People who say women aren’t funny are dumb. At 37, sisterhood is everything to me“There is more awareness about the power and reach of digital creators today, but I think there’s still work to be done in terms of the respect they get. A lot of times even the biggest of digital creators are viewed by brands or agencies as just numbers or stats or demographics. You won’t describe actors that way”BOMBAY TIMES EXCLUSIVEAcross 15 years, comedian, author and actor Lilly Singh has risen from a glittering digital sensation to a commanding voice in mainstream entertainment. Humour may be her forte, but her conscientious social awareness sets her apart. A fierce advocate for gender equality and the first woman of colour to host a U.S. late-night show, she remains a disruptor who refuses to fit into a mold. In India to film a new season of her podcast Shame Less With Lilly Singh, featuring diverse Indian celebrities, Bombay Times caught up with the pop culture trailblazer and diehard Bollywood fan for some heart-to-heart. Excerpts… There are so many podcasts these days. You are shooting your new season here. What draws you to this medium? I know what it feels like to be asked redundant, surface level questions. I have been subjected to, ‘When are you getting married or tell us about your future projects’ grind, so I know what not to ask. I like to go deeper. I like to be asked about my fears, insecurities, anxieties and hope. The beauty of a conversation is like, oh, you said something and I’m hearing it. And now I’m picking your brain on this thing you said. It’s less about interviewing people and more about having a conversation. We’re expecting some heavy hitters on my show for sure. I am a huge Bollywood fan but we’re trying to expand our show to other fields of life so it’s not just going to be about actors and actresses.
BT caught up with Lilly Singh in Mumbai
You were awarded an honorary doctorate degree from York University recently. In your speech you said life rarely follows a straight path. ‘Having it all figured out is a myth’. Has that been your journey, too?I was thinking when I was graduating, what do I wish someone had told me? And I think at that age, you really have a delusion around thinking you have things figured out. In your 20s, you’re like, I know what I like and don’t like, what my career is going to be and who I am as a person. But you really don’t. We are constantly evolving in our life. I don’t think we ever actually completely know who we are, especially at that age. I am York alumna, and I wanted to give the grads an idea that whatever degree they pursued, might not be their future job. I don’t know a single person whose degree is the thing that they’re doing. It’s Important to embrace that flexibility. You started on Youtube 15 years ago, when it was not really a big thing. Today digital and social media are mainstream. Is there more respect for this profession (bloggers, influencers) today as opposed to 15 years ago?I do think people understand it more now. I no longer get asked how do you make money on YouTube? How can you have a career? People understand the profession more now. There is more awareness about the power and reach of creators, but I think there’s still work to be done in terms of the respect they get. A lot of times even the biggest of digital creators are viewed by brands- or agencies as just numbers or stats or demographics. You won’t describe actors that way. It’s not mentally healthy for people to just be known for their online following. It’s not the right message to send across. There’s also a debate on casting being influenced by a talent’s social media following. Good acting should get you an acting part, isn’t it? What’s your take on that?I’m privileged in the sense that it’s never personally happened to me. Maybe that’s because I have a big online following, so maybe I’m on the other side of that. I think it’s a greater conversation, as casting directors, the people that make decisions, they care about way too many things. Like, oh, this show will become too diverse if this person gets cast, or this person doesn’t look this way. There are too many factors at play. It should just be about whether this person embodies this part. We need to go back to art a little bit. We’ve commercialized and made everything into a business. You’ve always been at the forefront of this fight for diversity and representation in Hollywood. Is there more room for South Asian actors in the west now? If I were to invite all the brown people in Hollywood today, I will have a full house. But if you ask any of them if it is easier for them to be cast or make movies, their answer will be no. In fact, in Hollywood diversity has taken a step backwards. It’s even harder than before. There was a period when executives felt guilty about diversity, and they did some diverse stuff, but we have gone back to making movies on white people. I go to the theatre all the time and play this game. I hang on for the previews and make note of how many films have exclusively white people. Five out of eight trailers will only have white people. You don’t need all white casting for stories to be told. So, I do think that we are taking steps backwards. But not to be too pessimistic, I do think that there’s a lot of desis in Hollywood now, who are fighting this. Listen, I’m super grateful. I cannot complain about my career. I get to do cool things, but I don’t think people realize how hard it is behind the scenes. Every day I am fighting with people to get stories made, to get finance, distribution, to get a budget that makes making a movie even possible. Everything is a challenge. You use humour as a social dialogue, way beyond entertainment. What’s your take on this standard critique that women are not funny enough? I don’t think anyone needs to be anything. People should do what’s right for them. In my personal life or career, I’ve always used comedy. I think it makes things a lot easier. People don’t like to be told what to do so humour helps. Not every joke you tell has to impact culture and break patriarchy. Sometimes it’s also just about being human. And people who say, women are not funny enough? They are dumb. You know what’s so funny about the women aren’t funny remark? It makes me laugh because comedy is subjective. I’m going to find something funny. You’re not going to find it funny. It’ fine. When someone goes, oh, you’re not funny because I didn’t find you funny. Like, baby boy, this is not for you, Ben. I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for this person over here. Why do you think you matter? We have seen you with Reese Witherspoon, Priyanka Chopra. You are a girl’s girl. How important is sisterhood in your life? Female friendship has always been important to me but at 37, sisterhood is everything to me. Because women have unique experiences that not everyone can understand. They see your pain. There’s so much empathy. Female friendship makes me most seen. Growing up, I was never taught this, but we should talk about finances, contract, how did we achieve this or that if we wish to progress together. So many women have inspired me. I mean, my mom is here. Malala Yousafzai is so inspiring. Priyanka Chopra’s fierce foray and transition to Hollywood. She fought battles that most of us don’t even know. Emma Watson’s gender advocacy… I am standing on the shoulders of these women. For a non-Mumbaikar you are quite filmy. Tell us about your take on the city and Bollywood. Mumbai holds a special place in my heart. I have been here a bunch of time. As a kid I would only visit Punjab when i would come to India as that’s where my family is. I came to Mumbai the first time in 2013-2014 and it’s a core memory for me because I was invited to Mannat and I also met Madhuri Dixit. I have that same giddy feeling now. I love the people here and the jugaad that happens. Everyone genuinely believes that tension nahi leneka, everything is workable. I find that inspiring and amusing because I am always tense. As far as Bollywood is concerned, I am obsessed! I was raised exclusively on Bollywood in Toronto. My first movie, my first concert, all Bollywood. Which is why, when I do auditions in Hollywood now, they’re always like, ‘your facial expressions, your timing, it’s all a little dramatic’ (laughed). I would love to do a Bollywood film! Karan, are you listening?
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source timesofindia.indiatimes.com ’
