Laugh it off : Standup comedian Gurleen Pannu talks about her upcoming show
It isn't a 'joke' when they say 'laughter is the best medicine'; it is indeed everyone's favourite way to keep stress at bay. And standup comedy is a dose many people prefer when they want to unwind and laugh out loud. Standup comedian Gurleen Pannu is one such dose of humour set to take the stage in the city, promising a night of relatable jokes. With her upcoming show 'Pannu Yaar' , the 27-year-old is all set to entertain the audience with her take on young adulthood.
The title of her solo is based on her first solo experience as a standup comedian – a metaphor for her journey. 'I wanted to do something funny, relatable and original. But I did not have an umbrella or a single story that I wanted to talk about for hours. So, I just compiled all the bits that I had and this is a show of different bits together,' she shares.
Pannu's journey into standup comedy began accidentally – as a hobby eventually growing into a full-time career. 'It was mostly because I used to do theatre in college. I just started doing different stuff like making comedy sketches on YouTube. Then, I started writing those sketches, and editing them as well. Later, when the lockdown happened. I had nowhere to go, that's why I started doing online mics,' she recalls.
Speaking about her show, Pannu explains, 'It is majorly about my stepping into adulthood, about people in their early and late 20s, how they suddenly step into a new world. Besides that, I have included some observational bits as well.'
Throughout this journey, Pannu's approach to engaging with the audience has been simple. 'Crowd work is spontaneous and improvised. If something happens on the show, if I talk to someone and whatever they say, I just have to give a comeback or say a funny thing or have an interaction with them,' she says.
Having performed and visited the city on several occasions, she also appreciates the city's audience, who, according to her, is well-versed in stand-up comedy. 'I really like Bengaluru,' she says, adding, 'People here watch a lot of standup and are well aware of what the art form is and what the punchline is. They listen patiently and get the punchline. This understanding is way more in Bengaluru than in any other city.' Despite the occasional challenges or blocks that she faces, Pannu gets candid about what motivates her in her journey. 'What keeps me going is basically a love for the stage and the high I get when I perform or crack a joke.'
As she prepares for her upcoming show, Pannu also gives a piece of advice to beginners in standup. 'Just keep writing and getting on stage. Do as much stage time as you can, and keep building your material,' she signs off.
(Catch Gurleen Pannu live at Phoenix Mall of Asia on June 21 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on bookmyshow.com, starting at ₹799 )
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
End of content creators? YouTube Shorts to let users make videos with text prompts
Anyone can soon make short videos for YouTube without needing a camera or video editing skills. YouTube is gearing up to integrate its latest AI video generation technology, Veo 3, directly into YouTube Shorts later this summer. The company's CEO, Neal Mohan, revealed this update during his keynote speech at Cannes Lions. This new AI model lets users produce complete short video clips with both visuals and sound by simply entering text prompts, which will make it a significant advance in AI-driven content creation. Currently, Shorts creators use the previous Veo 2 model, which allows them to generate backgrounds through Dream Screen or create standalone clips. While Mohan did not provide detailed features of Veo 3's Shorts integration, he highlighted improvements in video quality and audio inclusion, which suggests these enhancements will be available for Shorts users. Also read: India's digital job scene to expand in 2025 with rise in AI and data-driven roles At present, Veo 3 video generation is accessible through paid subscriptions to Google's AI Pro or AI Ultra plans. It remains unclear whether using Veo 3 within Shorts will require a similar subscription, and Google has not given any clarification on this. YouTube has also announced that Shorts now reach over 200 billion views per day, which reflects their growing popularity. However, the introduction of Veo 3 raises concerns about misuse, particularly the potential to create deepfake videos of celebrities or imitate well-known creators. To address these risks, YouTube is collaborating with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and other partners to develop tools which will allow public figures to control the use of their likenesses on the platform. The effectiveness of these protective measures is still uncertain. Also read: Neurotech and brain data: New frontier of privacy concerns The rise of AI-generated content could also impact the earnings of authentic creators. More than one-quarter of YouTube Partner Program members earn income from Shorts, and the influx of AI-produced videos may saturate the platform, which may potentially push genuine creators to explore alternatives like TikTok or Instagram Reels. Also read: Google I/O 2025: Gemini Live with camera now free for everyone, Veo 3 for AI Ultra and other reveals In short, YouTube's integration of Veo 3 into Shorts aligns with Google's broader strategy to lead the short-form video market through generative AI. While this technology could make content creation more accessible, it also raises legitimate questions about originality, creative value, and the long-term health of the platform in an AI-driven environment.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Giannis Antetokounmpo's wife Mariah Riddlesprigger shuts down his newfound passion as the Greek Freak sought help from IShowSpeed and Kai Cenat
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mariah Riddlesprigger. Image via:Money has a loud noise, and everyone seems to fall for it, even Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. In a recent clip, having a chat with his wife Mariah Riddlesprigger, Antetokounmpo shared that he wants to stream and make loads of money. However, the idea was straightaway declined by his wife, who reminded him of existing responsibilities on his hands. Giannis Antetokounmpo's wife, Mariah Riddlesprigger does not want her husband to fall for streaming Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo may be one of the NBA 's most dominant forces on the court, but off the hardwood, he's considering an entirely different arena, live streaming. In a playful interaction with his wife, Mariah Riddlesprigger, Giannis opened up about his desire to step into the world of online content creation, sparking interest across social media and the streaming community. During a now-viral TikTok Live, Giannis turned to his fans and asked, 'Should I start streaming? IShowSpeed, Kai Cenat, help a brother out!' The questioncertainly showed his genuine curiosity about diving into the booming world of streaming. Giannis praised both Kai Cenat and IShowSpeed, calling them engaging and excellent at what they do. 'I've seen them how they're doing it, they're actually good at it. Engaging, they're very good!' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Foz Do Iguaçu (consulte o preço) Alarmes Undo The two popular streamers, who have built massive audiences on Twitch and YouTube, were name-dropped repeatedly as Giannis contemplated following their lead. His interest appears to be more than a passing thought, it's part of a larger trend of elite athletes exploring ways to connect with fans beyond traditional sports media. However, not everyone in the Antetokounmpo household was sold on the idea. His wife, Mariah, quickly offered a practical perspective. When Giannis asked why he shouldn't pursue streaming, she immediately rejected the idea, 'Because we have four kids and a lot of other responsibilities.' The couple's humorous back-and-forth continued, as Giannis tried to justify the venture by pointing out the financial upside. 'Do you know how much money they make? They make a lot of money, baby.' Even though he already has a lucrative NBA contract— with $54 million set for the upcoming season and nearly $300 million earned in his career— Giannis seems intrigued by the challenge and creativity of streaming. He recently returned from a vacation in Brazil and appeared refreshed and reflective, perhaps setting the stage for new endeavors during what he called 'the greatest offseason of all time.' 'Basically, I'm having my own podcast without doing nothing,' Giannis joked. 'People are out here asking me questions.' His wife quipped in response, 'Which is what streamers do, right?' Also Read: Who is Mark Walter? Here's everything you need to know about Los Angeles Lakers' new owner Of course, at this point, it is not clear if Giannis would actually follow on the idea of being a streamer as part of his side hustle, but Mariah is skeptical as she fears that the Greek Freak will be left with very little time for his family amid his already busy NBA schedule. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
18-year-old aspiring actor duped with fake offer, blackmailed with morphed photos
Mumbai Police have registered a case against several individuals for allegedly cheating an 18-year-old aspiring actress by falsely promising her a role in a web series. The accused reportedly took money from the victim through online transactions and later threatened to leak digitally altered photos of her on social media if she did not pay additional to police, the victim received a WhatsApp message on June 11 from a man who introduced himself as 'Bhavesh,' a producer linked to 'GM Studio.' He also mentioned a director named Rahul Patel and offered her a role in an upcoming web Believing the offer to be genuine, the victim shared her portfolio, Instagram handle and YouTube links with Bhavesh. Over the next few days, Bhavesh kept in regular contact, discussed the project's storyline and introduced her to a man named Shivam Agarwal, who was allegedly cast as her co-actor in the web from an Instagram account named ' added to the impression of a legitimate production setup. Soon after, Bhavesh requested Rs 2,000 for flight arrangements, followed by further demand of approximately Rs 6,000 citing ticket bookings and a medical emergency. The police informed that a total of Rs 7,836 was transferred by the victim via India Post Payments days later, the victim was asked to meet Shivam at the Metro INOX Theatre in Churchgate for a supposed rapport-building session. Interestingly, Shivam identified himself as 'Bhavesh' at the theatre's ticket counter. After the meeting, he dropped her off at Andheri and that day, Bhavesh called the victim and claimed that Shivam was acting erratically and insisted that she meet him again. When she refused, the conversation took a threatening turn, following which the victim blocked Bhavesh's number. On June 15, she received a morphed obscene image of herself along with a demand for Rs 40,000. The sender threatened to send the image to her father and post it on social media if she did not harassment escalated when Bhavesh began messaging her from another number he had earlier claimed belonged to his sister, repeating the threats. Despite blocking several numbers, extortion calls continued late into the night of June 17, warning her of public defamation unless she contacted a specific number shared by the and fearing for her safety and reputation, the victim approached the DN Nagar Police and filed a formal complaint. In her statement, she named Bhavesh, Shivam Agarwal and other unidentified individuals as the DN Nagar Police have registered a case under relevant provisions and an investigation is underway, with officials currently examining digital evidence linked to the Watch IN THIS STORY#Mumbai
