BY VEENA RAO
Born and raised in Kolkata before making Mumbai his home, Anirban Dasgupta has emerged as one of India’s sharpest comic voices, blending observational humor with intelligent storytelling and a dry, understated delivery. A mechanical engineer who traded a corporate sales career for the uncertainty of stand-up, Dasgupta helped build Kolkata’s fledgling comedy scene before moving to Mumbai, where he found a wider audience as both a performer and writer. His acclaimed Amazon Prime Video stand-up special Take It Easy and the dark comedy series Afsos, which he co-created, established him as a comedian equally at home on stage and in the writers’ room.
Now a familiar face at international festivals, Dasgupta continues to reinvent the live comedy experience. His latest show, Player, imagines stand-up as a sporting contest, complete with yellow cards, halftime pep talks, and an audience that doesn’t just watch the action—it helps decide the outcome.
Ahead of his July 17 performance in Atlanta, Dasgupta spoke with NRI Pulse about turning comedy into a game, bringing his love of sports to the stage, parenting as unexpected material, and why he is playing for gold in Atlanta.
Your show is called Player. At what point did you decide comedy isn’t just an art form—it is a competitive sport?
For the longest time, I wanted to integrate my love for sports into my comedy. Finally, with this show, I feel I have achieved it– where a comedy show is turned into an immersive sporting duel with yellow cards, shirt swaps, half-time pep talks, and a scoreboard that leads to a unique experience for both me and the audience. The core idea of the show is we are all playing at some level—either at home, or at work, or on the road—so why not in a comedy show?
You dreamed of becoming a sportsperson, but life made you a comedian instead. Be honest—which career has more injuries?
Ha ha ha, comedy is a contact sport in India and the source of several injuries, especially mental.
You are from Kolkata—a city that treats football almost like a religion. With the World Cup in full swing, if comedy were football, who would be your Messi and your Ronaldo?
Comedy and football are noble arts. My Messi would be Norm Macdonald, the GOAT. As for Ronaldo, I’d say Kevin Hart. He’s great but probably not my thing. I am more of the Brazilian Ronaldo guy, who would be George Carlin.
Are there jokes that people back home might find hilarious—but would not work in the U.S.? Do you think of new jokes when you travel out of the country?
This show is completely universal. I always want to write shows that work equally well in Andheri or Atlanta without changing anything. That said, I do have some extra jokes for U.S. audiences, and I’m quite excited to perform them.
You once joked, “People who seek validation never give it.” Was that born from personal experience?
I did this joke for an audience of Bollywood writers and directors. Since I am a writer myself, I feel we always have a narcissistic streak, and I tried to capture it in this joke. The audience opened up to me after this joke because they thought, “Okay, this guy knows our secrets. We better laugh.”
You’re a father now. Has parenting given you much better comedy material?
Parenting has given me so much joy. In comedy, it’s given me so much to play with because I used to do stand-up about not wanting to have kids. I love this little arc that life has written. I love doing videos with her, and it’s a treat to see her grow up from the front row.
What’s the most unexpected thing an audience member has done at your show that made the show unforgettable?
One time at the Edinburgh Fringe, an Indian audience member demanded that I stop the performance within five minutes because he took offense to the material. Navigating that was too much, and it made the rest of the show unforgettable.
Finally, give Atlanta your best pre-match pep talk. Why should people come watch Player on July 17?
Atlanta, fellow Kolkata boy Leander Paes came to your city and won bronze. Thirty years later, it’s my turn to come play in Atlanta inside a comedy show. And this time I want gold. Please come and be part of this show—you’ll have a ball.
Rapid Fire With Anirban Dasgupta
Football or cricket?
Very tough. Cricket during the day and football at night.
Kolkata or Mumbai?
Right now, Mumbai.
Heckler or silent audience?
Heckler.
Corporate show or college fest?
Corporate show, due to my age. 😄
Standing ovation or viral clip?
Probably a viral clip.
One comedian you’d happily open for?
Too many.
One person you’d never roast?
Sourav Ganguly.
One word for Atlanta audiences—before you’ve even met them?
Come out to play! You are in for a ride.
