What is your birthdate?
September 29th.
What star sign are you?
Libra
Are you typical of your sign?
Yes. I don’t judge people. I treat everyone equally. Nobody is particularly special. I don’t care what you do. You get back what you give to me. I’m nice or rude depending on how you treat me. Kids or uncles are treated the same. I hate judgemental people. Basically I’m a big ass flirt. All Libras are flirts.
Background?
Anglo-Indian. My mom’s from Calcutta. My dad is from Bombay, raised in Burhanpur. I was born in Toronto.
Were you a funny kid?
Yes, I think so. I would listen to comedy records and just recite them to people, and they would think I’m funny because they didn’t know this wasn’t my material. “Wow, you’re f—–d, they’d say. And I’d say, “Yeah, I am.”
When did you discover you had the knack for tickling the funny bone?
My friends knew I was funny. To me the class clown was never funny. I was never the class clown. I was the cool guy. People would laugh at the class clown, and I would have just thought of ten funnier things to have said instead.
What kind of guy were you in school?
In grades 11 and 12, I was seen as a funny guy. Then I changed schools, which was a different atmosphere, a tougher school. I started boxing. My confidence went up, and I was more assertive with it. I didn’t care if people didn’t find me funny, I would just knock them out.
When you first pursued the mainstream comedy market, were there any other East Indians chasing this dream?
Zero. I was the first one. November 22nd or 23rd of 1989 was the first time I went on stage. Every reason my dad said I couldn’t do this, was every reason I could do it. For example, my dad would say, “There are no Indians in this business.” I would say, “That’s why I’ll make it.” He would say, “They won’t understand you.” I would say, “That’s why I’ll make it” I was the first guy who couldn’t be compared to anybody else.
How did you pay your bills?
DJing. DJ Russell was down with Sunshine’s crew. We released a tape called Ariba. Sunshine did Side A, I did Side B. I did the Choli Kay Pichay remix with Dr. Dre’s, Nothing but a G Thing. A wicked mix. DJing started at 15, and I also started to breakdance and go to competitions. When breakdancing died in the 80s, I still loved hip hop. In ’85 I learned to cut, scratch and mix. I got turntables because I loved hip hop and the only place to hear it now was if I were to play it. I also would work at shoe stores in the daytime to make money….Aldo, Pegabo, Aggie’s, and DJ at night and on weekends. Eventually stand-up outweighed DJing. In 1992, I had to sell my turntables to make a car payment for a Saturn. How sad is that.
Describe your first stand-up experience?
I had never been on stage or talked into a microphone before that moment. I just turned 19. Before it was just in front of friends, with people walking around, the TV on in the background. But this time, all attention was on me. There was silence. No one knew me, I had to prove myself. Picture a skinny brown kid in bell-bottoms.
How did it make you feel?
I was scared as hell, and my mouth went dry. I was on for two minutes. I got laughs and got off stage. I relate everything to boxing: hit them, knock them down, quit the fight now. I was supposed to be on for five minutes. I still go to amateur nights to see what new kids are doing.
What was your worst experience?
The first time I got booed off stage. It was in 1993, opening for The Far Side at the Opera House, a hot rap group at the time (Passing Me By). I was so excited that I was on the bill, me, Ace Is Bass, and The Far Side. I was on a roll then, doing really well, filling all the clubs. I was riding high, feeling really good about myself. I did the hip hop show because I was a big fan; I grew up on this stuff. I felt like I was going to win my people over. I got on stage, went about it all wrong, and got booed off stage. I wanted to cry. My mouth went dry. My brother was there. I felt like 10 pounds of s—t in a five-pound bag.
What could you have done differently?
Now I could take that audience, no problem. I would have approached them differently. I would not have come out trying to win them over. You cannot come out on a hip hop show and say, “Hey, how’s everyone doing?” You know what I mean? Instead you say, “Shut the f—k up – I’m trying to talk to you.” You just have to be real, and I was trying to be the “comedian”.
Do you think that’s why you’ve lasted so long, because you get out there and quickly figure out what the crowd’s all about, even though the material is the same?
Yup, learn how to handle different experiences, just like boxing. You only can keep winning if you adapt to the guy you are fighting. If you have just one style of fighting, all somebody has to do is study a tape of you, and then they’ll beat you. You have to be able to change it up. You have to make yourself unbeatable.
And you think versatility does this?
Absolutely. The more experiences, places you go and see, the more understanding of different things, the better you’ll be. You won’t look at anything side-faced. You’ll understand why things are the way they are.
What’s your best experience?
Hosting the Miss Nude UK Pageant last year in England. This was mainstream, not just brown. I have a talk show on BBC2. I don’t know what night, but it’s on Network East, late, at 11:20 pm. Zaira Karim, a girl I had on the first season as a guest, talked about putting on the first nudie pageant. I said jokingly, “Do you need any judges?” She said, “No.” Her mum saw the show, liked the way I handled it, and got her daughter to ask me to emcee it. An Ismaili-Muslim family was putting on this show. Can you believe that? I got paid to hang out with 20 nude women. They were completely stark nungee. It was the best gig ever.
How did you stay focused?
It wasn’t stand-up. I was just making little jokes, like, “Hey, I love what you’ve done with your breasts.” You know, whatever.
Have you ever experienced race or colour related brick walls?
Absolutely. Let’s be honest. A friend in a production company told me that with my popularity and talent, if I was a white guy, I would be filthy rich right now. I would be a millionaire and a superstar. I’m not getting any further because I’m Indian. Sadly, people who run the industry can’t understand what all the hoopla is about. The Comedy Network is having its fifth anniversary party. I had the highest rated stand-up special on the show. It is the most repeated and watched. I am the most recognized comedian in this country walking down the street, but I’m not invited to the party.
Does it bother you that race is an issue in your industry?
Let me tell you something. I can go to any town here and sell out. For example, Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal, Mississauga…sounds like I’m tooting my own horn, but that’s just the fact of it. No other comedian in this country can do that, except maybe Mike Bullard, but he has a TV show on every day. He’s got that power behind him. I’ve just got my words and my skill. I’m not saying I am the funniest comedian in the country. There are others, but they don’t have what it takes to bring the people in. I equal dollars to these comedy clubs, and they recognize that now. It bothers me, because the guys who put on these shows couldn’t sell out anywhere.
How does the comedian’s career move forward? Is it agent related?
It’s somewhat agent related. The problem in Canada is that there are no good publicity companies. Nobody can create a good PR buzz here. The States, they are awesome at it. If there’s one thing they know how to do, it’s sell something. They can sell s—t sandwiches to guys that don’t eat bread. I tell the people at the networks, “Don’t you get it, I equal money?” They say, “We don’t want an Indian program.” It makes me laugh, because I don’t want an Indian program either. Just put me on TV, and people will tune in. It doesn’t have to be about us. Why can’t we just make a program for everybody? Indian people will tune in regardless.
Have you ever thought about going to the States?
Yes, I’m getting ready for it. I’m doing a sitcom right now.
What have you done to try and knock down these walls?
It’s a long, hard process. For me, I’m not in it for the quick return. A guy that’s fighting for two years and wins a title is going to lose a title in his first defense. A guy that’s been fighting for twelve years, is going to win first defense, and hang on to the title because he’s been through the struggle to not have it. So for me it’s not a question of never making it. For me it’s just going to take longer, and I’m fine with that. It doesn’t bother me because for every guy who gets it quicker than me, I’m going to hang on to it five times longer. It’s a longevity thing for me. I’m going to learn from everyone’s mistake, so when my time comes, I don’t f—k it up.
Have you given up on Canada?
Nope, I think we can actually create something fantastic in this country. Whereas some of the other comics will go on stage and say, “I’m a Canadian entertainer, which means I have a job during the day.” I don’t think it needs to be that way. I’m a Canadian entertainer, and I don’t have a day job. You’re in my house right now, does it look like I’m not doing well?
What keeps you going?
Knowing that I have it. Again, I’ll use the boxing analogy. I’ve been knocked down a couple of times in this game, but I’ve gotten back up. I’m ready to keep fighting, and I’m ready to fight twice as hard. That’s what keeps me going. I’m on a crusade to set things straight for Indian people. I feel like I’ve put this thing on myself, I want Indian people to be represented properly in the media. I get offered acting roles, but they want an Indian accent. It just takes away your artistic integrity. I will not do the accent in an acting role just to make some white guy happy because he thinks that’s how we should sound. F—k that. I don’t have an Indian accent, you don’t have an Indian accent, why do they always ask for one? I will be the guy who helped open that door for others to be able to come through and do this. For the people coming up now, it will be easier for them.
Highlights of your career?
I was nominated for a Gemini Award (four times) for the Comics show, but I didn’t win.
So you’re currently taping a Canadian TV serial, tell us a little bit about it.
I am in the first Black-Canadian sitcom in history. It’s called Lord, Have Mercy. It’s the only sitcom in production in Canada right now. I’m the Indian guy in the show. I play the lead guy’s best friend. We grew up together, and now we work at Cheapie Car Rentals together. Another non-black in this show is Gary Farmer from The Score. He’s an awesome actor and person. There is some really good talent on the show. The pilot was shot last year on the same night as the MyBindi Awards. I had to put my career first, no disrespect to MyBindi or my people. If anyone is holding any grudges, please don’t because in the long run it’s going to benefit everybody.
Tell me a little bit about your character, what’s his name?
My character’s name is Ryan Verma. Basically, they wrote him around me. He’s an Indian kid who grew up around black guys. All his friends are black. Verma has no ambition in life, and doesn’t see anything wrong with that.
How are you making this character come to life?
I reach into a part of me that’s like him. If I wasn’t doing stand-up, that’s the guy I would be anyway. I don’t have an education. I went to high school, not even a proper high school. I went to trade school, so I got less of a proper education than everybody else. I was a horrible student in school. I never went to university or college. It wasn’t for me. I’m fine today.
When and where can we see it?
It’s going to be on Vision TV. It’s going to be aired across the country starting in February. The executive producer of the show is Paul Dasilva, who is Anglo-Indian as well. I can’t believe that CBC, BBS, CTV and Global never got on board.
In your world, is the cup half full or half empty?
Half full, I’m not a pessimist. I refuse to be.
Let’s talk about man’s favourite subject — sex. How old were you when your machinery first got lubed?
Eighteen.
What was the experience like?
I had no clue what I was doing.
Now, based on your experience, are you a driver or do you like to be driven?
I’m a driver.
Are you a boobs or a butt guy?
Ummm, butt. You can get boobs made, but you can’t get an ass made. You can’t get ass plants, right?
What’s your fantasy?
Two chicks (your basic guy fantasy), and me.
If you had the pick of celebs to engage in your fantasy, who would they be?
Salma Hayek and Halle Berry. Salma and Halle, together they’d be Sally. Sally Barrek.
Favourite bedroom line
Hey, come upstairs, I have something ‘to show you!’
Describe Russell Peters
Unpredictable. Non-judgemental. Confusing. Fair. Selfish and Generous. Honest (about myself at least)
The underlying theme of your comedy has a lot of political undertones in it. Why do you choose to write like this?
The way I write is the way it is. You can’t get mad. If what I’m saying is true, you can’t get mad or have a problem with it. If you do, you have a problem with reality. That’s not my problem. That’s your problem, and you can’t dispute the truth. I don’t want holes in my act. I want it to be real. Comedy comes from reality. Reality is funny. People drink, smoke and take drugs. I love reality. I get off on reality. The more f—-d up the situation is, the better it is for me. If I’m going to talk about someone’s race, I’m going to make sure it’s accurate. If I’m going to do an impression of someone, I’m going to make it sound like that person. I don’t want to insult people by not doing it right. If I can’t do the accent right, I’m not going to do it.
Would you say you’re successful?
Let’s go with the places where I have fan bases: England, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa and Trinidad (I do once a year, with 20,000 in a stadium gig). I don’t know many guys doing stand-up who will ever get that opportunity in their lives. I’m blessed. I’m doing a one-man show in South Africa for three weeks (around November 16 – December 10). When I started doing stand-up, I thought I’d make it big in Canada and get out. People say, “Why haven’t you gone to the States yet. Do you know how much bigger this world is?” I’m closing in on it. I want to make sure I have the chops for it, that I’ve experienced every type of different avenue. It helps you relate to people.
One last question. After 13 years of stand-up, what are your future aspirations?
Eventually, I want to become a major player in Hollywood and not recognized as, you know, the character actor who just plays roles, but preferably a star with comedy and then work it from there.
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First published in Winter 2002/2003 Issue, www.anokhimedia.com
