Anu Vaidyanath, who dons multiple hats, speaks to The Pioneer over an exclusive chat about the different transitions in her life, her allure for comedy, filmmaking and much more
Tejal Sinha
In a world of different engineers, entrepreneurs, comedians and filmmakers, Anu Vaidyanath stands as an exception. She is a blend of all of it! Well, and not just this, she is the first Asian woman to complete the Ultraman Canada event. She is the first India-based athlete to train for and participate in Ironman Triathlon. She was also the first Indian woman to have qualified for the Half Ironman 70.3 Clearwater World Championship in 2008.
But beyond all of it, her defining feature, without a doubt, is being a mom. Though currently inhabiting the role of a filmmaker and comedian, motherhood has deeply influenced her creative life. “If I hadn’t become pregnant for the first time, I probably wouldn’t have started writing,” begins Anu in an exclusive chat with The Pioneer.
She further credits her kids, who have been the driving force behind much of what she’s done in the last decade. “While I love the creative projects I’m involved in, there’s a unique joy in simple, everyday moments—like packing lunch boxes or hearing about their day after school. At my core, I believe that being a mom is the most grounding and meaningful role I have.”
Being a triathlete instilled a great deal of discipline in her life, teaching her valuable lessons about goal setting, persistence and the importance of showing up every day to put in the work—qualities that are essential in any endeavour. Looking back, “I’m incredibly proud of what I’ve achieved and becoming a triathlete is one of the biggest milestones of my life. It pushed me beyond what I thought was possible, both mentally and physically and I’m grateful that it was such a significant part of my journey.”
Meanwhile, when it comes to comedy, there’s a lot that she enjoys about it. However, organising large events—it’s a different skill set that requires people who are better suited to handling the day-to-day logistics. This year marked a big turning point for her as a live performer. “I took on two back-to-back shows, with just a 20-minute break in between. When I say “we,” it was really just me and my technical assistant, as stage work tends to be more complex than comedy shows,” enthuses the farceur. However, on the other hand, what she really loves about comedy is the satisfaction of making people laugh.
Her latest show, Menagerie, is a theatre piece that delves into the more taboo topics of trauma, mental health and self-care, especially in the context of being parents or immigrants. Basically, it was a personal challenge she set for herself earlier this year, or perhaps late last year. Originally, “I workshopped it as a comedy show, but it didn’t quite fit. While I love comedy and consider myself a comedian at heart, I realised that theater offers a unique space for pauses and meditative silences—something that’s essential (for me personally) when addressing such difficult and complex subjects.”
Given the touring lifestyle that many comedians lead, which is difficult to balance with being a parent, motherhood and comedy, she says, don’t naturally go hand-in-hand, which turned out to be a major conflict for her. “I really dislike touring—it’s one of my least favourite parts of the job. However, I’ve come to appreciate the time on stage, even if the travel is grueling. The hour I spend performing each night feels like a gift, where I get to test out new material with fresh audiences in different cities,” shares Vaidyanath.
That being said, she has had to make peace with the fact that, like any profession, there are aspects of the job she won’t love all the time. “While I don’t enjoy the constant travel, I’ve learned to balance it by reminding myself why I do it and by giving myself time to recover. For instance, August was particularly tough, with back-to-back performances that required much more than just being on stage for two hours a day. The behind-the-scenes work, attending other shows and dealing with production issues often stretched my days to 19 hours for nearly a month straight—something that’s not always visible to the outside world.”
Now, with the added responsibilities of motherhood, she shares that she no longer has the luxury of winging it. Every performance, whether five or ten minutes, is carefully prepared and she focuses on her energy on bringing her strongest set. She’s always been someone who adapts to what life throws at her.
“I would describe myself as an opportunist rather than someone driven by childhood dreams,” she shares. “I’ve achieved my biggest goal—becoming an engineer—and everything since then has been a bonus. Even motherhood wasn’t something I had planned, but I was fortunate to meet someone who appreciated me for who I am and supported my journey.”
Then comes Anywhere But Home: Adventures in Endurance, a memoir that blends personal narrative with a journalistic approach. For this, she drew inspiration from writers like Mary Karr, known for her deeply personal memoirs and Jon Krakauer, who explores events and lives through a more objective lens. Ultimately, “Anywhere But Home” reflects her personal journey and the rich tapestry of her South Indian heritage, incorporating the voices of family and community. It stands as a proud achievement in my creative career and provided a platform that led to her introduction to Bollywood at the inaugural MAMI World to Screen Market.
Meanwhile, “I’m a filmmaker who has made a dozen short films and is currently working towards creating a feature film. Filmmaking fascinates me, especially in today’s evolving landscape, where every field, including film, faces its own set of challenges and opportunities. My engineering background has given me a strong foundation in this belief. My greatest knowledge well in filmmaking is editing, which has deepened my understanding of film language and built my confidence. Writing and performing through comedy are also integral parts of my creative process. Filmmaking is strenuous and challenging, but it aligns with my values of pursuing meaningful, long-term goals rather than seeking quick rewards.”
She’s also established a small independent production company focused on women-centric narratives. Their creative team is predominantly female, including a talented cinematographer, editors and art directors, all of whom share a strong belief in their projects. The narratives that she’s been passionate about exploring often center on the experiences of female immigrants and individuals who have navigated multiple roles throughout their lives.
“The project I’m most excited about right now is a book of comedic writing titled “BC:AD-Before Children and After Diapers.” This book is inspired by my inaugural comedy show and reflects my ongoing love for writing. I’m eagerly looking forward to sharing it with the world once it’s ready and that feature film, which exists in my own liminal space between self-belief and the golden words of Boss Baby who said ‘cookies are for closers’,” signs off the multifaceted Anu, bringing us to the end of this conversation.
