Laugh along with “RSK”

Many remember him as Adam Sandler’s marijuana-smoking assistant,Ula,in 50 First Dates,or the uncoordinated police ranger,Marvin Mange,in The Animal. But American comedian,actor and director,Rob Schneider,on his first trip to India,finds “Indianness” —“driving,getting stuck in traffic and the airport”— a new inspiration for his performances. “I have been able to experience India from the inside,” he boasts before the Delhi edition of a five-city tour called ‘Black Dog Comedy Evenings’ at Westin hotel in Gurgaon.

“I love the challenge and the immediate response in stand-up acts. It’s like popcorn. But I like films. Doing films is the most satisfying of all experiences,” says the 48-year-old who kick-started his funny-man career with Saturday Night Live,an American late-night comedy series. Bollywood,inevitably,has left an impression. “I have watched Dhoom 2 and would love to work in Bollywood films with Rajnikanth,who,I know,is the biggest actor in India,and Shah Rukh Khan,” he says. Flaunting a self-annointed Bollywood name,“Rob Schneider Khan”,he jokes,“In fact,a lot of people mistake me for Rajnikanth. I tell them I’m not. But they don’t believe me.”

Schneider’s last film was Jack and Jill,earlier this year,and he is currently working on his television production,Rob. Its storyline,based on a newlywed man who cannot stop being a bachelor and cannot adjust to his Mexican in-laws,is almost autobiographical. “Rob is not my life but is influenced by it. I’m married to a beautiful Mexican woman,who is funnier than I. There’s Mexican food cooked in my kitchen,which has added 10 pounds to my weight,” he says.

(Inputs by Anjali Jhangiani)