For the world, she may fall into the category of "celebrity kids," but Jamie Lever, legendary actor and comedian Johny Lever's daughter is quick to point out, "You may expect an easy launch, but that isn't always the case." Over the years, Jamie has found her feet as a content creator and has been lauded for her immaculate comic timing and mimicry. She admitted that being her father's daughter is and will always be an advantage, but spoke about why it's essential for her to come out of his shadow. In a candid interview with indianexpress.com, Jamie, who recently performed her show at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), reflected on her journey so far - from being a shy child to being a fan favourite, why, despite being instinctive, comedy wasn't an obvious choice for her, her style of comedy, and her growing-up years. Read the edited excerpts below: Q: From comedienne to actor, how would you describe your journey? Jamie Lever: It’s been a learning curve, realising everyone’s journey won't be the same. Being a celebrity child and knowing how the industry works, you might think an easy launch awaits, but that wasn’t the case for me. I started with club gigs, then moved to stage and eventually a comedy reality show, which led to my first film. Each step helped me establish myself, and I’m proud to have earned respect for my work as "Jamie," not just Johnny Lever’s daughter. Q: Why comedy? Was it like an ‘obvious’ choice? Jamie Lever: Comedy wasn’t an obvious choice for me, but it was instinctive. Growing up, I was shy, but my father saw potential and often encouraged me to perform in front of others. I was that child who gets told, 'Beta uncle ko yeh karke dikhao' (Dear, perform this for uncle)'. Public speaking came easily, and I loved making people laugh. Though I took time to find my path, moving to London and seeing the world ultimately brought me back to my calling: making people smile. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jamie Lever (@its_jamielever) Q: Did you ever feel overshadowed by your father or see him as a competition? Jamie Lever: Never. My father isn't a competitor; he’s my mentor, boss and teacher. Funnily enough, though, I just learnt that my name means 'The One Who Takes Over', someone who fills the shoes of the previous person, carrying their legacy forward. So, I see my role as carrying on his legacy, not overshadowing him. I’ve done over 200 live shows with him, and he’s always given me space to shine. It’s a huge compliment when people see glimpses of him in my performance, but he’s taught me to stand out with my unique style. Q: How important was it to step out of his shadow? Jamie Lever: It was essential to break free from being just 'Johnny Lever’s daughter'. Being his daughter has been like a protective cover around me in the industry. Each person I've met in my career has had some sort of encounter with my father, and it's always been a positive one. Wherever I've gone, I’ve felt and seen so much love people have for my father, and it has naturally passed on to me. Wherever I go, I've been treated so respectfully. I'm bestowed a lot of love and warmth because of their love for my dad. Having said that, I needed to make my mark, especially on social media, where I could express myself freely. The pandemic helped me grow creatively online, which was empowering in establishing my own identity. Q: How would you describe Johnny Lever as a father? How different or similar would you say your father is from his on-screen persona? Jamie Lever: He’s a protective, loving and caring father, but quite different from his comedic persona. People often say he must be cracking jokes all the time at home. While he pampered us, he was also a traditional South Indian father who valued education and discipline. Growing up, we cherished the rare moments he was home. Now, he makes a conscious effort to connect with us, and we share a no-phone breakfast tradition to catch up as a family. We chat and catch up about everything that is happening in our lives. I see him putting a lot of effort to be with us now. Q: Your latest show is being touted as family-friendly. Why did you feel the need to add that disclaimer? Jamie Lever: There’s a lack of family-friendly entertainment options. Many shows have adult content, but I want my shows to be something families can enjoy together. My goal is to carry forward my father’s legacy of clean comedy, offering humour that doesn’t rely on shock value. I wanted people to know that you can have a good laugh, and it doesn't need to be dirty. There are people out there who make dirty and double-meaning jokes, and that's completely okay because there is an audience for it. I, however, cater to family audiences. I’m thrilled when young people want to bring their parents to my shows because it’s relatable and fun. Q: Is there a market for ‘clean comedy’ in India? Jamie Lever: Absolutely, there is a massive market for clean comedy. My shows attract diverse age groups, from teens to seniors, because clean comedy appeals to everyone. While comedy with adult content has an audience, clean humour offers an inclusive experience. On television, you can only do clean comedy. My dad always said to me that his guru, Kalyanji Anandji, would say, 'Non-veg only has limited options. See all the varieties veg food can offer.' Cussing is easy but where is the creativity in that? I respect people who do comedy below the belt. It isn't my style though. I'm very proud of what I can do. I'm trying to carry forward the "Johnny Lever legacy" and bring families together. Q: You are a fantastic mimic, but your knack has also been criticised for being insensitive. Where and how do you decide to draw the line? Jamie Lever: I can't really say because I've never made a personal remark or anything about anyone's family or personal life. I've never really mocked anyone as well. I wouldn't do that as I don't believe in it. If I have unintentionally hurt someone, I am open to apologizing. Mimicry is the highest form of flattery. If somebody is mimicking someone, there are aspects like body language, voice modulation, mannerisms, facial expressions. All of these factors are a part of mimicry. What happens in India is that people can be a little sensitive. Because of the rise of social media, people can say anything. Sometimes, those remarks aren't even correct. I have been trolled. People have said nasty things to me. So far, whoever I've mimicked has thanked me for it. Some people have encouraged me and my art, Farah Khan included. She has been my number one supporter. And she's never said that I've crossed the line. I always try never to cross the line when I impersonate someone. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jamie Lever (@its_jamielever) Q: Do you think the Indian audience is not one to embrace formats like roasts and mimicry — as we take ourselves too seriously, perhaps? Jamie Lever: I am known for mimicry and impersonation. Wherever I perform, people thoroughly enjoy it. They've only encouraged me to do more. Generally, though, in India, we are sensitive. We have a lot of respect and formalities, and there’s less tolerance for roasts or harsh humour here. The intention is never to insult or disrespect anyone, but people may interpret them in any form. In the years to come, we would probably warm up to roasts. We are exposed to other digital platforms where roast formats are being picked up. Future generations will be more open to roasts. Q: Have you had moments when a joke fell flat on stage? Jamie Lever: In my early days, I was often underprepared, and many jokes didn’t land. I realised stand-up comedy is not easy; there is a structure to each joke, premise, mid, punch line, a format that needs to be followed. I went back and started learning how to do stand-up comedy the right way. I remember feeling horrible after being heckled, and I almost considered quitting. With guidance from my father, I learned from each setback. He told me if I wanted to do comedy, I either had to be the best or quit. Ten years later, I'm proud that I'm doing one-woman shows. Q: So many Indian standup artistes are making a mark. What makes you stand out? Jamie Lever: I do have my unique style. When you see my show, you also see that I do enactments, there's music, mimicry, characters that I bring to life on stage. I've been told it's almost like watching a movie. I have different skills, I dance, sing and mimic. I bring all of that together. It's quite a workout when I'm on stage. People leave the show feeling refreshed and happy. That's the end goal of my shows. Q: Have you ever had people at public places approach you and ask you to crack a joke or mimic their favourite star? Jamie Lever: Yes, it happens frequently! People have randomly come up to me and asked if I can mimic something in Farah's voice. Recently, a restaurant owner in Goa refused our bill, saying my father and I had made them laugh for years. All they wanted was a “thank you” in Kareena Kapoor’s voice! Everywhere I go, people want me to mimic. Sometimes it's an awkward situation but they love what I do. I take it positively and I love interacting with people. It can be difficult, but it shows that people enjoy my work. Q: What’s next for Jamie Lever? Jamie Lever: I have tours planned for the UK and USA next year, plus a new web series on Amazon Prime that’s different from anything I’ve done. I’m also excited about two upcoming film projects where audiences will see me in a fresh light.
