Indian audiences are sharp & tuned in, says Russell Peters

Funnyman Russell Peters tells us about his upcoming shows in India and who should play him in a movie:

You're famous. Why title your show ' Almost Famous'?

I'm famous to my fans. There are different levels of fame. There are people who can't even leave their homes or just go to a movie. I'm pretty happy with mine. I get to live a very normal life when I'm not performing.

The tour's not called 'Almost Successful'. People mistake fame and success. We live in a time when there are just 'famous people' but they are not successful.

Who inspired you to get into comedy?

You don't choose comedy, comedy chooses you. My cousin suggested I try it and I just went from there. I was terrible when I started, but I got a laugh or two and that was enough for me. Twenty-six years later, I think it's worked out okay.

What inspires your jokes and which single person has been your major inspiration for your material?

Life inspires my jokes. But if you want to put your finger on it, my family and more specifically my father.

Is Russell Peters always funny — is he never not "on"?

I'm not so much 'not on', I'm just a little less on than I am onstage. I'm not like superserious or dark or anything like that. I'm pretty close to the guy you see onstage.

If someone could play you in a movie — who would you pick?

Angelina Jolie.

You talk about everything and often joke about race — do you think that people are becoming more open to humour or are many still getting offended?

There's always someone who's going to get offended. I've seen people laugh at everyone that I talk about, until I talk about them or their community. Then they get offended. If you take yourself or your culture too seriously, don't see my show.

Indian or Canadian — which do you associate yourself with more?

Canadian. I was born there and grew up there. It's impossible for me to be anything else.

What can audiences expect from your shows in Mumbai and Delhi?

They can expect the same thing that the rest of the world is expecting: laughter.

What do you think of the audience in India?

They are great. I always get asked about the Indian audiences by people in the States and I tell them how sharp and tuned in they are.

Have you checked out any Indian comics in India?

Papa CJ, Tanmay Bhat

*Peters will be in India as part of the Stage 42 festival.*

Word associations

* Billionaire – Oprah

* Panache – Pancake (Panache looked like Pancake when I first read it, sorry)

* Modi – Sleep Mode

* Start up – Turn off

* 2015 – Almost Famous World Tour

* India – Motherland