Bollywood makes Indians look dumb: Russell Peters

India born Canadian comedian Russell Peters was very amused to see many men holding hands in India.

When Canadian comedian Russell Peters toured India last year he was very amused at how many men hold hands here. Come October 27 and Peters will once again be back on stage, at Shanmukhananda Hall, with his observational comedy about communities and culture around the world. 8220;This time I8217;m hoping to be funny again,8221; says Peters and immediately adds, 8220;Being funny is a tough thing.8221;

This is Peters8217; 20th anniversary tour, and his performance will feature his 8216;greatest hits8217; along with some new material since his visit last year.

Peters who writes his own acts is very popular for his in-your-face mockery of racial stereotypes and his cracks on the cultural divide between different ethnicities. 8220;Ninety-five per cent my act is based on real-life experiences of meeting people. But it is the exaggeration of those experiences that make the act interesting,8221; admits Peters, who says he lets spontaneity get the best out of him. 8220;I don8217;t think about the script once I get on stage. I just go with the flow,8221; he says, whose humour even parodies his parents with the signature 8220;Somebody gotta get hurt real bad8221;.

Peters, who at present lives in Los Angeles, was born in Toronto and is of Indian descent with his father born in Mumbai and his mother in Kolkata. Speaking of which he says, 8220;All of my mother8217;s family, going back to my great-grandmother were born in Kolkata. Even my brother, Clayton, who8217;s also my manager, was born in Kolkata. I have uncles, aunts and several cousins who still live in there.8221;

Although he has travelled the globe belting out witty performances in countries including Australia, China, UAE and Vietnam among others, the one continent he has missed is South America and explains why. 8220;They don8217;t speak English so that8217;s out of question,8221; laughs Peters, who still refuses any Hollywood movie offer that asks him to play a dumb, nerdy NRI Indian. 8220;I think Bollywood makes Indians look dumb enough so I certainly refuse to let anyone else make us look dumber,8221; says Peters with a grin. While his latest release is a self-produced DVD titled Red, White and Brown, the compilation may not find a release in India but he plans to carry some for the fans.