Comedian Tarang Hardikar’s show, If I’m not Wrong, began as a compilation of intriguing observations about lines. The special was even called Line is not a Line during its initial run. However, as the show and Tarang evolved, the comedian began drawing parallels between his life and the material, reflecting on his past after his autism diagnosis.
“The theme about the lines fit perfectly into my childhood story, which is the special in its current form,” says Tarang, who is currently performing at the ongoing month-long Edinburgh Festival Fringe, one of the largest performing arts festivals in the world.
“In a way, it is like doing spots at open mics regularly, where you tend to perform the same material repeatedly with slight changes. However, when you are performing a one-hour show, you are not only thinking about the jokes, but also the overall narrative.”
The Pune-born comedian also points out that a long festival run allows him to form a routine. “You perform the show, think about it, and fall asleep. And the next day, you wake up, get into the mindset for the next show and try to watch something that can inspire you before your next performance. The objective is to improve your show by the end of the month. In that process, you can have great days and not-so-great ones.”
Asked about his neurodivergence, Tarang believes humour has been therapeutic for him. Although he was diagnosed as a teenager, he only understood more about autism as an adult, few years into comedy. “I knowingly or unknowingly used comedy as a way to cope, because it was the only time I could truly be myself. I could connect with people in a way I didn’t before,” says the 29-year-old comedian.
“I am a very shy person off stage. I didn’t talk to many people in college. But when I got on stage for the first time, that inhibition disappeared, and I could be whoever I wanted to be,” he says. “I also didn’t realise that people might relate to the topics I speak about. I have a joke about shaking hands, and when I performed it, the audience could find it relatable. This was cathartic and made me realise that everyone has their set of problems.”
Tarang Hardikar
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The artiste, known for his deadpan delivery and wordplay, says his interest in comedy comes from theatre. “In college, I used to do one-man silent sketches for the theatre club. I was really into physical comedy and was a big fan of the American actor Rowan Atkinson. Stand-up comedy was picking up in India then, and I consumed a lot of it online. Soon, I ended up doing a set about my college at the institute. Even though the students liked it, the faculty members weren’t too thrilled,” he jokes.
In 2018, Tarang did his first open mic at a cafe in Pune. “It went well because I couldn’t wait to get on stage. I don’t remember being worried about the audience laughing. I told a joke about ordering from Subway, which was the first ever joke I had written. I was so involved in performing that I only realised how well I did once I got off stage.”
The artiste also believes in staying true to himself while performing, allowing him to experiment with comedy. In his current show, Tarang carries his drawing book to the stage. “I have always had varied interests in different intensities. I love drawing, making visuals, and playing games. Since I was talking about my childhood and my schooling, the notebook fits perfectly into it.”
The comedian believes his approach to comedy has changed drastically since his first open mic. “When you start, you feel like every open mic is a make-or-break situation. But later you realise this is a long run; the mic is there to refine your material, and that it is not an ultimate test. That attitude helped me upload my material too,” says Tarang.
“At this point, if you want to be a comedian, you must put yourself out there on social media. It is not something that a lot of people are fond of, but it is something you need. I once went into the grind of uploading three clips a week. But it ultimately got to me. So now I have decided to take my time with it and upload reels when I can.”
Asked about the one piece of advice he would give aspiring comedians, he says, “Everything in comedy is externally focused—you never know when your first joke will work, when your first hours will be made or when your first video will work. So, it’s important to have an internal staircase, to know where you stand. This will help you to ground yourself, and you must keep backing yourself.”
Edinburgh Festival Fringe is on till August 31.
Published – August 24, 2026 05:00 pm IST
