Viraj Ghelani has had a stellar 2024. The comedy content creator levelled up from a cameo in last year’s blockbuster Jawan to snagging the lead role in the Gujarati horror-comedy Jhamkudi. In addition to taking over the silver screen, Ghelani also went 0-100 in the standup comedy department. Just 5 months after making his standup debut in May, the newly minted comic went international with his hour That’s So Viraj with tours in Australia and the United Kingdom. And if you think that’s unreal, get this—the comedian sold out two shows at Mumbai’s Royal Opera House in under an hour.
Ahead of his 22 December performances in Mumbai, we got in touch with Ghelani to understand what’s the secret sauce to his success, how he’s adapted to the stage and what’s the next big venue on his radar. Scroll on!
You made your standup debut this year in May and went on your first international tour five months later. How was that experience?
The whole experience was surreal. I had promised myself to explore a new art form every year and this year it was standup’s turn. What began as a challenge quickly turned into something incredibly rewarding. I’m genuinely overwhelmed by the love and appreciation from the audience. On top of that, I never imagined going international so soon. Especially when I went up on stage for the first time only a few months ago! Performing for a live audience has been an amazing learning experience. It has taught me how to think on my feet and adapt to real-time feedback. Along with that, the connection and validation from the audience is absolutely exhilarating.
How did you polish your standup skills in such little time?
I really focused on improving my stage presence and timing to connect better with live audiences. Interacting with fans regularly over the years has helped me build a great in-person rapport. My goal was to bring that energy to the stage. I did reach out to some of my comic friends for advice and observed some of my inspirations to learn and kind of understand how the flow works. Long form performance is a whole different game. It’s about keeping the audience hooked for a longer time. So I put a lot of effort into refining the flow and storyline of my set to keep it interesting, authentic and engaging. For this I leaned on friends in comedy for advice.
You also sold out your show at the Royal Opera House in under 30 minutes. Did you expect this kind of response?
I never imagined my show selling out in under 30 minutes, let alone at such a prestigious venue. I genuinely owe this to my fans. Their unwavering support and love for what I do has made this milestone a reality. It has also inspired me to push myself to do better and deliver performances that keep my audiences entertained. This makes me believe that with hard work I’ll be able to sell out and fill up even bigger and grander spaces. That’s how I want to keep growing as an artist.
Can you tell us a little bit about the show you’re performing?
As always I’ll be talking about Gujarati households and my mother mainly. I like to draw inspiration from my everyday life and my observations are based on how my friends and family members behave on the daily. This set truly brings out what a big mamma’s boy I am. It’s a clean comedy special that people can enjoy with their families, which is what my fans connect with the most. I just hope they have a great time, feel entertained and believe it was worth their time and money.
What’s your process for writing standup?
My process for writing standup is rooted in drawing inspiration from my everyday experiences, especially the time I spend with my family. I focus on crafting material that resonates with my audience by highlighting relatable situations they encounter in their daily lives. That’s what worked for my short form content as well. My goal is to create family-friendly content while staying true to my brand of humour.
What’s your dream venue to perform at?
The dream is to fill out an international venue like Madison Square Garden. But closer home, I would love to perform at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad!
Who is your biggest inspiration when it comes to performing comedy?
When it comes to comedy, Paresh Rawal sir is my ultimate favourite. His delivery is impeccable with flawless timing. His punchlines and expressions are pure magic. Watching him is always mesmerising and I want to draw inspiration from his brilliance as I continue to grow in my craft.
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