He wanted to build a business and ended up building punchlines, which, according to Indian stand-up comedian Vikas Kush Sharma, was his best entrepreneurial decision! The artist who today leads sold-out shows says, “comedy found me on the job.” In a candid conversation with us, Vikas Kush Sharma shares his journey of becoming a stand-up comedian, the fears that give an artist chills, and the tricks that help him win the crowd.
Vikas Kush Sharma on how he fell for comedy
“Honestly, I didn’t fall for it; I tripped into it and decided to own the fall. I’m an entrepreneur first, and comedy found me on the job. We’d started Guftagu Comedy Club out of Guftagu Cafe, and a few of the comics weren’t exactly treating the stage like it mattered. The problem was, the tickets had Guftagu’s name on them, which meant the audience’s disappointment also had my name on it,” he says.
“So I did what any founder does when a department underperforms: I showed up and did it myself. If people are paying for a night out, the least I owe them is their money’s worth — and a little extra. Turns out, “fixing my own show” became the show. Best business decision I’ve made, and the only one where the KPI is laughter,” adds Vikas.
Vikas feels he has found his true love, the stage
In the conversation, when we asked Vikas if he still feels nervous, he had the most heartfelt reply. He says, “Not even a little. Honestly, I think I've found my true love, and it's the stage — that's it. It doesn't make me nervous; it makes me feel special. Because think about what's actually happening: in front of you is a room full of people who love you, who paid money and bought tickets to see you live, who are giving you their precious time, and who'll wait around afterwards just for a photo to keep as a memory. How is that supposed to make you nervous? It's a blessing from God.”
He adds that he takes this as a blessing and enjoys every bit of it. “I don't take it lightly — there are days I do three back-to-back houseful shows, same evening, three packed rooms, no breather in between. By the end, it's not my nerve that gives out, it's my throat. Literally. The voice packs up before the passion does, because what I'm asking my body to do on those days isn't even humanly possible — and I still go out and do it. That's not nervousness, my friend, that's love. When you feel this way about the work, the stage stops being a place you're scared of and becomes the only place you actually want to be. The crowd isn't a test I'm sweating over — it's the best part of my day. Three times over, if I'm lucky,” he explains/
What is the worst fear for a stand-up comedian?
As we dug deeper into the conversation, the subject of fear came up. So what is the worst fear for a stand-up comedian? He replies, “For most comedians, the nightmare is the silence — that one joke that lands like a wet towel, and suddenly the entire room remembers it has somewhere else to be. Me? I take a leaf out of Salman Khan's book — he's been a bit of a role model for me on that front. The man has been counted out a hundred times, and every single time he walks back in with that same unbothered, shirt-optional, "main hoon na" energy. That's the mindset I bring to a stage. So my worst fear isn't the crowd not laughing; it's running out of stage before I run out of things to say. The day I stop being hungry for the next show — that's the only thing that should scare a performer. Bombing is just feedback. Comfort is the real killer.”
Vikas Kush Sharma shares tips for handling a tough crowd
“Onee: be yourself — annoyingly, that’s the whole trick. Two: stop hiding behind technique. Technique is overrated. It didn’t make Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Sachin, or Dhoni. Look at Dhoni’s textbook — forget it. But the talent and the nerve? Untouchable. Three: back the talent you actually have instead of borrowing someone else’s. And four: remember a “tough crowd” usually just wants to be won over — they’re not the enemy, they’re the boss fight. Beat the level, don’t blame the controller.”
What's next for Vikas Kush Sharma
If you are also wondering what is next on Vikas Kush Sharma’s plate, then here is what the artist has to say, “Quite a lot, actually — and honestly, the India tour never really stops. I've just wrapped my fourth tour, and I'm already rolling into the fifth.”
“We've crossed 30,000 tickets sold so far, which still makes me grin every time I say it. A big reason for that repeat audience is the format of my show, half crowd work, half fresh material every time. So no two nights are ever the same, which means people keep coming back to see what happens next. On top of that, we're taking the show internationally — a US and Canada tour kicking off on the 16th of June. And I'm building something I'm genuinely excited about: a dedicated creative show called Bin Bole Bol — less "another set," more a proper experience. So yes: passport's ready, calendar's full, and the plate is officially overflowing. Exactly how I like it,” he concludes.
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