Comedy is telling truth in a funny way: Russell Peters

Comedy is telling truth in a funny way: Russell Peters
x
Highlights

Comedy is about telling the truth in a funny way,” said renowned stand-up comedian Russell Peters. Peters, whose Almost Famous World Tour was staged in Hyderabad on Tuesday, as part of the Stage42 Festival organised by Only Much Louder, said that he was aware of the \"growing comedy scene\" in India.

I don't think there's anything that I do that would 'hurt' someone's feelings. Comedy is about telling the truth and people can tell if you're just trying to be mean

“Comedy is about telling the truth in a funny way,” said renowned stand-up comedian Russell Peters. Peters, whose Almost Famous World Tour was staged in Hyderabad on Tuesday, as part of the Stage42 Festival organised by Only Much Louder, said that he was aware of the "growing comedy scene" in India. “It's great that that's happening. Unfortunately, I'm not really familiar with all the guys that are doing it,” Peters said.

Born in Toronto to Eric and Maureen Peters, the funnyman is of Anglo-Indian descent. His late father lived in Mumbai and later migrated to Canada. Peters, who often features personal incidents and stories in his comic acts, said, “I don't think there's anything that I do that would 'hurt' someone's feelings. Comedy is about telling the truth and people can tell if you're just trying to be mean.

Russell Peters on stage

They can sense your intent. My intent is just to be funny. Everything I talk about is real and based on things that have happened to me or my friends. The audience always knows when you're lying, so never lie to them," the 44-year-old entertainer said. When he started performing stage shows back in 1989, Peters was just 18 years old. He says he started doing stand-up comedy because he had always wanted to it. And he does it well -- considering the record-setting attendance he draws with his shows.

But he says he didn't choose to be a comedian "to set records". "I started doing stand-up because I had to. It was a calling. If you're doing stand-up for fame or to get rich, you're doing it for the wrong reasons. I've been doing this for 26 years now," he said. For now, he's upbeat about enthralling the "energetic" Indian audience.

"I love India. I'm not just saying that. It makes me happy just to be there. There's no other place in the world that has the energy that India has," Peters said. He feels his Indian fans "are very smart and aware of the world". "They have a good understanding of not just India but the rest of the world as well." Peters is due to perform in Chennai on February 19, Bengaluru on February 21, and in Mumbai on February 22 and 23.

Show Full Article
Print Article
Next Story
More Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENTS