Vivek Mahbubani was born to Indian parents in Hong Kong. Photo: Supplied
Vivek Mahbubani learned Cantonese after his parents insisted he do so but over time, he's turned the language into his "superpower", performing full stand-up comedy sets in Cantonese.
Mahbubani, 42, was born and raised in Hong Kong after his family moved to the city in the 1970s.
"My parents sent me and my sister to a Chinese school so we could learn Cantonese. It sounds simple, but it was way more complex than that," said Mahbubani, who is in Auckland this week for a show at Q Theatre on Thursday.
By the time he reached Grade Nine, Mahbubani said he had become semi-fluent in Cantonese - a skill that opened many doors.
But it wasn't always easy.
"There were times when I really didn't like my identity, mostly because, you know, like there's negative consequences of exercising brown skin in Hong Kong as well," he recalled.
Things began to shift when he fully embraced his identity during university.
"I love the idea that I couldn't fit in. I love the idea that, you know, in a group of people, you're definitely going to notice me. So that in itself became my superpower," he said.
Mahbubani said comedy began as a coping mechanism but eventually evolved into something more.
"I realised I'm pretty good at this," he said, adding that the American sitcom Seinfeld was a huge influence and inspired him to try stand-up.
In 2007, he got his first big break when he competed in a comedy competition in Hong Kong - an event that launched his career.
"I still have a video of that show with me," he said with a grin.
Mahbubani now performs internationally in both English and Cantonese.
"It helps me build a bridge between two cultures," he said.
He's currently on a comedy tour across Australia and New Zealand.
"I came here last year and although it was my first time ever in New Zealand, I was only here for less than 24 hours. I did a show and then went back," he said.
This time, he's spending a few more days in Auckland before heading back to Australia.
Vivek Mahbubani (third from left) said he became semi-fluent in Cantonese by the time he reached grade nine. Photo: Supplied
He said the comedy scenes in Australia and New Zealand were very different from Hong Kong.
"I was blown away when I went to the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2015," he said.
"Here's this kid from Hong Kong thinking, oh, I'm one of the top guys in Hong Kong. You give me this, this superstar's going to come down to Melbourne - only to realise, my goodness, the Melbourne Comedy Festival is a beast in itself," Mahbubani said.
He noted that in Australia and New Zealand, comedy is more socially accepted as a profession compared to Hong Kong.
Mahbubani's long-term goal is to perform in both English and Cantonese around the world.
"A lot of comedians from Asia, we go around the world and we're usually having to perform in English. However, I always say, you know, our own Asian languages are quite funny," he said.
"There's a certain beauty in being able to hear a piece of home, or your own language, while you're living away. And there's a certain connection you build with people from different lives," he added.
Mahbubani also noted the size of New Zealand's Chinese community and said he would love to return.
He fondly recalled getting picked up from the airport in a Hong Kong-style taxi, which made him feel instantly at home.
"I mean, the fact that I had that after being away from Hong Kong for three and a half weeks was just so good. It's like - yes, this feels like home. So that itself was cool," he said.
