"The world is full of colours, and the world of pop culture is full of even more colours you can't see in the world," said Rohan Joshi, one of India's most beloved stand-up comedians, also an actor and a writer. A founding member of AIB, Joshi is celebrated as the "pop culture king" by his fans, thanks to his knack for recommending everything from books to anime. This year, he brought his trademark energy to Comic Con 2024 held in Delhi. At the event, Joshi participated in a quirky game called "Poptionary" alongside Indian artist Harun Robert, famously known as Rob. We caught up with Joshi and in a candid conversation with indianexpress.com, he spoke about the transformative power of pop culture, his journey from journalism to comedy, the evolving landscape of Indian stand-up comedy, and gave his latest recommendations for books, movies, and games. Read edited excerpts below. Q: What do pop culture and Comic Con mean to you? Rohan Joshi: Pop culture is one of the safest, happiest places to retreat into my head. Whether it's movies, books, games, or shows, it offers a space to experience deep emotions at low stakes. The world is full of colours, and the world of pop culture is full of even more colours you can't see in the real world. It’s this happy, shining place to go to at the end of the day or whenever you need an extra reservoir of joy. Comic Con, to me and for a lot of people, is is the ultimate safe space for pop culture nerds. Yes, we live in a world that embraces nerd culture much more than it did 20 years ago, but even now, there aren’t many places where you can say, “I love this anime so much that I want to dress up as my favourite character and hang out with 50 other people who will engage me about it.” Q: How has pop culture in India evolved over the last decade? What role do digital platforms play in this evolution? Rohan Joshi: Digital platforms have played a massive role. Social media, in particular, has given nerds a space to congregate and discuss their favourite things in hyper-detail. However, there’s also a downside—some fandoms have become toxic. But if you focus on healthy discussions, the growth of pop culture through these platforms is undeniable. Q: What inspired you to transition from journalism to comedy? Rohan Joshi: The transition was relatively easy because I was working for a television news channel, and even then, it was clear where broadcast news was heading. I wasn’t happy with the direction it was taking. Comedy became my outlet because it allowed me to engage with the world in a way that journalism did not. Through humour, I can dissect issues—whether trivial or serious—and understand them better while bringing that analysis to audiences in a lighter, more relatable way. Q: How do you see the current state of journalism? Rohan Joshi: I’m wary of tarring everyone with the same brush. When people criticise the state of journalism, they’re often talking about mainstream outlets that churn out clickbait pieces to drive engagement, whether through rage-inducing headlines or questionable tactics. But there’s still integrity in the journalistic process among some online outlets and individual creators. Many are using smartphones and internet access to pose tough questions and speak truth to power. So, while mainstream legacy media may be failing in some ways, journalism as a concept and practice is far from dead. We just need to be selective in pointing fingers to avoid dismissing the entire field. Q: Beyond comedy and pop culture, what hobbies or interests do you pursue in your personal time? Rohan Joshi: One thing I find incredibly helpful is playing sports or lifting at the gym. When you’re deadlifting 120 kilos, there’s no room to think about politics or personal problems—it’s just you and the weights. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rohan Joshi (@mojorojo) Similarly, when I play tennis, after 20 minutes of running for points, your heart rate is at 180, and all you can think about is your next breath. It’s a pure, organic way to clear your mind and engage your brain and body without relying on screens. Q: We’re seeing comedians start their own intellectual properties (IPs)—like Tanmay Bhat with meme reactions or Samay Raina with IGL. Do you think having your own IP has become a necessity for comedians in India? Rohan Joshi: While having your own IP is great, I don’t think it’s a necessity. What is essential, however, is exploring multiple platforms for your comedy. Stand-up comedy alone hasn’t been the sole revenue source for comedians in a while. Stand-up requires you to physically perform, and you can only earn on the days you’re touring. Over the last decade, comedians have embraced other streams—Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, podcasts. It’s part of a global trend where comedy has become multifaceted. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chaar Yaar By Amit Tandon (@chaaryaarpodcast) Q: Have you considered creating your own IP? Rohan Joshi: I think the biggest mistake is jumping on a bandwagon just because something is successful. Some of the worst ideas come from imitating what’s already popular. For example, after Zakir Khan exploded onto the scene, every other comedian at open mics was trying to be him. Why be a carbon copy when the original exists? Instead, look at what’s working and ask yourself, “What unique journey can I go on?” Q: What advice would you offer to aspiring comedians? Rohan Joshi: Find your own voice. Audiences don’t want the fourth version of something they’ve already seen—they want to see you. Honesty and integrity to your unique voice will always yield more long-term success. Q: Any recommendations for books, movies, shows, or games? Rohan Joshi: I’m currently reading Fairy Tale by Stephen King—it’s King’s take on a classic fairy tale, and it’s beautiful. I recently watched a weird and wild anime called Dandadan. Another recommendation is Severance, whose second season is coming out soon. In movies, I loved It's What’s Inside on Netflix and The Killing of a Sacred Deer by Yorgos Lanthimos. As for games, my favourite of the decade is Baldur’s Gate 3—I’ve spent over 400 hours on it. Astro Bot has also been just one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. I also enjoyed The Silent Hill 2 because of the dread and anxiety done so well in it. For something older, I recommend Echo, a PlayStation classic.
