An Interview With Comedian Inder Manocha

Submitted by India Week on Tue 06/03/12

As part of India Week we interviewed the brilliant comedian Inder Manocha about his heritage and how he got in to stand-up:

Tell us about your Indian and British heritage?

My parents are from India, although my mother's background is Iranian. I was born in London and have been to India once, to visit the Baha'i Lotus Temple in New Delhi. I have inherited more 'Indianness' than I probably realise. Even though I don't speak any of the languages, I feel very Indian sometimes: my views on family, the way I can express myself, my mannerisms. But I can also be very English.

What was it like being a student at Oxford University?

This was Oxford in the late 80s. I was one of very few ethnic minority students. In fact I was a bit exotic. I went back recently to do a show and it was very different. Oxford was fine but a bit of a museum. A very traditional approach to my course (I studied modern history). I did a few plays and loved that. That kept me going.

How did you get into the world of comedy and acting?

By accident. I was training as a psychotherapist, was unhappy with that, left it and decided to write screenplays. But I had no idea what to write. Someone said have ago at stand-up, so I did. I'd not seen much before. So it was more or less out of the blue. I'd done a bit of performing - non-professionally - just before, after many years, and I felt very comfortable. So I thought why not? I wanted to be an actor after university but didn't pursue it. But years later, once I started stand-up, I gave it a go. There are also now more roles for British- Asians than there were in 1989. But I still get offered stereotypical parts. Terrorist/GP seems to be my speciality.

What can the British learn from Indian Culture?

Enterprise. Hard work. Indians are fantastic swots.

Do you have an Indian Joke we can use for India Week?

Come and see one of my gigs. There you go: that's Indian enterprise for you.

To find out more about Inder check out his profile here.