand-up comedy scene changed in India since you started out? A. It has changed a lot. From being just one show every other month,&nbsp;now there&rsquo;s at least one show of some magnitude any day of the week.&nbsp;More and more people are discovering stand-up, but it&rsquo;s crazy how many people haven&rsquo;t watched a show live yet.
Q. Are more venues now open&nbsp;to hosting stand up gigs? A. Yes, a lot more venues are interested because it&rsquo;s an alternative to music, and also because stand-up comedians now have a fan following and pull in crowds. It helps business for the pubs as well, since most people end up having a few drinks at the show.
Q. In a time of intolerance, is there something you wouldn't joke about? A. I&rsquo;m not bothered about what may&nbsp;or may not offend people in my act. There are certain people who want to be offended, no matter what you talk about. I could talk about unicorns and they&rsquo;ll twist it and make it seem like I&rsquo;m anti-national! I talk about what&nbsp;I find funny and if you don&rsquo;t like it, you&rsquo;re the one missing out!
Q. Have you ever offended anyone&nbsp;with your humour? A. I&rsquo;ve heard some horror stories,&nbsp;but, generally, stand-up audiences&nbsp;are pretty civilised in places like Mumbai and Bengaluru. People roam around with guns in Delhi, so that&rsquo;s&nbsp;a different ball game! But generally, when people buy a ticket and watch a show, they usually know what they&rsquo;re getting into, so they&rsquo;re not the types who would get easily offended.
Q. Are Mumbaikars funny folk? Can we laugh at ourselves? A. Yes, we&rsquo;re funny. As people, with the things we do. I mean, just look at the number of potholes on the roads. It&rsquo;s positively hilarious. I think most of&nbsp;us can laugh at ourselves. The ones who can&rsquo;t take a joke need other&nbsp;ways to pass their time, so they spend it writing open letters and filing FIRs!&nbsp;

Mumbai for kids: Water world in Vashi

Azeem Banatwalla is ready to make us laugh with his brand of stand-up comedy as a drink stop opens its door to some LOL for the first time

'Most Mumbaikars know how to laugh at themselves'

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Lifestyle / Culture / Article / 'Most Mumbaikars know how to laugh at themselves'

'Most Mumbaikars know how to laugh at themselves'

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast