TG: The name of your show is 'My baby thinks I'm funny'. Why do you think your son finds you funny?
Because someone has to. My son is 18 months old so, his tastes haven't evolved yet. Once he knows better he may realise that his dad is an idiot. Currently, just making faces, weird voices and needlessly jumping around entertains him for hours. Which oddly is precisely why people find me funny on stage.
TG: Kids weren't exactly your favorite people earlier. What changed when your own son was born?
A lot of parents don't like kids - they like their kid. I thought I was that. But, I think when you have a kid, it changes perceptions. Because you have empathy for kids. So, now I love most kids, as long as they aren't screaming their head off - which my son does too.
TG: Have you performed your shows in front of your son as yet? What was his reaction?
He saw the first show I did of this show. And, my wife was holding him and he kept laughing saying, 'Papa, Papa'. I'm sure he has no idea what the hell I was doing on stage trying to entertain 700 people but, he found it funny that this could be a job.
TG: What's the strangest piece of parenting advice you've got
Most parenting advice is usually nuts. We got advice on how to have sex to create a girl - because, my wife and me wanted a girl - and the amount of weird stuff people tell you is nuts! Positions, fruits, diets - from 60 year old aunties is just creepy.
TG:Your take on parenting help books out there?
My wife has only been reading those books for about three years. It's insane. She's obsessed with one book - being a mother is a religion. Which explains why she's so good at it. Some of it is great, some of it is nuts. Of course there's a lot of contradictions and kids in generally are different so, you got to know what works for them.
TG:A lot of people watch new parents handling their kids and swear they will be cooler than that with their own. And then they go do the exact same thing. Any such experiences?
Always. Exact same thing. I have a set on exactly this. Disciplining a crying baby is hard work. Especially on a plane. Half the time I feel like traveling with my son on a plane is like a hostage situation. I now empathise with parents that suffer similarly.
TG: Any observations about life that you would like to share with your son one day.
I don't think I can share anything beyond explaining to him what a car, bus, bike, banana, monkey, nursery rhymes are. Right now the only observation I can give him is being there.
TG: If your son one day comes up to you and says he wants to be a stand up comedian too, what would your advice be?
If it makes him happy, why not? However, I find it highly unlikely. I want my son to be a Badminton player. And, like an Indian parent - that's my engineering job for him. Him being a sportsperson. I'm just joking though - anything that makes him happy and consumes him is good.
TG: Any advice for other new parents or to-be parents?
Watch my show and get the best advice ever. Or, at least get empathy about the situation we find ourselves in.
