FASHION TRAVEL HEALTH ‘DON’T BE AFRAID TO TAKE A STEP’

On International Women’s Day, comedian Kaneez Surka talks about what it’s like to be a female comedian in a field dominated by males

She takes her humour seriously and has managed to carve a successful career out of it — she’s witty, cocky and all things funny. Meet the South African-born improv artiste, teacher and actor, Kaneez Surka. In a conversation with us, she talks about improv comedy scene in Mumbai, challenges that come in the way of female comedians and more. Also, do check out her new video with comedian Mallika Dua. I am from South Africa and completed my studies there. In 2005, I came to India (Mumbai) to hang around, thinking I’ll just be here for a year but then, I just fell in love with Mumbai. I started doing some comedy gigs and things just happened and I never went back. It’s been 12 years now. I was doing a stage show, and Kunal (Vijayakar) and Cyrus (Broacha) from the show, The Week That Wasn’t, saw me and asked me if I would like to be a part of the show. So to be honest, I thought I was going to go back and finish law. I did not think comedy was a career option but then after I got the TV show, I realised, I could make a living out of it and that it’s something that I can actually pursue as a career option. So that’s kind of where it all began and after that in 2010, English comedy and stand-up scenes started picking up in India, and people started going for it. I don’t think there are enough of us, that’s my first issue — we need more women doing this. I think, it’s getting there. A lot of people are pro-female comedy and they encourage us to be in the game. However, I think people are not completely used to seeing women do comedy. Like a lot of my content, sometimes, doesn’t go well with the audience. They don’t want to see women crack particular jokes, which are acceptable for a man. So, I get on the stage with the realisation that I am a female, and then start my shows. I write thinking that I have an opinion and then suddenly you get all these opposing views on what was said and I am like, ‘Oh my God, I did not mean to create such stares’. I thought, I was allowed to say whatever is there on my mind, that’s what t social media platforms are for. So nowadays, I think about everything before I put something out there and also about t potential reactions it’ll draw. Just don’t be afraid to take a step, that big step.p. I know it’s very scary sometimes taking that step but just take it. Try y it.. trust me there is a lot ot waiting for you when youou overcome that fear.