How Indian Comic Ram Arangi Went From Vizag to the World
Earlier this year, 21-year-old Nitish Kumar Reddy made his mark on cricketing history with a maiden century at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. As Harsha Bhogle, the voice of Indian cricket, beautifully put it, “It’s a hundred of great romance, valour, excitement, and emotion.” But it was his next words that truly struck a chord: “From Visakhapatnam to one of the world’s greatest stadiums, the tears and the hard work—they’ve been worth it.”
But this isn’t the only story putting Vishakhapatnam on the global map. Ram Arangi’s journey is equally compelling, though in an entirely different arena. Raised in Visakhapatnam, where career paths were mapped out with conventional expectations, Arangi defied norms to pursue a comedy career. A fan of late-night talk shows, he’s now carving a name for himself on the European comedy circuit, blending South Indian cultural quirks, immigrant struggles, and sharp social commentary into his unique performances.
When asked whether he’s a “punching up” or “punching down” comedian, Ram reflects that early in his career, his comedy was about punching up—challenging those who expected him to feel inferior. “I was saying, ‘I’m not going to be defined by how I look or sound,’” he explains. But over time, Ram realised everyone has their struggles. Diasporic audiences who throng to his shows relate strongly with how Arangi persistently addresses the elephant in the room. His routine is dotted with uncomfortable subjects—like dealing with immigration authorities, mistaken identities and the mundaneness of being a foreigner. What sets Ram apart from other Indian comics touring Europe, though, is his transparent narration of the Indian experience—which is complicated to say the least.
A Small-Town Dreamer with Big-Time Laughs
Growing up, Ram was a studious child raised in a South Indian household that valued academics. Comedy in Vizag was limited to Tenali Ramakrishna comics, mimicry acts or fleeting moments in Telugu films. However, Ram’s first exposure to comedy came through a grainy YouTube clip of Conan O’Brien. Watching the quippy banter and razor-sharp wit of late-night television hosts in America, he felt an unfamiliar pull. “I had no idea stand-up was even a thing,” he admits. But something clicked.
A scholarship to the University of Oklahoma took Ram to the U.S., where he majored in Sports Management & Entrepreneurship. If America represented the land of opportunity, it also delivered an unexpected reality check. Early encounters with racial microaggressions, particularly around his accent, reframed his perspective. “My father always admired people who spoke with an American accent,” Ram recalls. “But the first time I heard it used against me in a derogatory way, I knew I would never change the way I spoke”. This defiance would later become central to his comedic voice.
To Be Young, Gifted and Foreign!
After graduation, Ram moved to New York City, where he immersed himself in the stand-up scene, attending shows at the infamous Comedy Cellar almost every night. His first live stand-up experience was watching his idol Bill Burr in Tulsa—an unforgettable night that solidified his passion for the craft. With the foundation of standup comedy education now built, Ram headed towards his next destination. Europe.
Shortly after arriving in Spain to pursue his master’s in international business, Ram was robbed at gunpoint—a story he now tells with his signature humor. “I lost my wallet but gained a new personality”. A job at Nike as a supply chain lead brought him to Amsterdam, where he got his next wake-up call: racially charged encounters. From being mistaken for an Uber Eats driver to being accused of shoplifting spices, each of these pushed him closer to the stage. Being felt less than simply because of how he looked made Ram, a lifelong introvert, finally face his fears.
His journey towards standup excellence had humble beginnings. But his first set, performed at a park open mic with just a few spectators (and a couple of stray dogs), sparked something within him. Ram quickly realised that his experiences as an outsider resonated with anyone who had ever felt out of place. After cutting his teeth in countless open mics, Ram took a leap of faith.
The Edinburgh Fringe Gamble
Despite being a newcomer, Ram took a bold leap and self-produced a show at the prestigious 2022 Edinburgh Fringe Festival—the world’s largest arts festival. “Everyone told me I wasn’t ready,” he says. “Which was exactly why I knew I had to do it.”
His first night had an audience of just three people in a 70-seat cave-like venue. The next day, he hit the streets to hand out flyers and didn’t stop for three weeks straight. By the end of the festival, his show was selling out. According to Ram, “Fringe is a place where people from all different cultures come together. That gave me the self-belief that no matter if I do the show in Mumbai or if I do it in Bratislava, people are people.”
Ram Arangi is the boss and the intern of his comedy business. His corporate life instilled in him discipline and a work ethic. “I have spreadsheets,” Ram said, referring to running his comedy enterprise. He takes care of everything, including creating posters, finding venues to perform in, negotiating fees, handling tickets, promoting shows, and shooting and editing content for social media.
The Influence of Unmet Idols
For Ram, comedy is both a craft and a compass. “It was in high school when I realised the weight of being a goody two-shoes. If my friends from then were to watch my standup videos now, they would accuse them of being AI-generated.” In the U.S., it also became crystal clear to him that standup comedy was, in fact, a legitimate art form. After six years of journaling his thoughts, Ram unleashed them at open mics in Amsterdam.
As the co-founder of Clink Comedy Club, Amsterdam’s only independently run comedy club, he has built a stage where humour thrives without filters, proving that the best jokes don’t just entertain—they resonate.
Ram cites comedy legend, the late Patrice O’Neal, as a major influence. “Whenever you make a joke, as much as the funny is important, make sure that it’s a joke that can divide the room,” Ram quoted O’Neal. The first time Ram met Bill Burr was at the annual Patrice O’Neal benefit. “It’s like my hero paying tribute to his hero,” Ram said.
Looking Within and Keeping It Real
“I enjoy bringing joy to people, but I’m also a very sad person,” Ram admits. His goal is to show that it’s okay to face difficulties and still lead a fulfilling life. For him, films have been the medium that taught him this lesson. Before he became a comedian, Ram was a screenwriter, using journaling as a way to process his thoughts. Over time, he discovered his writings captured moments and experiences he had never seen portrayed on screen. “There are things I can talk about that haven’t been shown before… real experiences that happen to many people,” he says.
Caste is a recurring theme in Ram’s work, shaped by a pivotal moment in the 10th grade when he realised it was not something he could ignore. Coming from a historically marginalised caste background, he began to notice how the heroes he admired all belonged to upper-caste communities. This awareness fueled his perspective, making caste not just a subject of his comedy but a deeply personal lens through which he examines society.
It’s a revelation that made him confront the unfairness of the caste system and its lasting impact. He compares it to racism in Oklahoma, which he believes is the “golden standard,” yet feels the caste system has inflicted even more pain on him and his family in India.
“NRI – Not Really Indian”
This year, Ram realized one of his biggest dreams in his comedy career: performing at the Comedy Store in London, opening for Romanian comedian Victor Patrascan. Next year will be even bigger: more solo shows, finally pitching his movie and a trip to London to brush up on his screenplays. “I know I will make it happen even if it comes out as a short film to start with,” Ram said.
Ram has an interesting relationship with his hometown because he’s a romantic stuck in the past. “Whenever I go, people [call] me a throwback human being,” Ram said. While his last performance in India was in 2023, during a tour called NRI—Not Really Indian—with his friend Sid Singh, he plans on returning to the homeland to do more spots soon. Once he becomes a full-time comedian, his goal is to do at least two months of shows in India. “It would not be fair for me to claim that I’m an artist and talk all the big talk without actually doing it in the lion’s den,” Ram said. Just last month, Ram opened for Russell Peters—the very first Indian-origin comedian he grew up watching in Amsterdam.
A perfect circle
Ram is swiftly becoming a standout voice in the European comedy scene—not just another Indian comedian abroad, but one redefining what it means to be fearless, funny, and unapologetically himself.
This March, Ram returned to where it all began—New York City. From March 22 to 25, he took the stage for the first time in the very city where he spent countless hours absorbing the craft of stand-up. “The most notable show was when I got to headline a show at The Grisly Pear, often referred to as the “Gateway to Comedy Cellar,” he shared. But this isn’t just another milestone; it’s the launch of his solo show tour across the U.K., Italy, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, and the Netherlands.
At these shows, he unpacks a defining moment from his childhood in India—one that resurfaced in Europe and set him on the path of stand-up. In June, Ram headlined his solo show ‘White Saviour’ at the Lent Festival in Slovenia, becoming the first English-language comedian to perform at the festival. In August, he is joining forces with two other Indian-origin comedians—Vishnu Vaka and Shivani Dave—for a three headliner Europe tour. “It’s exciting to be part of this wave, making Indian voices heard across Europe.”
After four years of writing, rewriting, and pouring himself into it, Ram has completed the fully bound script of his first feature film. It’s a personal story—an introverted youngster who discovers his voice through stand-up comedy, and through that journey, begins to heal.
“It’s about more than just comedy—it’s about stepping out of silence, confronting what holds us back, and finding courage to be truly seen – all while putting funny first.”
