Aditi Mittal is a helpless Indian woman who is fed up of being a helpless Indian woman. After years of being told to ‘‘be quiet, sit down, be seen not heard,’‘ Mittal would like to say a few things. In her show Things They Wouldn't Let Me Say Mittal explores everything that plagues the modern Indian woman from eve teasing to sanitary napkins, from bringing up good Indian parents to being raised correctly by your children. The show will also feature a special appearance by Dr Mrs Lutchuke (Sex Therapist) and Dolly Khurana (Bollywood struggler who struggles). Mittal has been a columnist with Times Of India, Financial Times, DNA and Femina, and has appeared on every major English and Hindi network in India. She is at the Soho Theatre from August 17 - 20. Tickets here.
1. What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)?
Smile. I've been practising the "hey-you-guys-just-thought-something-rip-roaring-hilarious-while-I-was-standing-backstage-that-I-want-to-tell-you-about" look before I get into my set. So far I've only reached the "Dammit-the bathroom-was-occupied-a-minute-before-they-announced-my-name-so-I-haven't pee-d" look.
2. What irritates you?
An endless parade of things depending on if I've pooped well that day.
3. What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
I went to a Convent boarding school. At the age of 14 I tried to run away from the campus in the middle of the night. Since I WAS aware that it could be dangerous (I'm not a COMPLETE idiot - just 40%) - the weapon I chose to carry with me on my trip was a bottle of lice-killing medicine. (It's boarding school, hygiene is bit of lost cause when you're living in the same building with 400 other kids) That's what I perceived as my biggest threat while roaming on empty roads in the middle of the night - lice. Luckily I got caught by the nuns before making my escape. It makes me sad to imagine that if I HAD succeeded that day- I might have been a midnight lice-killing vigilante by now.
4. What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
If I'm going to tell you all that here then I'll have to pretty much write out my entire one-hour special right here.
5. What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
The fact that the longer I do stand-up, the less I have to lose. I used to be paranoid about how I was percieved by people but now I'm uninterested. I think when your self esteem hinges on the approval of a room full of strangers every night, very little fazes you outside of it. My mother thinks it's criminal that I go around saying stupid things in interviews and scandalising family members at gatherings with stories of the last heckler I encountered, I think it's entertaining as all hell.
Interview continues here.
