Mr Funny Bones

From cricket, sci-fi and TV shows to sex, crazy fan moments and alternate careers — Sorabh Panth speaks to Shahen Pardiwala in a candid chat about everything under the sun

FAVOURITE TV SHOW AND WHY?

I love Sci-Fi a lot. And, I love comedy. So, I think it might be Dr. Who and then Rick and Morty. Love those two shows. Dr. Who is just extraordinary. Rick and Morty is unexplainably good. And, very few people get it but, those that do – love it. Other shows that I love include The Walking Dead, GoT, Silicon Valley. And, of course, Simpsons, Family Guy and South Park are seminal comedically.

IF YOU WERE NOT A COMEDIAN WHO WOULD YOU BE?

An underpaid author and columnist. I’m still both of those while being a comedian so, I guess I’m doing both!

YOUR VIEW ON CRICKET

I’m a colossal cricket fan. Though, this new stupidity of batsmen not failing is really, really irritating. T20 cricket makes me love and hate cricket. I like seeing bowlers destroy batsmen more than vice versa. Bowlers are real warriors, batsmen are like lazy cocky idiots. And, I’m not a big fan of this ‘gentleman’ nonsense. I like seeing people take on each other. Little bit football fever in cricket is good!

WHAT DOES SEX MEAN TO YOU?

Earlier – it was an expression of extreme joy. Now – it’s that thing you do to make babies. And, earlier and now are both good!

SHARE A CRAZY FAN OR AUDIENCE MOMENT

Too many to name. I had an air hostess run up to me when I was listening to something on earphones. I had missed the final boarding call and she was like, ‘Sorabh, you’re missing your flight’. She was lovely. And, wonderful. I like when Bollywood folks are sporting about jokes. And, most of the young people are! So, when someone like Varun Dhawan, Hrithik, Irrfan Khan, Richa Chadda, Arshad Warsi come up to you and say you were great – that’s lovely.
Also, had one old lady laugh her head off at a show I was doing. I thanked her after the show. She said in Hindi, ‘Beta, mujhe angrezi nahi aati.’ I asked her why she was laughing. And, she said, ‘Tumhara chehra hi itna funny hai.’ Surmises my career!

 

Volume 6 Issue 1