“I was fortunate to be born into a family with its own brand of humour. They’re naturally funny without trying. I think I subconsciously picked it up. I grew up in Warangal and moved to Hyderabad for engineering at CBIT. Since then, I’ve been here, working as an IT professional.
Even in college, I followed stand-up comedy closely but never thought I’d perform. In 2016, I tried an English open mic. It bombed. I assumed it wasn’t for me and stepped back. But something about the format, freedom, and writing kept pulling me back. Two years ago, I started again, more consistently. Since then, I’ve balanced my IT job and stand-up career.
People often think comedy is spontaneous, but there’s a lot behind every joke. I perform open mics regularly, record my sets, and analyse what worked and why. Every alternate line should be funny. That’s how seriously I take it.
Earlier, my humour was geeky, with clever setups and niche references, but I realised if the audience doesn’t get it, there’s no point. Now, I focus on relatable topics. Comedy often begins with a random thought; one punchline turns into a bigger idea and slowly a set.
When preparing for a show, I don’t do elaborate rituals. I write a setlist depending on the time I’m given. Most testing happens during open mics. That’s where we try, fail, learn, and rebuild.
I perform in Telugu and English. It depends on the room. For urban crowds, English with Telugu punchlines works well. In other rooms, I keep the premise in Telugu to stay connected.
My family and friends always knew I’m funny. Some even suggested stand-up before I did. Their support means a lot. Being featured on ETV’s Comedy Nights was surreal. My parents are happy as long as I’m doing well at my full-time job and following what excites me. Right now, this excites me more than anything.
I’ve started uploading sets on YouTube (Bhagat Anukanti), my first video did well, and I’ve recently uploaded another which was well received. I’m part of line-up shows, have a solo show called Bhagat Ane Nenu, and we’re working on a roast concept, Tollywood Roast Show. Exciting things ahead, and I’m enjoying the ride, one punchline at a time.”
- Bhagat Anukanti, Stand-up Comic