Dubai - Arab Today
Three times the laughter, three times the fun. That’s what’s coming this weekend to the UAE. Here ahead of their gigs, comics Nitin Mirani, Jeeveshu Ahluwalia and Sorabh Pant talk expectations, pet peeves and their respective Dubai gigs.
Nitin Mirani
We caught up with Dubai-based Nitin Mirani over email as he finished up his stint in Bangkok. Mirani, who was named Laugh Factory USA’s fourth funniest person in the world 2015, had this to say.
What can people expect from your show?
It basically would be a sneak peek into my life and it’s a show about everyone.
What is your pet peeve when performing?
When there is food being served while I’m on stage. I have been doing this for almost 10 years now but I don’t think I will ever be able to match up against butter chicken.
What makes you laugh?
You will not find me laughing out loud a lot but I [do] crack up many times on stage, otherwise a good laugh is watching my two-month-old nephew Laksh do his thing.
Who is your sounding board?
It’s actually the audience. I do a lot of open mics and spend almost 10-15 shows on a bit before it makes it to a show.
Tell us a bit about the challenges you’ve faced breaking into the industry.
It is also sometimes tough to unfeel what you are feeling and just get up on stage and deliver.
Don’t miss it!
Let’s Talk About Them will be held in Club Boudoir, Jumeirah, on May 5. Tickets are Dh100.
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Jeeveshu Ahluwalia
The comic known for a routine based on observations and whimsical monologues is coming to town for his first solo show. Here he explains his need for acceptance by critics.
What can people expect from your show?
Observational humour. I do a lot of storytelling… life experiences, my take on life experiences.
What is your pet peeve when performing?
Even if the crowd has a million people and there’s one guy who’s not laughing my eyes will get stuck on him. And I will keep performing for him. And the moment he even smiles, that’s it, I’ve arrived.
What makes you laugh?
My mother and my brother — they are the most hilarious people on earth. I love hanging out with them, because they keep giving me material.
Who is your sounding board?
Life in general. Everything is a sounding board for me.
Tell us a bit about the challenges you’ve faced breaking into the industry.
It is difficult to develop a routine that is not offensive to everyone — it’s like walking on eggshells.
Don’t miss it!
Jeeveshu Ahluwalia performs on May 4 and 6 at the Junction, Alserkal Avenue. Tickets are Dh150.
Sorabh Pant
Indian stand-up comedian and writer Pant is a friendly person over the phone and peppers his conversation with laughter, while chasing his son down in a mall. He’s got a lot to say about the state of the world, in a funny way.
What can people expect from your show?
I’m covering a lot of topics, which include a lot of political stuff, centred around India and the world, and racism and sexism and trolls.
What is your pet peeve when performing?
What I hate when I’m performing is that one drunk person who interrupts punchlines.
What makes you laugh?
Everything makes me laugh… Currently the two biggest sources of laughter happen to be my son and my daughter — one is two years old, one is two-and-a-half months old. I also like laughing at my own jokes.
Who is your sounding board?
The audience.
Tell us a bit about the challenges you’ve faced breaking into the industry.
When I started stand-up in India, there was no industry really… so we had to go to far off places across the country and do shows that hadn’t had shows at that point.
Don’t miss it!
Rant of the Pant will run at The Junction on May 5. Tickets for the show are Dh175.
source: AFP