Sumukhi Suresh Has Some Intrusive Thoughts, But She's Not Afraid To Say Those

Sumukhi Suresh has an uncanny knack for creating characters that resonate with audiences across the board. Whether it's the obsessive yet endearing Pushpavalli or the straight-faced, no-nonsense Sumukhi Chawala from Better Life Foundation, her characters feel like people we've all encountered in our lives. Her relatable content, especially on social media, taps into everyday quirks and frustrations, making her comedy hit close to home. With her stand-up show Hoemonal, she’s taking it a step further—diving deep into the hilarity and heartbreak that comes with dating in your 30s, managing hormonal imbalances, and defying societal expectations.

"Hoemonal is really me trying to navigate the world of dating while dealing with the fact that I’ve been raised quite rigidly, like most of us. Exploring my dating side in my 30s has been interesting, especially while managing PCOS, hormonal imbalance, and that constant societal pressure that, after 30, you're somehow destined to die alone," says Sumukhi in an interview with SheThePeopleTV.

Sumukhi humorously touches on the absurdity of these expectations, adding, "It’s like, before 30, people are all, ‘Wow, you have a bright future!’ and then suddenly it's, ‘You’re going to die alone.’" She laughs, "And honestly, I’m okay with it—if I’m going to die alone, what’s the plan? I’m earning decent money!"

Her show dives into these "intrusive thoughts," thoughts many of us have but may be afraid to express, offering audiences a mix of humour and raw honesty about the realities of life in their 30s. 

In this conversation, Sumukhi opens up about the challenges of balancing humour with contemporary sensitivities, her evolving thoughts on gender in comedy, and the legacy she hopes to build.

Sumukhi Suresh On Using Humour To Navigate Everyday Realities

Sumukhi's humour often stems from everyday moments, and the same is reflected in her reels and sketches too. "The first lesson I learned was that humour has no agenda," she explains. "The only way I can be funny is if I don’t pressure myself with, ‘Ragini, you better laugh now!’ It’s about putting out the most honest thoughts because that’s what makes it familiar and relatable to others."

She recalls one of her viral sketches about body image, where the premise came from a real-life situation. "I was in Europe, feeling great in a skirt and stockings, thinking I looked like a pretty girl. Then I crossed my legs. And I thought, ‘Who did I even think I was, crossing my legs like that?’ That’s where the joke was born."

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Humour with Depth: More than Just a Laugh

But I have also wondered if comedians ever carry the burden of being serious, blending humour with important messages. Sumukhi passionately emphasises that humour, often perceived as light and frivolous, carries weight. "Humour is actually not frivolous—it’s treated that way because laughter as a reaction is underestimated. Take the Oscars, for example—the best actor always wins for the saddest role, not the funniest one. But laughter is complex. I laugh because I’m happy, but I also laugh when I’m scared or nervous."

She sees humour as a tool to explore deeper emotions. "I treat comedy with a lot of importance and weight. For instance, in Hoemonal, the first hour is full of fun and laughter, but the last 40 minutes become more of a story, where the humour dials down. And I love that shift. To truly understand happiness, you need to feel sadness—and vice versa."

However in today’s world, the boundaries of comedy are constantly shifting, and Sumukhi admits that it’s not always easy to tread the fine line between humour and sensitivity.

"I'm not going to lie and say it's easy for me to do jokes on everything," she says. "There are premises I avoid because they might not be the best idea in the current climate." However, she clarifies, that her focus has shifted to more personal, introspective humour. "Thankfully, right now, my comedy is very internal, more about my inner circles than public commentary. Maybe when I start focusing on outer issues, I'll deal with the consequences then."

Sumukhi also acknowledges the responsibility that comes with being a comedian today: "It's not easy, and the responsibility is on us to brave it and say the jokes. But I also have to survive for a really long time." She admits to being "selfish" about her career, noting, "I want to become a star, and that climb is much steeper for someone like me, who doesn’t come from a media background or from Mumbai. So I have to be smart about the risks I take."

The Politics of Gender in Comedy

Sumukhi also reflects on a statement she made years ago about how comedy should be appreciated for its art form, rather than the gender of the artist. While she acknowledges that this was a "young" perspective, she now believes that gender plays a significant role in shaping both the material and the audience's reaction.

"In the last five years, I’ve realised that my target audience is women, and I love that. Comedy, in its purest form, is about making people laugh, but the politics of gender definitely influence how it's received," she explains. "As much as younger Sumukhi was heroic in saying gender shouldn’t matter, older Sumukhi understands the advantages and disadvantages of being labelled a ‘female comic.’"

Despite this, she proudly embraces the tag, recognising its importance in paving the way for other women. "I will carry the ‘female comic’ tag proudly if it leads to more women doing open mics or pursuing comedy because of me. Just don’t make me compete only with other women—pit me against everyone, male or female, because at the end of the day, I’m a comic first."

Reflecting on a decade in comedy

In addition to stand-up comedy, Sumukhi is also the founder of Motormouth — a writer's collective which aims to develop women-centric content. The company is engaged in working on several projects, including an upcoming Vikramaditya Motwane film, another film with Tushar Hiranandani, and a British film. 

When asked about her 10-year journey in the comedy industry, Sumukhi reflects, "I can't believe it's been 10 years! Honestly, it doesn't feel fulfilling yet—there's so much more I want to do. The first few years were about balancing a full-time job and comedy, then transitioning to full-time comedy, and eventually moving to Mumbai. Moving to Mumbai was tough—I thought five rupees could last me six months, but it barely lasted six minutes!"

She adds, "The journey has been full of conflicts, but now it feels like I'm finally settling in. Just when I think I’ve found my footing, something unsettling happens—and that’s the secret. The grind never stops. My work with Motormouth has just started, and there’s so much more we need to achieve."

Next up, she is also starring in The Royals, a Pritish Nandy production set to feature on Netflix. The show follows a clash between an entitled Prince Charming played by Ishaan Khatter and a startup whiz essayed by Bhumi Pednekar. The show also stars Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Talwar and Milind Soman among others. 

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On Legacy and Storytelling

Sumukhi is clear that storytelling will be her lasting contribution.

"Motormouth is my legacy. I started it because I wanted to write stories about flawed, funny, and fabulous women. That’s what I wanted to do, and I still stick by it," she shares. While she admits that her approach may have evolved, the core of her mission remains the same. "I think about legacy all the time, and I want to be remembered for the stories I tell. Maybe the world is taking time to adjust to my dream, but I’m fine with that."

She concludes with a valuable tip for aspiring writers: "It’s important to be honest in your writing—it shouldn’t be a borrowed thought. When in doubt, subtract. The best way to tell a story is often the simple way."