Desi Invasion headliner Nitin Mirani: ‘I do comedy for selfish reasons’

The Dubai-based comic, who brought together Indian comics for the Desi Invasion segment of the Dubai Comedy Festival, talks about what to expect from the shows.

Nitin Mirani, who is based in Dubai, has temporarily relocated to Mumbai to film a Bollywood movie. The Laugh Factory / AP Photo

When I begin to ask Nitin Mirani about finishing fourth in Laugh Factory’s Funniest Person in the World competition in Las Vegas last year, he interrupts me. “I was supposed to be first, but I am Indian so I got there late,” says the Dubai-­based comedian, in reference to the notion that Indians are not very time conscious.

Marani founded the Komic Sutra comedy show in 2009, when stand-up shows rarely figured in the UAE’s entertainment calendar. He has since taken his brand of observational humour to the Jongleurs comedy club in London, Carolines on Broadway, New York, Yuk Yuk’s in Canada and the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, which is part of the city’s Festival Fringe.

The 36-year-old, who grew up in the Emirates, also opened for American comedian Eddie Griffin during his Dubai tour in 2013. Mirani’s journey to international fame will come full circle on Saturday when he headlines Desi Invasion, a special line-up of Indian comics at the inaugural Dubai Comedy Festival, which he promises will be a “desi thali [platter] of laughter”.

Indian comedians have their own segment at the Dubai Comedy Festival. How did that come about?

I brought back Komic Sutra – with a desi twist – to Dubai this year and it sold out. There were all these Indian comics doing the show in Hinglish [a mix of Hindi and English] and we realised there is a market for desi humour. Dubai is now the hottest place for comedy and people really want to perform here because of the global audience they get. With that in mind I started working on putting together a fantastic line-up of comics from India for this festival.

So, what sort of material can the audience expect from you and the other Indian comedians?

The reason I have no friends is because I talk about everything that happens to me. So it’ll be a lot of observational humour from all of us, and at the same time it will be an audiovisual delight. I don’t want to make it sound like Salman Khan will show up, but it will be very different, without giving away too much. My shows are always a dialogue with the audience, so there will be a lot of on-the-spot jokes.

When you started in 2009, there wasn't much of a comedy scene in the UAE. Was it easy to make a name back then compared with getting your foot in the door in, say, Los Angeles or Vegas, where you have performed?

Actually, I did my first show way back in 2005 and it was difficult. We live in an expat market and people wanted something easy to digest. When I approached people back then with my concept, they couldn’t see the benefit of this sort of entertainment. Comedy, especially for desis, back then, was about mimicking Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan. It wasn’t a moneymaking business. It’s nice to hear people say I’m a pioneer, but I had to face a lot of hardships and only managed to launch Komic Sutra after four years of pitching it to sponsors. It was unlike India, where you have so many other comedians to jam with.

Do you remember the reaction to your first performance?

I got up on stage for a 10-minute routine but I managed only five minutes. The thing about comedy is that the gratification is instant, unlike anything else. But then in 2005 I got another chance when one of the opening acts in a show did not turn up and the organiser put me on stage to warm-up the crowd. Luckily, I did well and that’s when I knew that this was what I was meant to do. But not all my shows have been great. I recently had a corporate show that bombed because it was the wrong kind for the crowd. And you know what? That was great, because comedians can become really egoistic and such setbacks cut you down to size.

Has securing fourth place in last year's Laugh Factory's competition changed the offers you receive?

A lot has changed. I was approached by Fox Television to shoot for a show called Laughs. I've been doing lots of shows in India and my corporate brand Laugh Your Assets Off is doing well, too. But it doesn't end with a title for me. I am interested in polishing my craft. I do comedy for selfish reasons.

Comedians often say their parents weren't thrilled at their career choice. Did you have a similar experience?

One of my longest running jokes is that my mum called me up one day and said: “Beta [son], what are you doing with your life? Your father and brother are bankers and your are doing comedy. Do you know people are laughing at you?”

You’ve had a lot of celebrities attend your shows. Anyone you’ve particularly enjoyed performing for?

Shah Rukh Khan was in Dubai when I was hosting an event. We had an improv moment and a lot of audience members came up to me and said it felt like I was hosting an awards show with him. I do a good SRK impression, as well, though I couldn’t in front of him. He came backstage, hugged me and said I was really funny.

What else are you working on?

I’ve relocated to Mumbai for now because I’ve signed a film and am writing for it as well. It’s a comedy and I’m playing a don.

• Desi Invasion is on Saturday at Skydive Dubai from 8pm, doors open at 6pm. Tickets cost from Dh125 at www.dubaicomedyfest.ae