#WorldLaughterDay: Laughter acts as a great coping mechanism, says Manan Desai

“I completely believe in what Charlie Chaplin said-‘Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.’ You should be able to laugh at your worries because laughter acts as a great coping mechanism,” shares Manan Desai . On World Laughter Day , the popular stand-up comedian adds, “I don’t trust people who don’t have a sense of humour.

Having a good sense of humour is great for one’s mental health too; it’s very important for a happy life.”

‘I love all Jim Carrey films’

Talking about what makes him laugh, Manan says, “My mom, wife and daughter make me laugh the most. My sense of humour comes from my mother and I was thrilled when she agreed to perform with me for some of my shows. While writing for my shows, I try to incorporate insights about things that people face in their daily lives, including serious situations, but don’t notice the funny side to it.”

He adds, “I love all Jim Carrey films, especially Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Films/shows like Mr. Bean, Madgaon Express, Andaz Apna Apna, Hera Pheri, Lootcase and Everything Everywhere All at Once also crack me up whenever I watch them.”

‘Getting trolled for your jokes is inevitable now’

At a time when people seem to get offended easily, how difficult is it to create content? Manan says, “Getting trolled for your jokes is inevitable now. Irrespective of what you say, there will be extreme reactions to it on social media. If Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Shah Rukh Khan and even Board exam toppers (Prachi Nigam) can get trolled, then there’s no way comedians will be spared! It can be demotivating for new content creators, but people have to stay true to their content and art form.”

He adds, “1990s were a great phase to create content because there was so much political incorrectness all around! When I started my career, I would crack political jokes, but it wasn’t received sportingly. I even received death threats and decided that I don’t want such nuisance in my life. I don’t crack political jokes now. I think the best way to answer trolls is by becoming better at what you are doing. One should keep creating great content and making people laugh; it’s immensely satisfying. As a comedian, you are never perfect, and it’s always work in progress. Jim Carrey is one of my favourites. Among stand-up comedians, I like Shane Gillis, Abhishek Upmanyu, Zakir Khan and Vipul Goyal.”