Here’s a stand-up comedian who does his act in four different languages. “They are English, Hindi, Java and C++,” says Vipul Goyal with a straight face. An IIT-turned-stand-up comedian, Vipul worked as a retail analyst for six months before he decided to follow his heart and make people laugh. “I used to do some comedy in college,” recalls Vipul while in the city for a show at the State Art Gallery.
His stand-up comedian journey began in 2008. “It was a calculated risk and I was confident as I had the IIT brand with me.
I knew if it doesn’t work out, I can go back to my job,” he remembers. The few auditions he took part were encouraging. “I didn’t make much money but it was a talent check. I knew I had talent and I could continue,” he smiles.
His biggest influence is stand-up comedian Raju Srivastava of Laughter Challenge fame. “I would watch his videos and observe,” he says. Stage has been a learning experience for him. “When you make comedy out of observations, it is enjoyed by all. I don’t crack jokes on word play as it becomes language specific,” he says.
Vipul loves being on stage and make people laugh. Off stage he is like any other regular guy and tries to be in his element only with his friends. “I am more comfortable with them,” he smiles. His shows for colleges are filled with masti . “At corporate events, the setting is more formal. The employees are seen frequently looking at their CEO and checking whether he liked a joke and laughing at it or not. Youngsters are very enthusiastic and performers enjoy it,” he says.
From Bollywood and cricket to advertisements… Vipul loves cracking jokes on a variety of topics.
He says there has been an over exposure of stand-up comedy in Hindi in mainstream. “English is cool.
People are bored of silly jokes and want their jokes to have some intellect and be stimulating,” he says.
Vipul enjoys performing in Hyderabad, thanks to a cosmopolitan audience. “It is a very Hinglish crowd and it is exciting to do comedy in Hindi and English. It is fun performing here,” he says on a parting note.
