Saurabh Bothra - No Feeling in the World Is Better Than Getting Your First Laugh After You Get on Stage (Comedian)

A key to a lock is like being funny to stand-up comedy. Being funny is very important, but only being funny won't be helpful. you have to think funny, you have to write funny. 

1. How and when did you choose comedy as a career?

I’ve been a big fan of comedy all my life, I still remember it was my birthday in 2016 when I first saw Zakir Khan's 'Delhi Girl' video, that's the moment I realised that even I could do stand-up, but I never took a step ahead, I was too scared to be judged on stage cut to 2018 when my mother came to visit me in Bombay and she really wanted to watch a comedy show, I booked tickets to a random comedy show which was hosted by Jeeya Sethi. 

I was in awe after seeing her perform so after the show I followed her on Instagram and got to know that she teaches stand-up comedy as well. After that, there was no looking back. I joined her workshop and now its been 2 years almost since I've been doing comedy. Joining that workshop was the best decision of my life.


2. What type of content do you enjoy producing the most and is the most challenging?

I like to be relatable with my content. Writing relatable content is the toughest thing to do because you have to connect with the masses keeping everything in mind, you don't want to hurt someone else's sentiments. 

Most challenging to write I would say anecdotal comedy, so the thing is what is funny for you may not be funny for someone else so you have to write the joke keeping that in mind.


3. Do you prefer digital as a medium or do you enjoy doing live gigs more and why?

Live gigs any day, digital happened just because of the coronavirus, 99% of the comics hate zoom, we perform on zoom because we as comics need validation on new jokes and live shows weren't happening so zoom was the best option back then, but now live shows are happening, no feeling in the world is better than getting your first laugh after you get on stage.


4. People, who are interested in taking up stand-up comedy as a profession, do they need a funny bone or they can develop one?

A key to a lock is like being funny to stand-up comedy. Being funny is very important, but only being funny won't be helpful. you have to think funny, you have to write funny. 

Sometimes when an audience member heckles you while you're in between your set you have to be spontaneous so stand-up comedy has many factors to it, I would seriously recommend taking up Jeeya Sethi's Comedy workshop, why you'll ask, she's been doing comedy for 7 years now, she'll make sure you don't make the mistakes she did.


5. How stable is being a stand-up comedian as a profession in India? And what is the future of this profession?

From the outside it looks like there is a massive boom in the stand-up scene which it is to an extent. but only the privileged are getting privileged by that mean the people who are famous are the ticket sellers. 

Comics like me who've just started off in the industry, it's very tough for us. we do shows happily for 2 people a lot of times all we amateur comics need is an audience. As a profession, it is the best. the kind of instant validation you get is the best.


6. What impact do you want to make in this world?

I'm going to answer this question as a person not as a comic, firstly I want to be liked enough to you know have a voice which people listen to, also I really want to make this world a happy place, people chilling laughing working that is all. I just want everything to be normal.

- Saurabh Bothra 

Instagram @saurabhhbothra 

- Interviewed by - Nishad Kinhikar