He's been in the comedy circuit for six years and appears to be the boy-next-door, rather your friend who's just sitting in the living room and telling you funny stories.
Simple, straightforward and full of energy, standup comedian Varun Thakur strikes the right chord with the audience through his conversational style.
The co-founder of comedy collective, 'SnG Comedy', Varun has a background in acting as well. He's been a part of films like 'Question Mark', 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' where he played a small role and Hollywood film 'Basmati Blues' expected to release next year. Little wonder then that jokes on struggling actors whom he meets behind the scenes are a big part of his repertoire.
Recently in the city for a performance at 'That Comedy Club', Varun cracked up (sorry, engaged) in a chat with Anushree Agarwal.
Your tryst with comedy...
I've worked in advertising and studied filmmaking abroad. I got into comedy mainly because of Vir Das' 'Hamateur Nights' (open mic nights). My friend Tanmay Bhat, who used to work with Vir, called me one day and said that I have to come and do two minutes of standup. I prepared something, went and performed and won it. That was my first time and since I won it, I thought I should definitely pursue this. Then 'SnG Comedy' with Karan Talwar happened, we started getting slots at The Comedy Store, Mumbai, and I began performing internationally too. The rest is history.
What do you think makes you a better joker...oops! comedian?
Comedy for me is a lot about stories so by the end of my show, people should get to know me. I do a lot of stories from my life and things that I experience on a day-to-day basis. There's a lot of observational humour as well and I try to keep my performance highly energetic. I ensure it's like a chit-chat with the audience and not a performance.
But when a joke doesn't work?
Ummm...I just call attention to it. Self-deprecation always goes a long way so I make fun of myself, the situation and the fact that I tried, but it didn't work. The minute you point that out, the audience laughs.
The best (funniest) compliment you've received...
I do a lot of jokes about the fact that I am half-Sindhi and half-Maharashtrian so this time in Bengaluru, a Sindhi aunty came to me after the show with her daughter. She said, "Aap Sindhi ho, hum bhi Sindhi hain, yeh meri beti hai, yeh bhi Sindhi hai, yeh single hai." The three of us exchanged glances and there was this awkward silence for a few minutes. I would take it as a compliment but it was also really confusing!
Do you ever get bored of your job?
As comics, it's not really easy to keep coming up with new material.
A lot of times when you've done the same thing day in and day out, you do get a little bored with it. So the key is to just realise that and start writing new stuff as well as try to pull out new jokes from the existing material.
When not in between laughs...
I play a lot of sports, particularly cricket; enjoy dancing; watch movies and binge on Netflix shows at home.
A joke you'd crack on a date...
I kinda rely on just letting the date be and organically, something funny will always happen or I'll end up saying something funny!
If it's your last day on the planet...
I'll eat lots of French fries and throw a huge party because if am going out, might as well go out in style.
![]( "enthusiastic Varun Thakur")
He’s been in the comedy circuit for six years and appears to be the boy-next-door, rather your friend who’s just sitting in the living room and telling you funny stories.
Simple, straightforward and full of energy, standup comedian Varun Thakur strikes the right chord with the audience through his conversational style.
The co-founder of comedy collective, 'SnG Comedy’, Varun has a background in acting as well. He’s been a part of films like 'Question Mark’, 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ where he played a small role and Hollywood film 'Basmati Blues’ expected to release next year. Little wonder then that jokes on struggling actors whom he meets behind the scenes are a big part of his repertoire.
Recently in the city for a performance at 'That Comedy Club’, Varun cracked up (sorry, engaged) in a chat with Anushree Agarwal.
Your tryst with comedy...
I’ve worked in advertising and studied filmmaking abroad. I got into comedy mainly because of Vir Das’ 'Hamateur Nights’ (open mic nights). My friend Tanmay Bhat, who used to work with Vir, called me one day and said that I have to come and do two minutes of standup. I prepared something, went and performed and won it. That was my first time and since I won it, I thought I should definitely pursue this. Then 'SnG Comedy’ with Karan Talwar happened, we started getting slots at The Comedy Store, Mumbai, and I began performing internationally too. The rest is history.
What do you think makes you a better joker...oops! comedian?
Comedy for me is a lot about stories so by the end of my show, people should get to know me. I do a lot of stories from my life and things that I experience on a day-to-day basis. There’s a lot of observational humour as well and I try to keep my performance highly energetic. I ensure it’s like a chit-chat with the audience and not a performance.
But when a joke doesn’t work?
Ummm...I just call attention to it. Self-deprecation always goes a long way so I make fun of myself, the situation and the fact that I tried, but it didn’t work. The minute you point that out, the audience laughs.
The best (funniest) compliment you’ve received...
I do a lot of jokes about the fact that I am half-Sindhi and half-Maharashtrian so this time in Bengaluru, a Sindhi aunty came to me after the show with her daughter. She said, "Aap Sindhi ho, hum bhi Sindhi hain, yeh meri beti hai, yeh bhi Sindhi hai, yeh single hai.” The three of us exchanged glances and there was this awkward silence for a few minutes. I would take it as a compliment but it was also really confusing!
Do you ever get bored of your job?
As comics, it’s not really easy to keep coming up with new material.
A lot of times when you’ve done the same thing day in and day out, you do get a little bored with it. So the key is to just realise that and start writing new stuff as well as try to pull out new jokes from the existing material.
When not in between laughs...
I play a lot of sports, particularly cricket; enjoy dancing; watch movies and binge on Netflix shows at home.
A joke you’d crack on a date...
I kinda rely on just letting the date be and organically, something funny will always happen or I’ll end up saying something funny!
If it’s your last day on the planet...
I’ll eat lots of French fries and throw a huge party because if am going out, might as well go out in style.
Simple, straightforward and full of energy, standup comedian Varun Thakur strikes the right chord with the audience through his conversational style.
The co-founder of comedy collective, 'SnG Comedy', Varun has a background in acting as well. He's been a part of films like 'Question Mark', 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' where he played a small role and Hollywood film 'Basmati Blues' expected to release next year. Little wonder then that jokes on struggling actors whom he meets behind the scenes are a big part of his repertoire.
Recently in the city for a performance at 'That Comedy Club', Varun cracked up (sorry, engaged) in a chat with Anushree Agarwal.
Your tryst with comedy...
I've worked in advertising and studied filmmaking abroad. I got into comedy mainly because of Vir Das' 'Hamateur Nights' (open mic nights). My friend Tanmay Bhat, who used to work with Vir, called me one day and said that I have to come and do two minutes of standup. I prepared something, went and performed and won it. That was my first time and since I won it, I thought I should definitely pursue this. Then 'SnG Comedy' with Karan Talwar happened, we started getting slots at The Comedy Store, Mumbai, and I began performing internationally too. The rest is history.
What do you think makes you a better joker...oops! comedian?
Comedy for me is a lot about stories so by the end of my show, people should get to know me. I do a lot of stories from my life and things that I experience on a day-to-day basis. There's a lot of observational humour as well and I try to keep my performance highly energetic. I ensure it's like a chit-chat with the audience and not a performance.
But when a joke doesn't work?
Ummm...I just call attention to it. Self-deprecation always goes a long way so I make fun of myself, the situation and the fact that I tried, but it didn't work. The minute you point that out, the audience laughs.
The best (funniest) compliment you've received...
I do a lot of jokes about the fact that I am half-Sindhi and half-Maharashtrian so this time in Bengaluru, a Sindhi aunty came to me after the show with her daughter. She said, "Aap Sindhi ho, hum bhi Sindhi hain, yeh meri beti hai, yeh bhi Sindhi hai, yeh single hai." The three of us exchanged glances and there was this awkward silence for a few minutes. I would take it as a compliment but it was also really confusing!
Do you ever get bored of your job?
As comics, it's not really easy to keep coming up with new material.
A lot of times when you've done the same thing day in and day out, you do get a little bored with it. So the key is to just realise that and start writing new stuff as well as try to pull out new jokes from the existing material.
When not in between laughs...
I play a lot of sports, particularly cricket; enjoy dancing; watch movies and binge on Netflix shows at home.
A joke you'd crack on a date...
I kinda rely on just letting the date be and organically, something funny will always happen or I'll end up saying something funny!
If it's your last day on the planet...
I'll eat lots of French fries and throw a huge party because if am going out, might as well go out in style.
He’s been in the comedy circuit for six years and appears to be the boy-next-door, rather your friend who’s just sitting in the living room and telling you funny stories. Simple, straightforward and full of energy, standup comedian Varun Thakur strikes the right chord with the audience through his conversational style.
The co-founder of comedy collective, 'SnG Comedy’, Varun has a background in acting as well. He’s been a part of films like 'Question Mark’, 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ where he played a small role and Hollywood film 'Basmati Blues’ expected to release next year. Little wonder then that jokes on struggling actors whom he meets behind the scenes are a big part of his repertoire.
Recently in the city for a performance at 'That Comedy Club’, Varun cracked up (sorry, engaged) in a chat with Anushree Agarwal.
Your tryst with comedy...
I’ve worked in advertising and studied filmmaking abroad. I got into comedy mainly because of Vir Das’ 'Hamateur Nights’ (open mic nights). My friend Tanmay Bhat, who used to work with Vir, called me one day and said that I have to come and do two minutes of standup. I prepared something, went and performed and won it. That was my first time and since I won it, I thought I should definitely pursue this. Then 'SnG Comedy’ with Karan Talwar happened, we started getting slots at The Comedy Store, Mumbai, and I began performing internationally too. The rest is history.
What do you think makes you a better joker...oops! comedian?
Comedy for me is a lot about stories so by the end of my show, people should get to know me. I do a lot of stories from my life and things that I experience on a day-to-day basis. There’s a lot of observational humour as well and I try to keep my performance highly energetic. I ensure it’s like a chit-chat with the audience and not a performance.
But when a joke doesn’t work?
Ummm...I just call attention to it. Self-deprecation always goes a long way so I make fun of myself, the situation and the fact that I tried, but it didn’t work. The minute you point that out, the audience laughs.
The best (funniest) compliment you’ve received...
I do a lot of jokes about the fact that I am half-Sindhi and half-Maharashtrian so this time in Bengaluru, a Sindhi aunty came to me after the show with her daughter. She said, "Aap Sindhi ho, hum bhi Sindhi hain, yeh meri beti hai, yeh bhi Sindhi hai, yeh single hai.” The three of us exchanged glances and there was this awkward silence for a few minutes. I would take it as a compliment but it was also really confusing!
Do you ever get bored of your job?
As comics, it’s not really easy to keep coming up with new material.
A lot of times when you’ve done the same thing day in and day out, you do get a little bored with it. So the key is to just realise that and start writing new stuff as well as try to pull out new jokes from the existing material.
When not in between laughs...
I play a lot of sports, particularly cricket; enjoy dancing; watch movies and binge on Netflix shows at home.
A joke you’d crack on a date...
I kinda rely on just letting the date be and organically, something funny will always happen or I’ll end up saying something funny!
If it’s your last day on the planet...
I’ll eat lots of French fries and throw a huge party because if am going out, might as well go out in style.