- 7 months ago
The top focus of this episode of 5 Live is the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, India's richest civic body, campaigning for which concluded on Tuesday.
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00:00Hello and welcome, I'm Sodal Mayer Utra Kapoor. This is 5 Live. On the program, we've been talking about clean air, clean water, some basic civil rights and Mumbai, if you're watching us, now is the time for you to actually exercise that power, exercise that right to vote and actually vote in a political party that will fight for your civic rights as well.
00:21That's the focus here on the program today as we look at the BMC elections, we've got a funny take as well. We'll talk to some Mumbaikers to understand, is their issue really matching up with what the politicians are saying? Is there a mismatch there or is it actually in sync? All of that and more, first up, the headlines.
00:40It's a big India today impact. Union government directs quick commerce platforms like Vinkit, Zepto, Swiggy to drop the 10-minute delivery promise and branding. This was the number one demand of the gig workers, remember, here on 5 Live.
00:58Army chief makes a big declaration, says India was ready to launch ground operations if Pakistan escalated tensions during Operation Sindhu.
01:10Congress MP Rahul Gandhi comes out in support of Jan and Ayagan amid the film's tussle with the censor board, says attempt to block the movie and attack on Tamil culture and prime minister's attempts to suppress their voice.
01:25Allies at war in Tamil Nadu state congress unit demands ban on Parashakti, says it distorts historic facts and tarnishes the party's image.
01:34Meanwhile, another South Indian film lands into trouble.
01:40Yash Tara toxic faces eyed over alleged intimate anti-women scenes.
01:46Karnataka women panel now asks censor board to look into the complaints.
01:52Political bickering escalates on the last day of the BMC poll campaign.
01:56Chief Minister Fadnavis hits out at Thakres for Rasmalai Lungi jibes at BJP and Annamalai.
02:02Unrest in Iran reaches a tipping point.
02:07More than 2,000 people killed in protests.
02:10U.S. activity on the borders increase.
02:16Meanwhile, Trump tariff tyranny continues.
02:19The U.S. president announces 25% tariff on any nation that does business with Iran.
02:24Another red day on the Dalal street.
02:29Meanwhile, CEN6 ends the day at 250 points down after brief recovery on Monday.
02:38And Bangladesh adamant on not visiting India for T20 World Cup.
02:42The BCB once again informs the ICC that it wants its matches to be played outside India for security reasons.
02:55Mumbai is voting, like we said, for India's richest civic body as institutes that control a budget bigger than several countries put together.
03:04But this election comes after more than three years.
03:07Without an election, an elected municipal council that is, in a period marked by diluted accountability, growing frustration on the ground as well.
03:16As campaigning ends, the political focus has been on alliances, ideologies, big ticket promises.
03:22But what's missing?
03:24What's missing from the conversation is what millions of Mumbaikas deal with every single day.
03:29Basic civic services, neighborhood safety, roads, water, sanitation, air.
03:34As the city prepares to vote, a large question looms.
03:38Are civic elections being fought by civic elections or like civic elections at all?
03:44We went across Mumbai to understand what voters are really saying, but what they are getting in return from politicians.
03:52Take a look.
03:55The BMC is India's richest civic body, with a budget that rivals even some countries.
04:01Yet for more than three years, Mumbai's civic administration has been headless.
04:08No elected body, diluted accountability, and little public oversight.
04:17Now on Thursday, elections to the civic body will finally take place.
04:21But on the streets of Mumbai, the election pitch is missing the point.
04:28The campaign has centred on alliances, ideology, Marathi Manus, and grand promises of investment.
04:35Mumbaikas, however, are asking a simple question.
04:39Who will fix our everyday problems?
04:41In Lokhandwala, a density populated residential area, people say civic neglect has become routine.
04:56There's no fire station nearby, with erratic water supply, garbage piling up on the roads,
05:02and even a lack of designated space for pigeon feeding.
05:08Our ward, K-West, which has so many municipal wards, we are the third highest property taxpayer to Mumbai city.
05:16So we have demanded that we should get our due for the tax that we are paying to the Mumbai municipality.
05:21I feel, you know, it will get better, but I think the vision also has to be there,
05:25that when you make a concrete road, the utilities below, like water pipelines, sewage lines,
05:29also has to be made broader, and the pipeline should be changed, which is absent currently.
05:35Across the city, potholes remain Mumbai's deadliest civic failure, claiming lives year after year.
05:43Citizens like Dada Rao Bilhore are filling the gap left by the system,
05:47because he does not want anyone to go to the pain that he did.
05:51His 16-year-old son lost his life to this menace in 2015,
05:57and since then, Dada Rao Bilhore has become the pothole Dada.
06:03Since I started this year, I started this year.
06:08And I'm seeing that we have been in Mumbai for 10 years.
06:13Three chief ministers and ministeries came and went,
06:17and now we are on the road today.
06:19As Mumbai votes, the real mandate from the ground is clear.
06:38Less politics, more governance.
06:40If one looks at BMC's budgets and the political promises which are being made this election,
06:51somewhere it feels that having a lot of money has become one of the problems for the BMC.
06:58There is a lot of attractions to invest in capital expenditures and invest in projects which cost crores of rupees.
07:09At the same time, basic necessities which will not lead to profit for corporates are not being looked after.
07:17With camera person, Cyprus, Patil Mustafa Shek for India Today.
07:21All right, last day of campaigning over there, and you know how it will actually go.
07:29Let's cut across to our reporters now.
07:31Ritwik and Mustafa now join us for more on this.
07:34Ritwik, let me come to you first.
07:36Help me understand what exactly is the mood on the ground at the moment.
07:40Are you seeing people frustrated?
07:43Are you seeing people saying,
07:45Absolutely, we all know that Mumbai, the international capital of the nation and also the richest civic body.
08:00But despite of the basic civic issues like good roads, pothole-free roads, unhindered water supply, electricity, traffic jam,
08:11such basic civic issues were not in the center of the campaign.
08:16But there were, you know, a political showdown completely witnessed during this whole campaign of BMC elections.
08:26Be it from Thakre brothers, Raj Thakre and Uddhav Thakre or Eknach Shinde, Shiv Sena or BJP Alliance.
08:34So, it was Marathi versus non-Marathi or it was Muslim versus Hindu or it was about Rohingyas and Bangladeshis being removed out of the city.
08:47But the real issues somehow were not at the center of the talk.
08:51And it was highly political meltdown which was seen during the campaign just a few minutes ago.
08:57Not just that, Ritwik, if I may add, it was about Shettis versus non-Shettis as well.
09:02We saw the older slogan of Baal Sahib Thakre actually come back and being used by Raj Thakre as well.
09:09The entire really crass lungi-pungi remark as well over there.
09:12But my colleague Mustafa is also standing by with some residents that he's got with him today.
09:16Mustafa, over to you.
09:17I want to understand, again, like I said, what's the mood like?
09:20A, are they all going to vote?
09:22Number one.
09:23B, I want to understand what is the issue that they will vote on.
09:26Yes, of course, they are going to vote.
09:34There are residents of Santa Cruz, Benda, with me.
09:37And so what have been the issues which you will be voting on when you vote this election?
09:42There are plenty of issues.
09:43I am from Santa Cruz.
09:44There are plenty of issues which need to be addressed, particularly AQI, which is choking most of the citizens in this area.
09:51Building activity is really high and permitted time is from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
09:57This is extremely unfair for the people who are particularly old and unwell.
10:03So I would only request that the decibel limits should be adhered to during the daytime, afternoon hours particularly.
10:11And the timing should be reduced from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. only.
10:15Sir, what would be your issue while you vote?
10:17I want to add to that, the AQI is high because a lot of the dust and the debris is left on the road unclear.
10:25This should be brushed and cleaned.
10:27The road should be cleaned.
10:29I have one other point to make, please.
10:31All the projects that you take up, the beautification, it's all very well.
10:35It adds to the feel-good factor.
10:37But please take the residents into confidence before you start any project.
10:43One more residents we have, roads have been a big issue.
10:45Thousands of crores have been spent.
10:47Will that be an issue when you vote?
10:49Yes, so roads are being concretized.
10:52There are a lot of roads which are under construction.
10:54What is basically lacking is supervision.
10:58Because of lack of supervision, we do not have the utilities properly laid out.
11:02We have damages to the water pipeline, gas pipeline every second day.
11:07We just get our message sometimes.
11:08Sometimes we don't even get a message.
11:09Three years without corporators, now finally an elected body.
11:13How do you look at it?
11:14I certainly feel that the elected body is going to be welcome.
11:17That way they can coordinate between the residents as well as the administration.
11:22We've had ups and downs in the last three years.
11:24But I'm sure with them it's going to be easier.
11:27Especially since residents want to come forward and work with them.
11:29And to end with, what about our furry friends, whether pets, strays will be a thing for you when you vote?
11:37Where are you from?
11:39Yeah, animal welfare organizations and urban limits definitely need the municipal corporation support
11:43to deal with the population, to deal with critical care, hospitalization, diagnostic facilities,
11:47which right now falls on NGOs and animal welfare organizations, keeping public health and hygiene sanitation in mind.
11:54So you can see that at 360 view we have taken here, residents across ages,
12:00be it air quality, beautification projects, money being spent but not being organized,
12:04roads being made but again dug up for the utilities.
12:07So they are hoping that these are policies, concerns which once they get elected body,
12:11they can consult their corporator and get the work done back to you.
12:17All right Mustafa, they're getting a view of what people really care about.
12:21Very, very far away from what the politicians are actually talking about.
12:24But good luck Mumbai as you go down to vote in just about 24 hours from now.
12:29Thank you Mustafa for joining us with all those residents.
12:32Meanwhile, talking about Mumbai, let's cut across to somebody who's as Mumbai as Mumbai can get.
12:39Joining me next is Cyrus Brocha.
12:42He's been the funny man, he's been the news man, he's been doing a lot of, you know, podcasting of late.
12:49But I want to start by asking you Cyrus, what an election from loongi, poongi to rasmalai.
12:58God knows what we are discussing when the real issues on the ground are just not featuring in any of the,
13:04you know, political slogans or even campaigning.
13:08What are you feeling at the moment as a Mumbai car?
13:13Yeah, largely in Malbar Hill, we try to avoid the campaign because we are the rich and the elite and, you know,
13:18we're not really suffering.
13:20So we try and just put the AC as loud as possible.
13:22Put your Netflix on and make sure you don't hear what's going on downstairs and live in peace.
13:27No, but you're right.
13:28I like your opening remarks, which were about certain slurs,
13:32which are slurs that appear to be slurs for certain communities, etc.
13:37So a lot of that name calling has hijacked the campaign a little bit, as far as I'm concerned.
13:42Also more interesting is we're not sure which party alliance is being true to itself.
13:46In the party alliances, there have been new alliances where they've gone back to old alliances
13:51in spite of still being in the new alliance.
13:52So there's a lot of confusion going around here and that's made it like a soap opera.
13:57So exactly what you said about the issues and all, that's gone to the backseat.
14:01No one's really looking at that.
14:02It's more like everybody's watching.
14:02Can you believe it?
14:03X is with Y, even though they were first with X, they're back with Y.
14:07You know, it's all that.
14:08So, yeah, very interesting for all of us to see.
14:11And of course, the greatest thing of being part of a democracy in India
14:15is that every time this happens, we're the only country in the world,
14:18a democratic country in the world.
14:19Therefore, whatever reason, there's a dry day.
14:22But you speak about soap opera.
14:25Tell me, if BMC elections are a movie, which movie do you think it would be?
14:32That's a very good question.
14:34I would go with 12 Angry Men if I was looking at Hollywood.
14:37And if I was looking at Bollywood, I mean, there's so many interesting movies.
14:42I think what was it?
14:43Shree Charsu Beast back in the day, old one.
14:45There's so many of these slightly Jugaad films, you know,
14:48which I think this whole thing is about strategy and cunning.
14:51And if you look at it without any jaundiced eye,
14:54if you're not, suppose you're on Jalandhar watching it,
14:55so you're not involved in it, it's actually going to be great fun.
14:58Because there's just so many combinations and permutations,
15:00like a cricket match when the rain has come down
15:02and you're trying to figure out who's going to win the match in the end.
15:05Because they keep sort of changing alliances
15:07and sort of bringing people into the fold
15:09or presenting a certain face which isn't
15:12or trying to show something which is not there.
15:16So, of course, I'm trying not to be specific
15:19because you don't want any trouble from anybody
15:20depending on who wins.
15:22So, you have to be very careful.
15:23My pet peeve, Sonal is very different.
15:25My pet peeve, call it elitist, is the motorbike culture.
15:29And I only want that to stop.
15:31The ones that break the one-ways,
15:32and this includes those poor two-wheeler guys
15:33trying to earn money with deliveries.
15:36They're just driving me nuts
15:37because I believe that no chalan ever reaches a motorbike.
15:40They just break the red light
15:40while you're sitting there like an idiot.
15:42Break the one-way, drive on the pavement,
15:43do anything they want to.
15:45So, in my humble request
15:46is after all the other things I looked at
15:47from AQI to roads to metro
15:49to every little issue
15:51which is more generic for the entire public,
15:54also look at motorbikes.
15:57You're right.
15:58And maybe there is now a ruling
16:00which will sort of ease out
16:01the delivery guys issue as well.
16:03But I caught on to what you said, Cyrus,
16:04earlier about being careful about what you say.
16:08I thought Mumbai was all about being loud
16:12and also being absolutely unafraid of anybody.
16:16You're saying now Mumbaiers also have to be careful
16:18about what they say?
16:22I'll give you an example.
16:24There was a young gentleman,
16:25a non-violent man
16:26who's never hurt a fly physically,
16:28although verbally he might have
16:30slightly assaulted people.
16:32I wouldn't say his full name.
16:34His first name rhymes with Tunal
16:36and his surname rhymes with Pamra.
16:40And I mean, you know,
16:41I mean, this is a city where he was sort of,
16:43you know, attacked and pushed out of
16:45in a sense.
16:46Although the attack happened
16:47when he was not there,
16:47but that's purely logistics,
16:49which we like explain data in life.
16:52Yes, one has to be a little careful
16:53with the climate we live in.
16:54So, we are being as careful as possible.
16:56So far, so good.
16:59Cyrus, that's sad, no?
17:00That's like terribly sad.
17:02You're talking about defamations.
17:04You're talking about being attacked,
17:06all of this in the city.
17:11No, no, no, no.
17:12I think there is a sense of freedom of expression,
17:14but you have to go through the wedges
17:16and it's like a puzzle.
17:18You want to just go through all that.
17:19You weave your ways.
17:20You have to be as creative as possible.
17:22Yeah.
17:22So, but the fact of the matter is
17:24there's always a chance
17:25that someone is going to file defamation
17:26or attack you
17:27or some goons are going to come after you
17:29or even let's say institutions
17:31will come after you
17:32even though they have
17:32much more important things to do.
17:34So, that's always there.
17:36In a sense, it's like a game,
17:37but I'm not complaining.
17:41All right.
17:42Cyrus, now that you've explained it
17:43in that manner,
17:44the movie that comes to my mind,
17:45if I had to describe
17:46this election in a movie,
17:47I would probably say like
17:48Hosla Ka Ghosla
17:49or Hangover
17:50or something like that, no?
17:53Yeah, but that's not fair
17:54because you have time
17:54to think about your question.
17:56You made up the question.
17:57You have time to think
17:57about your question.
17:58You put me on the spot there.
17:59There's so many millions of movies.
18:01There's a video immediately.
18:02Yeah.
18:03Okay.
18:04So, let me say this.
18:06So, I have been a Mumbai
18:08for a short while.
18:09I loved the place.
18:12In fact, I love the people
18:13to be more specific.
18:14I hated the city.
18:15It stings.
18:16There's traffic everywhere.
18:18It's just too expensive
18:19to do anything.
18:21It just takes forever
18:22to reach somewhere.
18:23The roads are narrow.
18:25There's honking.
18:26I mean,
18:26it's just too chaotic.
18:28I'm trying to understand
18:29how are, you know,
18:31Mumbaikas dealing
18:32with this year after year.
18:33Nobody really questioning
18:34and saying,
18:35okay, here's a solution.
18:36Make it happen.
18:39This is the world
18:40we live in again
18:41that, you know,
18:41everything is not going
18:42to be solved overnight.
18:43I think motors
18:44should also aim low.
18:45It's exactly like
18:46the best thing
18:47I've ever read
18:47in a male urinal
18:48is aim low.
18:49It's the safest thing to do.
18:51So, I think
18:51our expectations
18:52are far too great.
18:54We have to bring them
18:54down a little bit.
18:55You really expect
18:56the pothole problem
18:57to be solved
18:57in our lifetime
18:58in a complete manner.
19:00I mean,
19:00that's not going to happen.
19:01Do something here.
19:02Do something there.
19:03It's something all of them
19:04are not trying.
19:05There are a lot of people
19:06who are trying
19:06but unfortunately
19:07we don't seem to get
19:08the success
19:09that the people expect
19:10which is a little bit
19:11ridiculous.
19:12We've made some progress
19:13and I'm batting for the BMC
19:15here for a minute
19:15because I have some friends.
19:17We've made some progress
19:18with the Metro definitely.
19:19We've made a lot of progress
19:20with the coastal road
19:21at least from my part
19:23of the world
19:23going to the suburbs
19:24and coming back.
19:25So, there are a few victories.
19:27Look at us as the
19:28maybe the Sri Lankan
19:30cricket team in the 90s.
19:31You know,
19:31we're slowly getting there.
19:33There may no one
19:33but we're slowly
19:34getting better and better.
19:35I'm hopeful.
19:35I'm very positive
19:36including freedom of expression.
19:38I think we look
19:39over our shoulder
19:39in other countries
19:40and there's plenty of
19:41right-leaning
19:42aggressive sort of
19:44governments across the world.
19:45So, I don't think
19:46we're in the worst position.
19:47We need to just look
19:48at where we are
19:49lower the expectations
19:50not bother too much.
19:51People will always
19:52pee on the road.
19:53People will always
19:53spit out of their cars.
19:55There will always be debris.
19:56If you have just
19:56we'll equal Delhi.
19:57We'll defeat Delhi.
19:58Don't worry Delhi.
19:59We're coming for you.
20:00We'll defeat Delhi.
20:01So, at the end of the day
20:02why are we bothered
20:03about all these things?
20:04We'll just
20:05this is the way
20:05it's going to be.
20:06Just aim low
20:06and hope for a few victories.
20:08It's a bit like marriage
20:09also if you ask me.
20:10You know,
20:10people think
20:11when they get married
20:11it's going to be
20:12the greatest thing ever.
20:12By the 25th year
20:14you're like
20:14if there's nothing
20:15in this year
20:16then it's enough.
20:18And I think
20:18that's my aim.
20:21That bit on Delhi
20:23I actually agree with
20:24because you're
20:24almost there.
20:26We're about 600
20:27this time of the year
20:28you're about 400.
20:29Right?
20:30So we're almost
20:31getting there.
20:31Give it a couple
20:32of more seasons
20:32it'll probably
20:33get there.
20:33but you know
20:34on the positive note
20:36that you mentioned
20:36let me put it on you
20:3875,000 crore
20:40that's the budget
20:41for BMC.
20:42Right?
20:43You being like
20:44this elitist
20:45as you described
20:46yourself
20:46somebody
20:47who can afford
20:48to sort of
20:49put on their volumes
20:50put on the AC
20:50you know
20:51cut the noise out
20:52if you were in the chair
20:53if you had to spend
20:55that 75,000 crore
20:57what are the top
20:58three things
20:58you would spend it on?
21:00Yeah
21:03But number one
21:05would be
21:05first say I want
21:06challenge for the
21:07two-wheelers
21:08they're getting away
21:08with murder
21:08but the number one
21:10thing would be
21:11see even though
21:12we improved some roads
21:13it's almost like
21:14it's a domino effect
21:16where one road
21:16gets better
21:17and two get worse.
21:18Okay?
21:18And it may not be
21:19in the same area
21:19but the problem is
21:20as a Mumbai car
21:21you've been a Mumbai car
21:22you understand
21:22you're not staying
21:23in one area
21:23so supposing we do
21:24good work in
21:25Napensi Road
21:26somewhere in South Mumbai
21:27somewhere in Moulon
21:28there'll be two roads
21:29who are suffering
21:29it just seems to have
21:30that negative effect also
21:32so every time
21:33we do a little
21:34we also lose a little
21:35now accountability
21:36with that
21:37third or fourth largest
21:38budget in the entire
21:39Asian continent
21:40is ours
21:41I mean which has
21:42fabulous figures
21:44the accountability
21:44is a whole
21:45another ball game
21:46altogether
21:46and I hope
21:47Alistak in India
21:48today
21:48can use their admin
21:50and their people
21:51who do finance
21:52to look at that properly
21:52to see whether the money
21:53should be allocated
21:54in the right way
21:55and more importantly
21:55it has been spent
21:56in the right way or not
21:57which clearly
21:58you know the answer.
21:59No, no I don't think
22:01this is something
22:02this is the bhar
22:03that in India today
22:04admin and finance
22:06can take it up
22:06I think this is what
22:07elected governments
22:08are for
22:09and this is what
22:10it should stay
22:11at as well
22:12but as we wrap up
22:13give me
22:14your own Cyrus
22:17one word
22:18for Mumbai politicians
22:19So I would like to say
22:24politicians of Maharashtra
22:25especially
22:26the word flexible
22:27is the
22:28I think is the
22:29most important word
22:29because they are
22:30extremely flexible
22:31in terms of
22:33political thought
22:34manifestos
22:35ideas
22:36alliances
22:36promises
22:38and that flexibility
22:40has allowed them
22:40to have long careers
22:41so maybe we should
22:42learn from them
22:43you know
22:43just to be very flexible
22:44what you are saying
22:45on Monday
22:45is not what happens
22:46on Tuesday
22:46what you are saying
22:47on Tuesday
22:47is forgotten by Wednesday
22:48it is like that
22:49you have got to
22:49you have got to
22:51hand it to them
22:52it is like a proper sport
22:53it is not like
22:53not everyone can do politics
22:55you just
22:55it takes skill
22:56now
22:57having said that
22:58I am not saying
22:59that you are doing
22:59the right thing
23:00or the wrong thing
23:00but to play as a politician
23:02you need to be like
23:03you need to have
23:03the Virat Kohli
23:04kind of cricketing
23:05you know genes
23:06you have to have that
23:06in politics
23:07Cyrus can I say
23:09I am laughing
23:10and crying internally
23:11at the same time
23:12it is just so sad
23:14that this is what
23:14our country has come to
23:15and city after city
23:17and especially metro
23:18after metro
23:18I see the same issue
23:19everywhere
23:20same disconnect
23:21that politicians
23:22have with
23:23you know
23:24with residents
23:25it is just terribly sad
23:26but let us end
23:27on a nicer note
23:28now I am giving you
23:28time to do things
23:29so don't complain
23:29take your time
23:31and tell me a song
23:32that comes to mind
23:33when I say BMC
23:35yeah I have got a lovely
23:40Hindi song
23:40I think it is
23:47the best way to answer
23:49is not answer
23:50again that is a lesson
23:50in politics
23:51you answer by not answering
23:53you don't really say
23:54anything
23:54that is the best thing
23:55but like I said
23:56there have been some
23:56small improvements
23:57listen I meet these guys
23:58all the time
23:59some of them recognize me
24:00and say nice things
24:00I don't want to fight
24:01with them
24:01some of them
24:02really try hard
24:03but the system
24:03needs a revamp
24:05and they'll admit it
24:05themselves
24:06when you look at
24:07these huge budgets
24:07and whether they go
24:08in the right directions
24:09these are big big questions
24:10which are beyond
24:11my pay grade
24:12and capacity
24:13but have we solved
24:14the pothole problem
24:16I don't know
24:16congestion
24:17I don't know
24:18traffic issues
24:19I don't know
24:20bridges
24:22there are two or three
24:23that have never been
24:23erected again
24:24I don't know
24:25so I mean
24:26there's lots
24:27there's lots of room
24:28for improvement
24:29but I live in this city
24:30so let me just say
24:31Jai Him
24:32Jai Maharashtra
24:33all good
24:33right
24:36Jai Maharashtra
24:37Jai Him
24:38and
24:39already like
24:41girls hoping
24:42to citizens as well
24:44girls hoping
24:45that everybody
24:45and all of us
24:46who criticize the government
24:48all of us
24:49who question the government
24:50actually take out the time
24:51go out and vote
24:52tomorrow as well
24:53because that's
24:54the test for us
24:55as citizens as well
24:56so here's hoping
24:57that your and my voice
24:58actually reaches those people
24:59and they're able to do that
25:00as well
25:01Cyrus for the moment
25:02thank you so much
25:03for joining us
25:03and good luck
25:04see you on the
25:05voting rolls tomorrow
25:06all right
25:15more updates coming in
25:16from BMC
25:17campaign for 29
25:18municipalities
25:19including the BMC
25:20concluded today
25:21at 5pm
25:22ahead of voting
25:22scheduled on the
25:2315th of Jan
25:24more than 15,000
25:25candidates are now
25:26contesting across the states
25:27including the 1700
25:28vying for 227 wards
25:31in the BMC
25:33results will be out
25:35on the 16th of January
25:37remember this is the delay
25:38after which finally
25:40the elections are getting held
25:41one election
25:43which has seen
25:43a lot of
25:44you know
25:45whirlpool events
25:46of parties
25:47joining hands
25:48not you know
25:49contesting together
25:50and very unlikely
25:51alliances happening
25:52as well
25:53it's been a full cure
25:54so let's see
25:54what this election
25:56really throws
25:57at us
25:57for the moment
25:58we're gonna slip
25:59into a very quick break
26:00coming up
26:00on the other side
26:01we've got another
26:02very funny man
26:03for you
26:04this time
26:05he's gone from
26:06the comic stage
26:07to the big screen
26:08Veer Das is back
26:10he's given his first
26:11interview after two years
26:13after he was cancelled
26:15after he ran into
26:16controversy
26:16after what he calls
26:19a love letters
26:20to his country
26:21that he wrote
26:21he's now back
26:22with a film
26:23that is back
26:24by Amit Khan
26:25watch that interview
26:26on the other side
26:273, 2, 1
26:30go
26:30so hello
26:32and welcome
26:32Veer Das
26:33and what a way
26:34to start 2026
26:35you are now directing
26:36you are also acting
26:38I wrote this film
26:3910 years ago
26:39wow
26:40if I tell you
26:41the two people
26:42it's based on
26:43on camera
26:44I'll go to jail
26:44so there
26:46he's not going to
26:47I'm also a comedian
26:50but I can do jokes about
26:51they all love letters
26:54to my country
26:54all of these shows
26:55from the country
26:56also you've got
26:57all types of letters
26:58if an artist is mature
27:01head down
27:02mouth shut
27:03I'll take your feedback
27:04that is the honour
27:05I afford you
27:05as an audience member
27:06but then don't punish me
27:09with process
27:09don't make 5 phone calls
27:10I'm in touch with all of them
27:12whenever a comic is in trouble
27:13in India
27:13I get a phone call
27:14that's it
27:15so hello and welcome
27:20Veer Das
27:20how are you doing?
27:21you come out
27:22in Delhi
27:23finally
27:23I'm Gurgaon
27:24I'm Gurgaon
27:25I'm Gurgaon
27:26experience
27:26in college
27:27to drink
27:28Gurgaon
27:29has changed since then
27:30it's changed since then
27:31but
27:31Delhi
27:32at some point
27:34it's changed
27:35and Gurgaon
27:35in Gurgaon
27:351 hour late
27:36open
27:37so we come here
27:38as college kids
27:39but none of this
27:40was there
27:40none of this was there
27:41talking about change
27:42Gurgaon has changed
27:43and so have you
27:44I've changed a lot
27:45I want to begin
27:46by saying
27:46that my first memory
27:47of you
27:48goes back
27:48to about 15 years ago
27:50when
27:51like I was mentioning
27:51to you a little while
27:52earlier
27:52I saw you
27:53in this little cafe
27:54in Delhi
27:54and you had
27:55some real mean
27:56things to say
27:57about journalists
27:57and I was like
27:58who the hell
27:58is this guy
27:59like what does
28:00he think
28:00I still have
28:01some mean
28:01things to say
28:02but not about
28:02real journalists
28:03but the point
28:06I was going to make
28:06was that
28:07from that
28:08to now
28:09a full curve
28:11where
28:12I would take
28:13out time
28:13out of my
28:14weekend
28:14leave my kid
28:16at home
28:16to go watch
28:16your show
28:17you've earned
28:18that respect
28:19today
28:19and I'm so glad
28:20for the work
28:21that you're doing
28:22so yeah
28:23good good times
28:24and what a way
28:25to start 2026
28:27you are now
28:27directing
28:28you're writing
28:29you're also acting
28:30co-directing
28:30co-writing
28:31and acting
28:32with many people
28:33many many people
28:34so after the
28:35whirlwind of 24-25
28:37tell me about
28:38how you're feeling
28:38right now
28:39I'm nervous as hell
28:40for us a disconnect
28:42because stand up
28:43community
28:43people leave the house
28:45for stand up
28:45you are accustomed
28:47to leaving the house
28:47for stand up
28:48so maybe you
28:48get a babysitter
28:49you get an Uber
28:50you leave the house
28:51etc etc
28:51films
28:53whether they still
28:54leave the house
28:55for films or not
28:55is a genre
28:57specific thing
28:58so you'll either
28:59leave the house
29:00for patriotism
29:00or you'll leave
29:02the house for horror
29:02but for comedy
29:04usually people
29:05leave the house
29:05it's for live comedy
29:06and I'm hoping
29:07they'll leave the house
29:07for film comedy
29:08as well
29:09so that's the
29:11litmus test
29:11of this film
29:12so I'm nervous
29:13I'm not gonna lie
29:14I am nervous
29:14but how did it
29:16come about
29:17tell me a little bit
29:17about the movie
29:18like I've seen
29:19the trailers
29:20I've seen a lot
29:20of the stuff
29:21but when I saw
29:22Delhi Belli for the
29:22first time
29:23I was like
29:23what is this
29:24it took me a while
29:24to understand the movie
29:26so the similar
29:27thing is happening
29:28equally stupid
29:29equally silly
29:30but I think
29:31see comedy
29:32is counterculture
29:33no
29:33so you kind of
29:34have to wait
29:35for culture to exist
29:36for the comedy
29:36version of that
29:37culture to exist
29:38so you have
29:39Delhi Belli and Ikleed
29:39I don't know
29:40if you remember
29:40but cinema
29:41was very cultured
29:42and very soft
29:43you know
29:44there was
29:44which looked amazing
29:47and there was
29:47Parinita
29:48and Guzarej
29:49it was all meaningful
29:50so then suddenly
29:51when three boys came
29:52and a pot
29:53and this
29:53and that
29:54etc etc
29:54we popped
29:55now spy
29:56is as mainstream
29:57as you get
29:58we live in
29:59war
29:59Pathan
30:00Durandar
30:00Tiger
30:01so you need
30:02an idiotic
30:03silly stupid
30:04spy to be
30:04counterculture
30:05I'm happy to be
30:06that idiot
30:07I wrote this film
30:0910 years ago
30:10wow
30:11so I've had this idea
30:12because I saw
30:12Johnny English
30:13Johnny English
30:14is one of my
30:14favourite movies
30:15you know
30:15I love like
30:16Pink Panther
30:17Johnny English
30:18spy comedy
30:19detective comedy
30:19and back then
30:21everybody I took it
30:22to was like
30:22but Indian spy
30:23how is it
30:24what is this thing
30:25and I kind of
30:27had to wait
30:27for this whole
30:28thing to become
30:28mainstream
30:29and then
30:30two years ago
30:31I called Amir sir
30:32and said
30:32it's a picture
30:33and if you don't
30:34produce
30:34then no one
30:35will produce
30:35and then
30:36that's how it
30:38started
30:38two years ago
30:39nice
30:40and then I saw
30:40your post last night
30:41on Imran actually
30:42texting you to say
30:43bro what are you doing
30:44it's an exact
30:45screenshot
30:46I think Feb 2024
30:48he messaged saying
30:49because
30:49when Amir had
30:51greenlit us
30:52and narrations
30:53were going on
30:53pre-prod
30:53so
30:54buzz was good
30:55in the trade
30:57in the Amir Khan office
30:58something was made
30:58in the Amir Khan office
30:59so yeah Imran
31:00after 10 years
31:02off screen
31:02or 12 years
31:03off screen
31:04text you out of the blue
31:04you're like
31:05I am making
31:06full use of this
31:07opportunity
31:08but if I'm going
31:09to get Imran Khan
31:11I'm not going
31:11to waste Imran Khan
31:12so it's not going
31:14to be romcom
31:15Imran Khan
31:15it's not going
31:16to be anything
31:16you've seen him
31:17do before
31:17he plays
31:20international
31:22supermodel
31:22Milind Moria
31:23in my movie
31:24and that's all
31:26I can tell you
31:26that's his
31:27character name
31:27so yeah
31:28talking about
31:28character names
31:29the movie is
31:30called
31:30Happy Patel
31:31Khatarnak Jassus
31:32Khatarnak Jassus
31:33Happy Patel
31:34Khatarnak Jassus
31:35Khatarnak Jassus
31:36tell us a little bit
31:37so two British
31:40MI7 agents
31:41take a brown baby
31:42with them to London
31:43in 1991
31:45that's my baby
31:46and I am
31:47and their staff
31:49are all by Patel
31:50and there is a shootout
31:52in their house
31:53and in the shootout
31:54because she will not
31:56stop cleaning
31:56they will get a gun
31:58and my mom will die
31:59and they take this baby
32:02to England with them
32:03and they raise me
32:04as Happy Paisley
32:05so I am a sweet
32:07sensitive
32:08ballet
32:09and a chef
32:10who makes sandwiches
32:11very unlike Patel
32:13very unlike Patel
32:14and cut to present date
32:16MI5
32:16to take on the mafia
32:19so I am trained
32:20to be Indian
32:21in three weeks
32:21I am taught Hindi
32:23in three weeks
32:23I am shown lots of
32:24Bollywood movies
32:25I am told
32:26I am your name Patel
32:27and dropped into
32:28the Goa Mafia
32:29to take them out
32:29so that's the story
32:30of my mom
32:31so which Indian
32:31did you decide
32:32to showcase
32:33in your training
32:37the accent is
32:38because you know
32:38he always talks like this
32:39and he has a book
32:42it's
32:43if I tell you
32:44the two people
32:45it's based on
32:45on camera
32:47I will go to jail
32:47so
32:47tell us
32:49tell us
32:49I will tell you
32:50who they are based on
32:51once we cut cameras
32:52but yeah
32:52okay
32:53I have looked at
32:55even your stand-ups
32:56have a particular
32:57way in which it goes
32:58it starts like
32:58really strong
32:59yeah
33:00then there is a
33:01almost blueprint
33:03now right
33:04a graph
33:04yeah
33:05yeah
33:05there will be a wave
33:06you will start
33:07really strong
33:07there will be
33:08something really
33:08solid in the middle
33:09there will be
33:10a lot of audience
33:10play
33:10then it will end
33:11on something
33:12which is why
33:12I came to your show
33:13because you will
33:14say something
33:15which will really
33:16touch me
33:16and live with me
33:17it will be quoted
33:17later and all of that
33:18etc
33:19touch wood
33:19yeah
33:20so brilliant
33:21stuff on that
33:22I am trying to
33:22understand
33:23on stage
33:24as an artist
33:25you are in full
33:25control
33:26you control the
33:27lights
33:27from what I have
33:28seen and heard
33:29of your interviews
33:29you control how
33:30audiences
33:30you know
33:31sitting
33:32how they react
33:33from silence
33:34all of that put
33:35together
33:35how much of that
33:36control has actually
33:37come into that
33:38movie
33:38that's why you
33:39direct
33:39because as an actor
33:41I love actors
33:43don't get me wrong
33:43but you have to
33:44wait and talk about
33:45protein shakes a lot
33:46you know what I mean
33:47but as a director
33:48you control the lighting
33:48you control the edit
33:49you control the music
33:50I have written 60%
33:53of the songs
33:54in this movie
33:54I am the co-lyricist
33:56I am the co-music
33:57supervisor
33:57my band has done
33:585 songs
33:59so I really
34:01said that
34:02if I never get
34:04to make another
34:05movie again
34:05I am going to
34:06throw every good
34:07idea I have
34:08into this movie
34:08but I will do it
34:09my way
34:09and maybe
34:10maybe only 5 people
34:12will get my
34:13flavour
34:14you know
34:15in this movie
34:16so if it doesn't
34:17do it
34:18I can do jokes about it
34:22you know what I mean
34:23that's the nice
34:23thing about my
34:24profession is
34:24the disaster in your
34:26life is 10 minutes
34:26of comedy
34:27later in life
34:28so yeah
34:29we don't know
34:29if it works
34:30because we are
34:30one of the first
34:31films to try
34:32this kind of a
34:33self-aware
34:34in the process
34:35like usually
34:36films' marketing
34:38is very
34:38look at our
34:40finished product
34:40look at how
34:41glossy it
34:42look at our
34:42graphics
34:43but here
34:44it's Amir and me
34:45talking about
34:46who will cut
34:46who will cut
34:47who will edit
34:47who will cut
34:48who will cut
34:48who will cut
34:49who will cut
34:49what will do
34:50we have been
34:51kind of open
34:52about that
34:52process
34:53you know
34:54the first
34:54promo
34:54he says
34:56four things
34:57to me
34:57which are
34:57key marketing
34:58points
34:58you have
34:59made a film
34:59that was
35:01important to
35:01communicate
35:02hero
35:02is still
35:03important to
35:04communicate
35:05in your love
35:06track
35:07the woman
35:07has the
35:08upper hand
35:08the entire
35:09movie
35:09she is in
35:10control
35:10important to
35:12communicate
35:12that stayed
35:12with me
35:12right
35:13and
35:14in your
35:15bad
35:15dancer
35:16also
35:17important
35:17to
35:17communicate
35:18so
35:18through comedy
35:19we were able
35:20to communicate
35:20four things
35:21about a film
35:21which is a good
35:23way to go
35:23about it
35:23that's smart
35:24but Happy Patel
35:25also has
35:26how do I say
35:28he's a spy
35:29who's slightly
35:30off
35:31he's slightly
35:32he's a certain
35:34misfit
35:35then he tries
35:36to get in
35:37he's like this
35:38outsider
35:38trying to
35:39understand things
35:39you know where
35:40I'm getting
35:41with this
35:41a lot
35:42of this
35:42has to do
35:42with who
35:43you are
35:43so is
35:45this like
35:46a projection
35:46of
35:47I mean
35:47everything you
35:48write is a
35:48projection
35:48but
35:49at its core
35:51the movie
35:51is about
35:52what it
35:52means to
35:53be Indian
35:53today
35:54it takes
35:56every NRI
35:57trope
35:58that you
35:58have
35:59and reverses
36:00it
36:00all his
36:01training
36:01is wrong
36:01every idea
36:03he comes
36:03to India
36:04with
36:04as a
36:05NRI
36:05is wrong
36:06and India
36:07teaches him
36:08what's right
36:08so that's
36:09very much
36:10about
36:10the centre
36:12of the movie
36:12is about
36:12what it
36:13means to
36:13be Indian
36:13in a very
36:15stupid
36:16silly way
36:17it's not
36:17preachy
36:18it doesn't
36:18talk at
36:19the audience
36:19at all
36:20you know
36:20okay
36:21I do
36:23want to
36:23talk about
36:23the year
36:24of Gen Z
36:24that I
36:24mentioned
36:25earlier on
36:25as well
36:25right
36:26I'm so
36:27happy
36:27because
36:27this is
36:27a Gen Z
36:28movie
36:28Gen Z
36:29movie
36:29yeah
36:30I don't know
36:30what Gen Z
36:31means frankly
36:31I think
36:32this generation
36:32just gets
36:33it's too
36:33much
36:34in the domain
36:35for no
36:35reason
36:35but
36:36that's
36:37that's
36:37our age
36:38talking
36:38I don't
36:38know
36:38if we're
36:39the same
36:39age
36:39or whatever
36:39we're
36:40millennials
36:40yeah
36:40okay
36:41leave it
36:41there
36:42no I
36:42think
36:42they are
36:43a
36:43self-aware
36:45generation
36:46very authentic
36:48and
36:49it's a
36:51weird
36:52thing to
36:53document
36:53and broadcast
36:54your life
36:55while you
36:55are living
36:55your life
36:56yeah
36:56right
36:57we can't
36:58relate to
36:59that
36:59but that
37:00is their
37:00ethos
37:01like
37:02you are
37:03no longer
37:03going to
37:04a
37:05wheel show
37:05or a
37:06Diljeet
37:06show
37:06or a
37:07Coldplay
37:08concert
37:08you are
37:09going to
37:10document
37:10and broadcast
37:11yourself
37:12at a
37:12wheel show
37:13or a
37:13Diljeet
37:14show
37:14or a
37:14Coldplay
37:14concert
37:15because
37:16doing that
37:17says something
37:18about who you
37:18are and what
37:19your tribe is
37:20that's what I figured
37:21out about them
37:21their tribe is very
37:23important to them
37:23fair enough
37:25you know
37:26fair enough
37:28yeah
37:28everybody has
37:30their own thing
37:30like I remember
37:31when we
37:31hip hop
37:33came out
37:33when you know
37:34we were
37:3410 or 11
37:35years old
37:36and our parents
37:36were like
37:36what is this
37:36nonsense
37:37nobody's singing
37:38everybody has
37:40their thing
37:40look at how
37:42hard our
37:42generation
37:43fought for
37:44sexuality
37:45yes
37:46you know
37:46that was really
37:47our
37:48I'm saying
37:51racial equality
37:53and sexuality
37:54very much
37:55our
37:56cornerstone
37:57issues
37:58of our
37:59generation
37:59I think for
38:00them it's
38:01mental health
38:01you know
38:03fair enough
38:04it's very
38:05parity
38:05it's all of
38:06that
38:06but give me
38:07your to India
38:08sort of lens
38:08on Gen Z
38:09because there's
38:10a huge
38:10thing online
38:11as well
38:12that where
38:12Gen Z
38:13even in our
38:14neighbouring
38:14countries
38:15is overturning
38:16governments
38:17is making
38:18sure that
38:19change happens
38:20look at even
38:20what's happening
38:21in Arab
38:21right now
38:21it's
38:22it's all
38:23of it
38:23right
38:24India
38:24what are you doing
38:26I mean
38:28I often
38:29and I'm not
38:30saying it as a
38:31comment I
38:31genuinely want
38:32to know what's
38:33your read on
38:33this because I
38:34struggle sometimes
38:35I feel like
38:35we are the
38:36youngest country
38:37in the world
38:38very opinionated
38:40with lots of
38:41tons of issues
38:42what are we
38:43doing what is
38:44what is this
38:44one thing
38:45that gets
38:45Gen Z
38:46together is it
38:47street dogs
38:47is it
38:48a ravalese
38:48is it
38:49politics
38:50is it
38:50education
38:51is it
38:51jobs
38:51because
38:52nothing seems
38:52to matter
38:53at the
38:53moment
38:54I think
38:54that
38:55if we
38:57start
38:57my limited
38:58understanding
38:59of it
38:59is
38:59you can
39:01gather
39:02around
39:02the truth
39:03right
39:04I remember
39:07seeing
39:09young kids
39:10come together
39:11to stand up
39:11for Nirbhaya
39:12yes
39:12because we
39:13all knew
39:14what the
39:14truth was
39:15that was
39:15millennials
39:16again
39:16but I'm
39:17saying
39:17there was
39:18no disputing
39:19what that
39:19truth was
39:20yeah
39:20right
39:21I don't
39:22think it's
39:22easy to
39:23prove any
39:23truth right
39:24now
39:24how do you
39:25get behind
39:26a truth
39:26that cannot
39:27be proven
39:27it is
39:29there are
39:3017 different
39:31versions of
39:31everything that
39:32are paid for
39:32trending
39:33you know
39:33I just don't
39:34think anybody
39:35knows what's
39:35real anymore
39:36and we're being
39:37algorithmed into
39:38echo chambers
39:39that say
39:40completely opposite
39:41things
39:41but I think
39:42when one thing
39:43emerges that is
39:43true
39:44we stand up
39:45for it
39:45like okay
39:45it is
39:46undeniable
39:47that the
39:47AQI is a
39:48problem
39:48yep
39:49you cannot
39:50spin it
39:50either way
39:51AQI doesn't
39:52vote
39:52AQI doesn't
39:54do anything
39:54else
39:54it just
39:55is
39:55and so
39:57there's
39:57chatter around
39:58AQI
39:58but I feel
39:59like this
40:00generation is
40:00being deprived
40:01of the truth
40:01at all
40:03levels
40:03yeah
40:04but like
40:05you said
40:05AQI
40:06hair
40:06but nobody
40:07seems to
40:08care about
40:09it
40:09nobody seems
40:09to
40:10I'm hopeful
40:12I'm very
40:12hopeful
40:12okay
40:14tell me
40:15about
40:16next steps
40:16for Veer
40:17I know
40:17there's a
40:17special
40:18there's a
40:19tour that
40:20you're already
40:20on
40:20there's a
40:21show called
40:21Sounds of
40:22India
40:22yes
40:22which is
40:23I hear
40:23there's some
40:24theatrical
40:24things there
40:25and I'm
40:25waiting for
40:26a show
40:26to happen
40:27here
40:27it is
40:28every sound
40:29you will
40:29hear from
40:303.45 in
40:31the morning
40:31to midnight
40:31in India
40:32through the
40:33day
40:33so if you
40:34live in
40:34India
40:35every noise
40:36that you
40:36will hear
40:37and it
40:39takes you
40:39across India
40:40to every
40:40state and
40:40plays their
40:41noises as
40:41well
40:41so it
40:42is an
40:42audible
40:42experience
40:43but it
40:44is
40:44200
40:45sounds
40:46in
40:46one and
40:47a half
40:47hours
40:47and jokes
40:48about
40:49them
40:49so
40:50because
40:51the theory
40:52of the
40:52show is
40:52I think
40:53all this
40:55noise
40:55pollution
40:56if you
40:57hear it
40:57right
40:58there's a
40:59music to
40:59it and
40:59there's a
40:59poetry to
41:00it
41:00so I
41:00think
41:01that's
41:01the
41:01centerpiece
41:03of the
41:03show
41:03so that
41:04will do
41:04a big
41:05India
41:05tour
41:05hopefully
41:08you'll see
41:08me on
41:08Broadway
41:09soon
41:09I have
41:09another
41:09show
41:09internationally
41:10called
41:10Hey Strangers
41:11you'll hopefully
41:11see me there
41:12and if this
41:14movie works
41:14I'll direct
41:15soon
41:15and if it
41:16doesn't
41:16I'll be doing
41:16stand up
41:17so yeah
41:18so we've spoken
41:19but all of this
41:20is happening
41:21you'll stay away
41:22from political
41:23commentary
41:25come to my
41:26show
41:26it's there
41:27but I don't
41:28think it's
41:28I can't
41:30predict what's
41:31going to be
41:32the thing
41:33that gets
41:34everybody riled
41:35up
41:35that's what
41:36I've learned
41:36you could
41:38think it's
41:38going to be
41:39this thing
41:39and the
41:39thing you
41:40never thought
41:40is going
41:41to be the
41:42problem
41:42so your
41:43best bet
41:43is just
41:44write it
41:44and just
41:45say it
41:45and then
41:46deal with
41:46it when
41:47the time
41:47comes
41:48but if
41:48you second
41:48guess
41:49you'll
41:49drive
41:49yourself
41:49insane
41:50I also
41:51think
41:51typically
41:55you come
41:56and see
41:56a comic
41:56Grover
41:59myself
42:00Kamra
42:01anybody
42:02really
42:03outside of
42:05a few of
42:05us
42:05political
42:05commentary
42:06is like
42:0610%
42:07of our
42:08show
42:08that's
42:09what goes
42:10viral
42:10so you
42:11assume
42:11it's
42:11the whole
42:12show
42:12but there's
42:13a
42:13to our
42:14show
42:14it's
42:15a piece
42:15what would
42:15you like
42:16to be
42:16viral
42:16for
42:17I
42:18wouldn't
42:18like
42:18to be
42:18viral
42:19for
42:19anything
42:19I've
42:20never
42:20gone
42:21viral
42:21when I've
42:22gone
42:22viral
42:22there's
42:23been
42:23what would
42:24you like
42:25to be
42:25known
42:26for
42:26let me
42:26rephrase
42:27that
42:27don't
42:30say
42:30directing
42:30and all
42:31that
42:31best
42:32case
42:32scenario
42:33for a
42:34comic
42:34at least
42:34I'm
42:37long
42:37dead
42:37I'm
42:38long
42:38gone
42:38but if
42:40you're
42:40still
42:40quoting
42:412 or
42:413
42:41things
42:42that I
42:42said
42:42that's
42:43it
42:44that's
42:45enough
42:45there's
42:46a comic
42:46called
42:46George
42:46Carlin
42:47who I
42:47really
42:48like
42:48from
42:49the
42:4960s
42:4970s
42:5080s
42:50till
42:51date
42:51he's
42:51quoted
42:52every
42:52day
42:52on
42:52twitter
42:52by
42:52the
42:53left
42:53and
42:53the
42:53right
42:53same
42:55joke
42:55and I
42:57think
42:57that's
42:58you know
42:59words
43:00are
43:01immortal
43:01so if I
43:02can create
43:022 or 3
43:03phrases that
43:04outlive me
43:05best case
43:06and when
43:07do these
43:07best words
43:08come to
43:09you
43:09everybody
43:09has a
43:09process
43:10you'll
43:10tell me
43:10I don't
43:11know
43:11I'm trying
43:12to understand
43:13your process
43:13sometimes I
43:14wake up in
43:14the middle
43:15of the
43:15night
43:15I remember
43:15my early
43:16days of
43:16reporting
43:17when used
43:18to be
43:18think about
43:18P2C
43:19I would
43:20wake up in
43:21the middle
43:21of the
43:21night
43:21in my
43:22dream
43:22I would
43:22get that
43:23this is
43:23what I
43:23should
43:23end on
43:25and this
43:25is what
43:25the shot
43:25should
43:25be
43:26and everybody
43:27has their
43:27own
43:27process
43:28I think
43:29for me
43:29I write
43:30jokes
43:31and then
43:32I try
43:32and put
43:33my thoughts
43:33in between
43:34jokes
43:34so a lot
43:35of times
43:35the things
43:36that
43:36like okay
43:38in my
43:38special
43:39landing
43:39there was
43:40about
43:40very much
43:40about
43:41patriotism
43:41in home
43:42and all
43:42of that
43:42stuff
43:42there's a
43:44line
43:44that I
43:44say
43:45hate is
43:46yelled
43:47but love
43:47is felt
43:48right
43:49now that
43:50is the
43:50one line
43:51everybody
43:51quotes
43:51from that
43:52special
43:52it was
43:53improvised
43:54it wasn't
43:55written
43:55it was in
43:56between
43:56jokes
43:57I needed
43:58something to
43:59get from
43:59one joke
44:00to another
44:00and it's
44:01just what
44:01I thought
44:02so I
44:03just spoke
44:03so a lot
44:05of times
44:05that stuff
44:06is maybe
44:07because there's
44:08a rawness
44:09to it
44:09it goes
44:10more viral
44:11or whatever
44:11so I
44:12can never
44:13tell
44:13I'm always
44:14wrong
44:14whatever I
44:15think
44:15this joke
44:16will kill
44:17this viral
44:19I'm always
44:20wrong
44:20always
44:21100%
44:22wrong
44:22okay
44:23okay
44:24so let me
44:24do some
44:25rapid fire
44:25questions with
44:26you okay
44:26so don't
44:27overthink
44:28just say
44:28like whatever
44:29that comes
44:29to your
44:30mind okay
44:30are we
44:31ready
44:32are we
44:32ready for
44:32this one
44:33okay great
44:33stage or
44:34silence
44:35stage
44:36okay
44:37bombing on
44:39stage or
44:39a film that's
44:40politely ignored
44:41bombing on
44:42stage I'll
44:42learn something
44:43from bombing on
44:43stage I'd
44:44rather have
44:44that
44:44a joke that
44:46offends or
44:47a joke that's
44:48forgettable
44:49love me or
44:51hate me just
44:51don't ignore me
44:52so I'd rather
44:53offend you than
44:53you forget
44:54about it
44:54Indian audience
44:56or global
44:56audience which is
44:57harder on you
44:59harder and
45:00better
45:00harder and
45:01better
45:01okay but
45:02any day
45:03Indian audience
45:04much harder
45:055 minutes at
45:06up top best
45:0795 minutes
45:08that follow
45:09so explain
45:10that
45:10in America
45:13if you perform
45:13first 5 minutes
45:15they're in
45:15and then by
45:1860 minutes
45:18they're running
45:19out of
45:19seminar a little
45:20bit Indian
45:21audience we
45:21wait 5
45:22minutes
45:23let's see
45:24were you worth
45:26this ticket or
45:27not and then
45:28they'll give you
45:2895 minutes of
45:29goal so their
45:31energy never dies
45:32I call it the
45:33diesel engine
45:34we start
45:36maybe Indian
45:39audience globally
45:40for you I
45:41would have
45:42thought that
45:43no
45:43no
45:43a lot of
45:45Indian
45:45audience globally
45:46I'm their
45:48newest connect
45:50to India
45:50so they come
45:52out and they
45:52like what's
45:52happening in the
45:53country tell me
45:53because a lot
45:54of them have
45:55not been in a
45:56room with this
45:56many Indians in
45:57a very long
45:57time so for
45:58them I'm back
45:59but I'll take
46:01a Mumbai audience
46:02over anywhere in
46:03the world
46:03anywhere
46:04I'm talking about
46:05Mumbai
46:06I have to
46:07come back to
46:08that question
46:08anyways but
46:09going back to
46:09a rapid fire
46:10being misunderstood
46:12or being
46:13irrelevant
46:13being irrelevant
46:17I'd rather
46:17if you're going
46:19to know me
46:19I'd rather
46:19it be for
46:21what you felt
46:22and if you
46:22don't feel it
46:23I'd rather not
46:23you know me
46:24one emotion
46:26you use
46:26humour to
46:27avoid
46:28conflict
46:29I don't like
46:31conflict
46:31I'm not a
46:32conflict oriented
46:33person so
46:33if my wife
46:34is mad at me
46:35I'm making
46:35her laugh in
46:3630 seconds
46:37which makes
46:37her more upset
46:38because the
46:40fight's over
46:41but immediately
46:42I've got jokes
46:43if we're having
46:44a fight
46:44so yeah
46:44okay
46:45one emotion
46:46you wish you
46:47were better at
46:48expressing without
46:49a joke
46:49I wish I was
46:53better at
46:54handling a
46:55compliment
46:55it terrifies me
46:57I'm not good
46:57with praise
46:58and I'm not
46:58good so
46:59if somebody's
47:00like I'm
47:00just like
47:01and I add
47:02a stupid joke
47:03in there
47:03to disarm it
47:04I'm not good
47:04ladies and
47:05gentlemen
47:05the biggest
47:06biggest comic
47:07of our time
47:07is sitting
47:08with us
47:08right now
47:09outside in
47:09Gurgaon
47:10construction
47:10yeah yeah
47:11film fell
47:11for direction
47:12is coming
47:12up
47:13no chance
47:14yeah
47:14okay
47:15creative freedom
47:16or financial
47:17safety
47:18creative freedom
47:20a compliment
47:22a compliment
47:22you secretly
47:23distrusted
47:24people
47:24when people
47:28say
47:28when I go to
47:29America
47:30everybody says
47:30love that
47:31every time
47:33at the end of the meeting
47:33they're like
47:34oh my god I love it
47:34I love that
47:35I'm like I'm never
47:36seeing this person
47:36again
47:36in my life
47:38so yeah
47:39oh it's like
47:40let's do this again
47:41yeah let's do this again
47:42yeah
47:42it's a very like
47:43LA New York
47:45oh my god I love that
47:46I'm like see you
47:47have a nice life
47:47it's actually from
47:48friends
47:49yeah
47:49yeah okay
47:50a criticism that still
47:52stings
47:53you don't know
47:54anything about India
47:55I would submit to you
47:57that I've seen more
47:58of India
47:59as a travelling artist
48:00than many people
48:01have
48:02you know
48:03writing alone
48:05at 3am
48:06or a room full
48:07of collaborators
48:07for a film
48:09a room full of collaborators
48:10for me
48:11writing alone
48:11at 7am
48:12I write for 2 hours
48:13a day at 7am
48:14every day
48:15without fear
48:16okay
48:17something you have
48:18outgrown
48:19but people still
48:19expect from you
48:20some of the movies
48:26I did
48:27after Deli Belli
48:27and Go Go Adwan
48:28they're still expecting
48:31that from you
48:31yeah
48:31they're like
48:31bro
48:32that sex comedy
48:33which you had done
48:34was very good
48:34and I'm like
48:35yeah
48:35I don't know
48:35okay
48:36stand up that changes
48:37minds
48:38or stand up
48:38that can make
48:39people laugh
48:40if you make them
48:41laugh enough
48:41you'll change their
48:42mind
48:42good answer
48:43being liked
48:44or being respected
48:45neither
48:48loved
48:50then
48:50no
48:51then
48:52people
48:54women with
48:55underwears
48:55what
48:56what
48:56being seen
48:59and making
49:00people feel seen
49:01that's it
49:02to me that's hard
49:04one word you are
49:04tired of hearing
49:05about yourself
49:06wisdom
49:11some people say
49:12wisdom
49:12I'm like
49:13I'm just talking
49:15okay
49:16and last one
49:18are you
49:18calmer than
49:20you were
49:21five years ago
49:21or just
49:22you're
49:22quieter
49:23I've always
49:24been quiet
49:24and I'm not
49:25calmer
49:25I've
49:26finally getting
49:29to do some
49:29of the crazy
49:29things in my
49:30brain
49:30I've been
49:32cancelled for
49:32two years
49:33and sat
49:33on my bum
49:34for two years
49:34doing absolutely
49:35nothing
49:35finally getting
49:37to work again
49:38so I'm not
49:39calm at all
49:39I'm ready to go
49:40okay and if
49:43Veerdas was
49:45an animal
49:45what animal
49:47would you be
49:47sparrow
49:52explain
49:54you know
49:55he's here
49:55then he goes
49:56somewhere else
49:56then he goes
49:57somewhere else
49:57you're always
49:58happy to see
49:58him
49:59doesn't really
50:00impact your
50:00life
50:01but he'll
50:02kind of
50:02remind you
50:03of where
50:03you are
50:04that's it
50:04I'm a sparrow
50:05oh nice
50:06that was nice
50:07that was
50:08next time I
50:08see a sparrow
50:09you know
50:09who to
50:09remember
50:10and why
50:10I have
50:11one story
50:12I want
50:12you to
50:12tell me
50:13about
50:13that I've
50:13heard
50:13you
50:14apparently
50:15met
50:15your
50:15first
50:16girlfriend
50:16in a
50:18news
50:18channel
50:18in
50:19Noida
50:19what was
50:19that
50:20we
50:21I won't
50:22give away
50:23your name
50:23yeah
50:23but
50:24is she
50:25a journalist
50:25like right
50:26now
50:26I don't
50:27know
50:27she still
50:27is
50:28but she
50:28was
50:28then
50:28and
50:30we
50:31dated
50:32in DPS
50:32Noida
50:33and then
50:33I was
50:33giving an
50:34interview
50:34for
50:34Delibelli
50:35and
50:36this is
50:37early in
50:37Delibelli
50:38in my
50:38career
50:38so nobody
50:39knows who
50:39I am
50:39so
50:40Amir Imran
50:40getting all
50:41the questions
50:41me and
50:41Kunal
50:42are just
50:42kind of
50:42chilling
50:42for the
50:43ride
50:43and then
50:44this one
50:44journalist
50:44like
50:45we used
50:45to be
50:45so shy
50:46in school
50:47because I
50:48could barely
50:48hold her
50:49hand
50:49without
50:49blushing
50:50when did
50:51you come
50:51out of
50:51your shell
50:52so I'm
50:53like
50:53I
50:53you know
50:55this is
50:55live on
50:56the news
50:56so I'm
50:56like you
50:57know
50:57comedy
50:58etc etc
50:58etc
50:58and then
51:00in the
51:00news break
51:01I realised
51:01this is my
51:02first
51:02girlfriend
51:02oh my
51:04god
51:04we were
51:0515-16
51:06so we
51:06have both
51:07changed
51:07reasonably
51:08since then
51:08but yeah
51:09it was
51:10quite a
51:11quite a
51:13revelation
51:13alright on
51:15that note
51:15Mr.
51:16Veer Das
51:17thank you
51:17very very
51:18much
51:18good luck
51:19for the
51:19movie
51:19thank you
51:20I hope
51:20it does
51:21real well
51:21and I
51:21hope you
51:22have
51:22all those
51:23people
51:23you can
51:23fill up
51:24a stadium
51:24we know
51:25with your
51:25jokes
51:25let's hope
51:26I can
51:27fill up
51:27a movie
51:27theatre
51:27we'll see
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