Jamie Lever: 'I’d encourage more women to take up comedy’

Jamie Lever

Coming from the lineage of the country's original stand-up comedian and a film industry veteran, Johnny Lever, she has carved her niche over the past decade. Taking it a step further, Jamie Lever is now gearing up to do a one-woman comedy show, The Jamie Lever Show, set to play in Mumbai and Thane this month. "For any comedian or artiste, it is a big accomplishment to get a one-man or a one-woman show. It is a big deal, and I feel confident," says Jamie, who has done over 250 shows worldwide.

Jamie reveals that the idea originated four years ago when her father pushed her towards building her own brand. She promises it will be a "paisa vasool" show. "There will be a lot of impersonations, [portraying] different characters, and a musical piece. People love to see me play Asha Bhosle ji, Farah Khan ma'am, and Kangana Ranaut," she says, adding that her set will also touch on current affairs, besides talking about her life as Johnny's daughter. While it has been a struggle since she started 10 years ago, especially for a female comic, she says that times are changing for the better.

"The audiences have warmed up to female comedians. But parents and families still have reservations about letting their girls get into this profession. It's a scary feeling to be alone on stage. [Since] we are known to endure a lot of stress and pain [in general], this is not a difficult task. I'd encourage more women to take up comedy and be bold in this field." Apart from the one-woman shows, Jamie also has a film release in Vidyut Jammwal's Crakk and is making her debut in Telugu with Aa Okkati Adakku.