“From a young age, I was drawn to the stage: elocution, storytelling, anything that let me perform. I grew up in Ramagundam, Telangana, and spent a few years in Vizag. My father worked at NTPC, and I studied in both missionary and Kendriya Vidyalaya schools.
In 7th grade, I began writing for Deccan Chronicle’s kids’ edition. One article was a fictional story; another was about “How to Spend Your Summer Vacations.” That’s where my love for storytelling began — simple ideas, told in my own words.
I went on to study Instrumentation and Control Engineering at G. Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Sciences (GNITS) in Hyderabad. Interestingly, that particular branch no longer exists today.
So, it felt surreal when I was invited back years later as a guest speaker at a Rotaract event in the same college.
After graduation, I entered the IT industry. I didn’t find coding engaging, but technical writing felt intuitive. I’ve been doing it for over 15 years now, writing end-user documentation like manuals and help guides. In 2015, while working on a new product launch, I started using comic strips (Bitstrips, which later became Bitmoji) to explain concepts to our sales teams. It clicked. I later presented the idea at technical writing conferences. Even after joining ServiceNow, I continued creating videos and comic strips that explained roles such as UX researchers and product designers. One of my strips was even featured in an all-hands meeting and received a shoutout from our EVP, Chief Experience Officer (CXO).
But when AI came into the picture in 2023, things shifted. Tasks that once took 40–50 hours could now be done in minutes. I felt that creative spark slipping away. Add to that working from home and caring for my young daughter, it was a lot. I needed something new.
That’s when ServiceNow’s women’s forum was organising an internal event and asked for performers. I thought, “Why not try stand-up comedy?” It felt like a safe space to experiment. My first set was on parenting — I titled it Paranting, a wordplay. They asked me to do 15 minutes, but I ended up performing for 45. That night, something clicked.
In 2023, I performed at a few shows, and in 2024, I began exploring live performances in different formats. Most give you just 3 minutes, so I had to be sharp and tight. I’ve always admired comics like Amit Tandon and Aiyyo Shraddha (Shraddha Jain), people who can make you laugh without crossing a line. I also enjoy following Hyderabad comics like Rajasekhar Mamidanna, and Rohit Swain, who’ve helped build a solid scene here.
From the beginning, I knew I wanted to do clean comedy. Not because someone told me to, but because that’s what I’m comfortable with. And honestly, it’s been received really well. One of my most meaningful shows was when I performed a comedy set on periods for World Menstrual Hygiene Day, organised by the Youngistaan Foundation. I was initially hesitant, but the audience’s response was incredibly warm and open. It reminded me how powerful comedy can be when it addresses real things, without being crass.
Most of my material is based on daily life: millennial parenting, relatable moments such as life in the 90s, love marriages, retired parents, Telugu families, IT life, work-from-home struggles, and NRI siblings. One unique element in my sets is musical comedy. I tweak lyrics in Hindi, English, and Telugu to suit the theme. Once, at a karaoke night, I used Kalyani Malik’s songs for a spoof, and he appreciated it himself. That was such a happy surprise.
A major highlight for me was performing at a corporate event at Skyview. I was given 20 minutes but ended up doing 30. The applause lasted more than 30 seconds. My parents, husband, and daughter were all in the audience. That moment stayed with me.
Of course, not every crowd is instantly warm. Crowd work used to scare me. Now, I engage only when I sense a welcoming vibe. Sometimes people don’t laugh, and that’s okay too. You learn to read the room.
One of the most special shows I’ve done was for the Madhav Autism Foundation on World Autism Awareness Day. Performing for parents of children with autism — who rarely get that kind of break — was humbling.
In addition to stand-up, I also won the Mother’s Day Delight competition, organised by SheSight magazine, which featured my comic strips. It was a fantastic moment in my journey. And recently, I performed stand-up at the Hyderabad edition of the book launch for Unscripted, authored by Swarnalata Pothapragada and Dr. Saurabh Patil. It was a night at Ameyaa Social, and I was honoured to contribute to the event. For The ProjeKT40, a cohort for women founded by Anita K Manda, I performed at ISB. I also performed for the audience, who were thoroughly entertained in the award show.
So far, I’ve performed over 50 shows in different spaces in Hyderabad — at charity shows, corporate gigs, and for various Rotaract and Rotary clubs. My next show is a fundraiser on May 17 at Experience Broadway.
Recently, I received the Women of Impact Award in Arts and Culture from Triumphs of Talent, an award from BeTheChange.org, and the Stri Shakti Award from TCEI (Telangana Chamber of Events Industry).
Balancing comedy and work isn’t easy. But I’ve been lucky. My manager in the U.S. encourages me and even says I should perform internationally someday. I usually pick weekend shows or selectively take up weekday ones that align with my schedule.
Looking ahead, I’d love to do a full 1-hour solo set in a dedicated comedy club where I have the audience’s full attention. I also want to close every show with a small but impactful message — especially encouraging women to find time for themselves. Even an hour a week doing something you love can help prevent burnout.
My advice to working women — and to anyone juggling multiple roles — is this: protect your joy. We often get lost in doing things for others. It’s equally important to pause and do something just for yourself. Also, it’s time we start asking men how they balance work and life too, not just women.
Hyderabad’s comedy scene is growing. But we need more clubs and open spaces. More venues mean more voices, more styles, more laughter.
When I started, a few people told me clean comedy wouldn’t get me far. But I stayed true to myself and slowly found my audience — people who value authenticity. My journey’s still unfolding. But for now, I’m here, on stage, in the moment, and one laugh at a time.”
— Sushma Chitta