**Neville Bharucha Makes His Netflix Debut in *The Ba***ds of Bollywood* as DJ Adam**
Neville Bharucha, a renowned comedian and improv trainer, recently made his Netflix debut in *The Ba***ds of Bollywood*, playing the very lovable music composer DJ Adam. In the series, his character partners with Manoj Pahwa’s Avtar Singh, and together they not only create a viral track but also bring their own dose of humour and drama to the show.
In an exclusive interaction with *The Free Press Journal*, Neville shares insights about landing the role, working with Aryan Khan, his journey as a comedian and improv trainer, and much more.
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### How Did You Get Cast in *The Ba***ds of Bollywood*?
“I usually get calls for auditions for TVCs. I don’t often do movies or web series because they require a longer commitment, and since I teach improv and work with kids, it becomes difficult to juggle. So when I got a call to audition for this web series, I was initially hesitant. I said no because I wasn’t sure I’d have the time—plus, I was a school teacher at the time. But people encouraged me to try, and on the night I was flying off to Singapore, my wife said, ‘Just go for the audition, see what it’s like.’
The gentleman conducting the audition was absolutely wonderful; he gave me great pointers. I remember walking out of there feeling really confident. After that, I called my wife and said, ‘I think I’ll get this,’ and sure enough, a month later, they called to say I had snagged the role of DJ Adam.”
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### Tell Us About the Work Ethic of Aryan Khan
“Aryan Khan is probably one of the most sincere and hardworking people I’ve ever met. From the beginning right through the end, his enthusiasm never waned. I vividly remember the first narration of the opening scene — he narrated it with such excitement and energy that I immediately knew this was something special.
He’s a force to reckon with, with a wonderful vision, and he puts in all the effort in the world to bring that vision to life. He’s also a patient listener who genuinely values your input and ideas. Working with him is inspiring because he’s driven, excited, and by far, the most fun person to be around on set.”
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### Any Other Thoughts About Working with the Cast?
“The cast is a powerhouse of talent. Each member brings immense skill and experience to the project. Personally, my scenes with Manoj Sir were some of the most fun I’ve had on set. He is effortlessly funny—there’s not a single dialogue he can’t pull off. Many times, the whole crew would just applaud his performance. Sharing screen space with a veteran like him was honestly incredible.
The entire cast is warm, friendly, and always excited to see each other, which definitely shines through on screen. I’m truly grateful to be part of such a wonderful ensemble.”
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### What Made You Switch from Digital Marketing to Improv Training?
“I used to work in digital marketing, and I enjoyed it. But there wasn’t a clear moment when I said, ‘I want to leave marketing for improv.’ I wanted to explore a lot — stand-up, hosting events, and more.
What made me become an improv trainer was my love for teaching. I’ve always felt I was a good teacher. In 2018, I went abroad to study improv at esteemed institutions like UCB and The Second City. When I came back, I thought, ‘Now I’ve got all this knowledge, what next?’ I began taking a few classes, which did well, but they lacked structure.
Slowly, over the years, it grew bigger. Even during the pandemic, I was teaching online classes five days a week with people joining from all over the world. At that point, I realized this improv thing was really happening. Now, we have new batches every month at The Habitat in Khar, with 10 to 15 people joining regularly. It’s amazing to be part of a movement that wasn’t nearly as popular five or seven years ago.”
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### How Easy or Difficult Has It Been to Sustain Yourself as an Improv Trainer, Creative Writing Teacher, and Comedian?
“Over time, I’ve become good at what I do, which makes it easier. I always want to improve and be the best. I don’t seek validation but strive for personal perfection, aiming for people to say, ‘That was a great class’ or ‘That was really funny.’ I want a good reputation.
The challenge is that when you work independently, teaching and performing take up only about 30% of your time. The rest is spent on building the business, attracting students, managing accounts, and following up with people. It’s a lot of work behind the scenes.
But it’s a good trade-off because I get so much satisfaction from what I do.”
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### The Best Part About Being a Comedian
“The best part is making people laugh and feel good in the moment. I don’t see myself only as a comedian—I used to do stand-up but now focus more on improvisation. At my core, yes, I am funny, but what I really thrive on is entertaining people and making them happy. That’s the absolute best feeling in the world.”
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### The Worst Part About Being a Comedian
“The worst part is being the only one who finds yourself funny at times—and the delusion that you’re so good you can pursue it full-time. Also, I’m very scared of people not liking me. I really want everyone to like me—not for validation but because I don’t like being disliked. It makes me feel bad if someone doesn’t like me.”
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### Has a Comedian Ever Stolen Your Script or Performance? How Did You Handle That?
“No one has ever stolen a joke from me. Even if they did, I don’t think anyone can convincingly perform someone else’s material because what matters most is the point of view behind the material.
The audience appreciates authenticity, honesty, and vulnerability. If you take that away, the joke loses its essence.
Of course, some topics and punchlines might overlap occasionally. But an act is a whole package, and very often overlap happens unintentionally. Whenever there’s an issue, it’s usually solvable through conversation.
I assume joke-stealing happens more with bigger comedians, not me!”
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*Neville Bharucha’s journey from digital marketing to becoming a celebrated comedian and trainer exemplifies passion and perseverance. His portrayal of DJ Adam in* The Ba***ds of Bollywood *has made him a familiar face among audiences, and his dedication to improv continues to inspire many aspiring performers.*
https://www.freepressjournal.in/entertainment/exclusive-the-story-behind-the-bads-of-bollywoods-dj-adam-aka-neville-bharucha-a-comedian-and-improv-trainer
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