“I never wanted kids,” says Sorabh Pant, taking a swig of his Erdinger beer. “I just never got the idea of children. Heck, I didn’t even want to get married.” On this balmy afternoon, the stand-up comic is seated at Woodside Inn in South Mumbai, “trying to get some writing done” between meetings, press interviews and testing new material at open mic nights.
He’s on the phone a lot – but that’s because he’s coordinating a play date with his son for later in the day. “I used to think if I didn’t have all these responsibilities, I’d be able to achieve more on the work front,” he says. “Holy shit, was I wrong.”
Pant has, in the past five years, spawned East India Comedy, one of the country’s most successful comedy companies, a couple of best-selling novels and two brand new human beings: His two-year-old son, Vikramaditya, and five-month-old daughter, Nayantara. Now, he has a two-hour show, pithily titled My Baby Thinks I’m Funny, on tour and streaming on Amazon Prime Video; a third novel on its way this year; but he’s retired from baby-making. Even though he “absolutely” loves kids now.
“Well, not all of them, of course,” Pant says. “Like most humans, it’s a bit hit-and-miss too. But most of them are awesome.” He wears fatherhood well, as his over-a-million Twitter followers would testify. He’s fitter, his stand-up career’s on fire – enough to branch out on his own – and his children are the toast of his Instagram feed.
Here, Pant talks to GQ about negotiating the tricky territory of young parenthood, and how to do it the 21st-century way, clichés included. Yes, you won’t sleep for about a hundred years, but it’ll be worth it.
Spend as much time as you can with your child.
Denne historien er fra June 2017-utgaven av GQ India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 2017-utgaven av GQ India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THE FUTURE SOUNDS LIKE AT EEZ
The Coachella-slaying, multi-language-singing, genre-obliterating members of Ateez are quickly becoming load-bearing stars of our global pop universe.
DEMNA UNMASKED
He's the most influential designer of the past decade. He's also the most controversial. Now the creative director of Balenciaga is exploring a surprising source of inspiration: happiness. GQ's Samuel Hine witnesses the dawn of Demna's new era, in Paris, New York, and Shanghai. Photographs by Jason Nocito.
Inside the undercover adventures of a full-time fraud sleuth.
HOW TO MAKE A FORTUNE AS A PROFESSIONAL WHISTLE-BLOWER
A LIFE OF FASHION
In an extensive conversation, the menswear icon discusses his rise, his mistakes, his triumphs, his retirement, and what the future holds for him and his beloved brand.
IN THE SOUTH OF FRANCE WITH GEORGE & BRAD
They've spent three decades living intertwined lives at the inconceivably glamorous height of Hollywood. Now, having crossed the threshold of 60, they're more comfortable than ever throwing bombs, dispensing hard-won wisdom, and, yes, arguing about who had the better mullet in the '80s.
ALEXANDER THE GRITTY
One of India's most creative chefs comes of age.
Penning History
Montblanc marks 100 years of its iconic Meisterstück with new writing instruments inspired by the 1924 Olympic Games.
Royal Enfield Forges a New Path
Say hello to the company's most cutting-edge roadster.
Arooj Aftab Owns the Night
The Grammy Award-winning artist, fresh off a Glastonbury set, speaks to GQ about her new album, Night Reign, from the ideas that led to its conception to its genre-defying collabs with Elvis Costello, Kaki King and more.
Louis Vuitton's New Beat
The luxury maison's latest addition to the Tambour line reiterates its commitment to watchmaking and craftsmanship.