Layer 2
Mention - Very Live

Click Here to go back.
Ideas Evolved, Mention - Very Live >>

1. So Danish, you are a doctor as well as a stand-up comedian, actor, a producer. The question shouts for itself, HOW do you do that?

That’s because I’m crazy. Now really, it’s because I really like what I do. I started doing comedy the same time I was so enthusiastic about the medical school. Since I was in 8th grade, all I wanted to be was a surgeon. Then I joined medical school and started liking comedy more.

2. Tell us about your childhood, were you just as funny, as a kid?

Funny is something I love being on stage but in person, I’m definitely very clumsy. As a child, people would laugh at me rather than with me. I was the class clown, not that I wanted to be. It’s just that they made me. I don’t think I was that funny, not intentionally at least. Once my brother pushed me on the airport, I fell on my teeth and broke a tooth (laughs). People laugh at that sort of stuff, there was nothing on my part.

3. How daring has been this decision of performing as a stand-up comedian for you? How did your parents react to that?

They have been very supportive. Of course, just like any other parents, they did act like “Haww beta kya kar rahay ho? Doctory karo,” but at the same time they were highly supportive. As long as I am paying my bills, I’m taken care of, and as long as I’m on TV, they’re like “Okay, we like it. That’s good.” But for that they really have to like what they see on TV and gladly, they do.

4. Who is Danish Ali in real life?

He’s somebody like old people, jazz music. I’m not pretending that I’m pretentious, if that makes sense? I like old kind of stuff. I’m shy, I’m clumsy and I’m retarded.

5. You have also lived in France as a teenager. Can you recall a French-joke you would like to share? Tell us about your experience in France.

I loved it in France. Once me and my brother were bored and we were at this construction site. So we stood in the middle of the road and started directing the traffic in the wrong direction, in the construction site. Within seconds, there were squad cars everywhere and we started running. That was really fun. About French people, they don’t like to rap. They are very sophisticated people and no, I’m not. Growing up in France was great. Now I desperately look for people in Pakistan I can talk in French with.

6. Where does all this humor come from? Tell us about the funniest incident you’ve ever been in?

That’s a tough call. This one time I was at home and I heard my wife screaming (mimic’s his wife’s voice), “Danisssshhh, jaldiiii aaaaooo Danisshhhhh”. There was a thing on the floor and she was standing there screaming “Keeeeraa” with an insecticide in her hand. When I came closer to look, it was a rubber band on the floor. That was a really funny in the moment. Then once when I was in med school, I was in surgery while this patient started making sounds like “wauu wauu wauu wauuu” (makes those funny, weird sounds). I couldn’t understand a word he was saying. I mean, a patient is supposed to be like “Ouch” or whatever but he kept on making those sounds. Not that I was laughing but I couldn’t breathe.

7. What is the first thing that pops in your mind when mentioned:

Meera : Meera, lovely! She’s a great personality, very energetic, very lively. While I was interviewing her, she wouldn’t bother if somebody was making fun of her. She was just so happy giving the interview. God bless her, she’s full of life.

Veena Malik : (laughs) Veena Malik, THANK YOU! Thank you! On behalf of all the stand-up comedians, thank you! I did a video on her, where I was wearing tube-lights all over my chest. Then this moment when she says, “Can you touch me?” My videos on her got me more than a million views. I really think there should be more Veena Malik!

Love: Family, my wife, my dog. If I was single then maybe.. but clearly, my wife is sitting next to me right now… so, yeah.

Danish Ali: LOVE! I love myself. I have this giant ego thing. If somebody comes up to me and says something which is not nice, I’m going to hold it against the person. FOREVER! I really like to be complemented, especially when people say “You’re hot!” I love it (iE Editorial Board adds: notice the title of this interview Danish? =D ). People here in Pakistan are shy about saying stuff like that. But people, please. If you feel like telling me I’m hot, come up to me and tell me. I’d love it. Honestly, I love the attention.

Fake-British accents : Half of the Pakistan qualifies for it. But really, it’s not that bad. I don’t really think too much of it, or think of it as something to be picked upon.

Vacation: An island, for a couple of years. Yeah, that would be great.

Vampires: Edward Cullen, wow. No, don’t think that. A joke, a joke! I think if there really were vampires, logon ko akal aa jai gi.

8. You have been selected by the New England Foundation of The Arts and ‘Center Stage’ to represent Pakistan in a month long visit to the United States performing as a standup comedian. Share with us your plans regarding it. How do you feel about it?

I see you have had a look on my bio. No, that’s fantastic. It feels great, you know. It’s a very good opportunity for me to represent Pakistan in stand-up comedy. I think after performing there, we’d be expecting to bring in a new view to the American talk shows about the Pakistanis. Other than that, the central stage is an exceptionally amazing opportunity to meet all the other stand-up comedians and to interact with the great audience. It’s very exciting. As a child, I lived in California, USA. This another factor for the excitement of going back there after so many years. But I have to admit, I was the most excited about “Visa lag gya”.

9. Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

I see myself as an international stand-up comedian by then, who has his international comic show. As a Pakistani, that would be a pride for me and hopefully, for my country.

10. You have been a host and writer for Pakistan’s first English language comedy TV show ‘The Real News”. You have been a part of “Very Live”, “This is Standup Comedy”, “Shark”. Which of this has been the biggest hit for you?

I think that would be “The Real News” where I wrote the script for Pakistan’s first comedy show. I think that was my best experience. All the interaction with the audience, all the response, it was amazing. But then there’s also this Meera video where I got 1.4 million views. That sure was a great feeling.

11. Lastly, what message would you like to give to your fans out there?

Come up to me and compliment me. The message would be, follow your heart. Unless it’s a burglar you want to become. You really need to love what you do, that’s the only chance you have of being a happy person. I think it’s really important to care about people you love and your heart. So be what you really want to be.

 10/05/12 >> go there
Click Here to go back.