1. When did you arrive in Hungary and what brought you here?

I arrived in Hungary on November 1st, 2000. A car brought me here. I came here with my family, because my dad had been transferred to the Budapest office of a big advertising agency to be their Deputy Managing Director. 

2. Have you ever been an expatriate elsewhere?

Before we moved to Budapest, my family lived in Prague for 2.5 years. Prague at the end of the 90s, while a beautiful city, was not overly inviting to people with my family's level of melanin, so I was pretty happy about getting to leave. I've been back there a few times over the years and it's changed a lot, for the better. I also lived in Aberdeen, Scotland for 5 years while I was a university student. Apparently I'm addicted to living in countries where black pepper is considered spicy.

3. What surprised you most about Hungary?

Honestly, it was the food. I love Hungarian food. Being an Indian, I'm used to my food having flavour. Let's just say that my school lunches in Prague of boiled chicken, dumplings and plum jam weren't exactly knocking my socks off. Hungarian food's amazing. Very simple, very humble, and packed with flavour. Except káposzta in any form. That belongs in the trash.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?

See me or any of the local amazing stand-up comedians perform. Check out this link for all upcoming events. They're in English, and are normally free of charge.

5. What is your favourite Hungarian food?

Snack- sajtos pogi
Main- Chicken pörkölt with nokedli and savanyúság
Dessert- Where to begin? Hungary's desserts are a culinary sleeping giant and I can't wait for the world to find out.

6. What is never missing from your refrigerator?

Unused vegetables that I've bought at Spar thinking that I'm going to start being healthy. Also home-made yoghurt because despite not having lived there since 1998, I'm still Indian.

7. What is your favourite Hungarian word?

"Tökéletes," meaning "perfect." But it literally translates to "pumpkin-lifey." It's so Hungarian. Imagine being so depressed that you're actually jealous of how amazing a pumpkin's life is.

8. What do you miss most from home? 

I actually consider Budapest and Hungary my home. But if we're calling India my home, I'd say it's the fruits. When I'm in India, my standard, cheap, and easy to get breakfast consists of two Alphonso mangoes and a cup of strong, South Indian filter coffee. It's pretty hard to beat. Also my parents, I guess, but I can Skype with them. You can't Skype mangoes, much to my dismay.

9. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?

My main job is in marketing, but I'm sort of pursuing my passion anyway, which is entertainment. I do stand-up comedy regularly, which I'd like to do professionally, and I'm also a general host/speaker at various events. Most recently, I was a host/moderator at Brain Bar 2020 and 2021.

10. What's a job you would definitely never want?

I wouldn't want to be my boss. That's a level of suffering I wouldn't wish on anyone. I also wouldn't want to be my girlfriend, because you need the patience of a saint for that job, and it's full-time, with little to no benefits.

11. Where did you spend your last vacation?

Barcelona- my sister lives there. I hadn't seen her since before the pandemic and we're really close, so it was good to see her and demand that she make me endless cups of tea.

12. Where do you hope to spend your next holiday?

Probably Amsterdam. Lőrinc Réti, the former co-host of my comedy show, Magic Mic Comedy, lives there now, and I'd like to check out the comedy scene there and have him make me endless cups of tea. Follow him on Instagram @lorinc_jokes.

13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist?

The opportunity to make a silly comment. Hats off to my boss and girlfriend, seriously.

14. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?

Band- Guns N' Roses
Film- The Godfather
Hobby- Playing guitar.
Apparently I haven't changed since I was a teenager, or I prematurely had exquisite taste. Yeah, let's go with that.

15. Red wine or white?

Red, all the way. I don't like white wine because I don't want to punish my taste buds even more than they already have been by Czech school lunches.

16. Book or movie?

Depends on the book or the movie. James Bond? Movie. Look up the title of Chapter 5 of Ian Fleming's "Live And Let Die" book if you need more context. I'm an avid reader, but I'm also a cinephile. Whatever it is, it needs to be awesome.

17. Morning person or night person?

I hate mornings. My dumb cat keeps waking me up because apparently the fact that I have toes is personally offensive to her. Also, stand-up usually happens at night, so let's go with night.

18. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?

Child abuse and physical violence of any sort.

19. Buda or Pest side?

Pest is the best for food, socialisation and generally speaking, vitality. Buda is the best for not smelling urine all the time.

20. What would you say is your personal motto? 

Choose to do things the fun, silly, light way whenever possible. No one's ever been on their deathbed thinking, 'I wish I worried more.'