MUMBAI: Kaneez Surka, an improv artist, actor, comedian, and a YouTuber, recently went LIVE on social media and talked about how the audience’s attitude is different towards women in comedy. The stand-up artist also spoke about writing a web-series during the lockdown.
How are you coping with self-isolation?
Surprisingly, loving being by myself. I always thought I am more of an extrovert until this quarantine happened. I am thoroughly enjoying it. We all are going through a big change. None of us has ever been through anything like this. So, I think it will be exciting to see how we come out of this.
What have you been up to?
Tanmay Bhatt and I organised this stream called Stay Home For India to raise funds. We ended up raising over Rs 20 lakhs for COVID India Org and Kashtakari Panchayat Trust. It is on Tanmay’s YouTube channel right now. We streamed for two days with 88 comedians on board. Every 30 mins we would play a game with a different set of comedians. People came online and donated through different platforms. Glad we could do something valuable with the time.
Also, my Netflix special called Ladies Up has been released. I enjoyed making the special. I’m glad I did the show. I feel like I have more capabilities to do stand-up and I am only going to get better.
What’s the worst or the most discouraging thing you have been told for being a woman in comedy?
That women are not funny but that is not true. People are not just used to see women doing comedies in the public forum. People have to get used to it.
How does it feel to be known as one of the popular women comedians?
It feels nice that your work is being appreciated or acknowledged. The more people watch, the more I get to do. There is a lot of backlash, there are many who don’t appreciate what I do, which keeps me grounded and also, makes me push harder. The feeling comes and goes. Sometimes I feel like I am meant to be here and sometimes, I question myself when things don’t go right.
Is comedy still a male-dominated space?
Yes, there are more males who do comedy. Also, I feel the audience feels that they will get worth of their money and time if they watch a male comedian. It will take time for people to ignore gender and just look at how funny you are.
Have your jokes ever gone wrong?
It happens. I feel bad but someone always is going to be offended, especially because of the kind of content I do. So, I just need to grow a thick skin.
Are you writing anything during this time?
I am writing a web-series during the quarantine. Hopefully, I will be able to sell it. Apart from that, I am cooking. For the longest time, I was not cooking because I did not want to fall into the stereotype of being a woman, which is sad because to fight against patriarchy, I actually forgot I love cooking. I feel bad that I took the opportunity from myself because I was fighting the stereotype.
What will you do after the lockdown?
I am going to order KFC! (laughs)
SOURCE – THE INDIAN EXPRESS
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