Sorabh Pant

​Have you always wanted to be a comedian, and how did your family react when you told them?

My family were aghast, initially. Because they didn’t know what it meant to be a comedian. The easy part was: neither did I! Fortunately, I’ve always set the bar rather low about my own achievements, so my family was just happy that I wasn’t some unemployed vagrant who shows up on their doorstep asking for handouts to spend on LSD! I didn’t even know doing this was an option, to be honest. I started in 2008 in India when there was no stand-up comedy scene to speak of. Once popularity increased and the money became more tolerable, my family was even more supportive. It helps to have parents who are young at heart. And, also having a sister who achieved most of their dreams before me!

“My family was just happy that I wasn’t some unemployed vagrant who shows up on their doorstep asking for handouts to spend on LSD!”

When you perform internationally, how do you make sure everyone in the room is on your side?

All my international routines are very much in English. It’s an homage to the British. Every word I speak in English is me forgiving you guys for 190 years of rule. But seriously – I did a tour of the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai. And, I make sure everyone in the crowd, including non-Indians, understands exactly what I’m saying. Even if it involves spontaneous translations. The majority of the crowd at my shows are 80% Indian and 20% non-Indian. And, I want to ensure the remaining 20% never go home disappointed because I can’t afford refunds! Additionally, ALL the jokes will be new—nothing I’ve released on YouTube, Amazon Prime or Facebook.

What actually makes a good joke?

I wouldn’t know. I’ve spent 9 years trying to write one! Most of the time, though, I’ve realised that audience feedback is the best barometer for a joke. I usually write FURIOUSLY! Especially with this new show, Rant of the Pant, the idea is to write 10 minutes of new content every week because I’m doing a lot of international audiences.

My process is this:
– I’ll write 20 minutes on a topic.
– Try all 20 at Open Mikes and the like.
– Remove 18 minutes, which were horrific.
– Discover 6 minutes extra while working the room.
– And, I finally have 8 minutes that I hadn’t planned at all!

“I’ve realised that audience feedback is the best barometer for a joke.”

Do comedians have to be more careful now than they used to?

Ricky Gervais is just gold. Especially when he stands in front of pretentious idiots and takes the piss out of them. It’s a comedian’s dream. You do have to be careful, especially these days. I would have said especially in India, but I don’t think that’s entirely true. Globally, people are pretending to be more and more PC and increasingly sensitive. However, standup comedy audiences, especially in India, tend to be getting smarter. The consumers of our content tend not to be fans of the status quo. And they are sick to the teeth of political and religious leaders dictating what they can consume. Unfortunately, the voices of idiots are always louder than those of reasonable people. It takes only 1 person out of a 1000 to behave like a total dick and pretend they represent the remaining 999.

You founded East India Comedy—what made you set it up?

I didn’t even want to set it up. I got into standup for anarchy. To be against the system, not to be part of it. But I’m glad we did. And by the way, I fully comprehend the irony of someone from The East India Comedy coming to England to do shows. This is history in reverse. The idea of EIC, though, was to produce content we wanted to do, tour all across the country and beyond, and make a ton of money. 2 out of those 3 goals came true! Though after 200 million total online views, we have zero complaints.

“It takes only 1 person out of 1,000 to behave like a total dick and pretend they represent the remaining 999.”

Do you see acting as something you want to move into?

I get asked to audition a lot. Invariably, my tour dates are a spanner in the works. Touring all across the globe and India, 20 days a month does not an actor make. I recently had a major film company ask me if I could grow my hair. I said I could, but biology has abandoned me. They did too. My hair lost me a job! I’ve never aimed for Bollywood. I love some of the new-age films coming out now, and the standards are increasing daily. I’d love to make a film and just try something new. And I’m totally open to doing the song-and-dance bits, too. Even though I can’t dance, and no one has fairy tale dreams about me. But standup is a priority. If something falls in my lap (like a heroine), I won’t complain.

Do you regret anything, or is it all part of the journey?

I regret starting a joint account with my wife, but that’s more on a personal front. I do have regrets, but that’s why I’m a comedian. I can whine about my regrets and bad decisions to a crowd every night, and they HAVE to listen! Who has time for regrets when you have 200 – 1000 therapists at your disposal!

“I regret starting a joint account with my wife, but that’s more on a personal front.”

What makes you tick now?

Earlier, it would be the love of comedy. Now, it’s feeding my family. 2 kids and 1 wife – both kids from the same wife. I have my hands full. Every time I doubt my career, I see my son’s face looking up at me and reminding me that I have to pay for his education. Bills are the best way to make you tick!

When people meet you, do they expect you to be “on” all the time?

Ha ha! I’m fun in real life, but not hilarious. I prefer conversations with people. If I’m free, I’ll talk to you about your life because that’s what makes me really tick as a comedian. We are chroniclers and gatherers of information. And conversation is the source of all of that. I sound really pretentious, but I’m a dude who makes dick jokes! I’m usually polite unless someone is being too abrasive. I recently had a dude ask for a selfie while I was in the urinal. That’s just stupid. I was not holding a selfie stick!

“I sound really pretentious, but I’m a dude who makes dick jokes!”

Finish this for me: “A man walks into a bar…”

He can’t enter. The bar is set way too low. Much like my jokes!

Sorabh Pant is an Indian stand-up comedian and founder of East India Comedy, known for his sharp, fast-paced material and for his global touring shows, including Rant of the Pant.

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Interview by Carl Marsh

Further Reading: Vote for Pant