In the creative writing workshops I conduct for kids from Colaba’s schools, they will never come up with a Sandeep or a Priyanka as the names of their character. But you’ll always find an Olivia or a Gerard,” quips stand-up comedian and improv artiste Neville Bharucha, adding, “You see, I was born in the same bubble as them. But they are still in that bubble!” For the townie whose “family, friends and school are all in a two-km radius”, the way Mumbai finds its way into his comedy is perhaps different from how fellow comedian Atul Khatri, who has lived in Khar-Bandra-Juhu, sees the city. Still more different from his colleagues’ experience is that of Sorabh Pant, who has covered the north-south stretch from Nepean Sea Road to Andheri.

The three stand-up artistes will come together to discuss Mumbai and its myriad shades in the conversation series, Past Forward, a collaboration between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) and Kala Ghoda Association. “We have had discussions among those from the fields of music, dance, food and architecture. And we thought it would be a good idea to end this season of the series with well-known names in stand-up comedy exploring the past, present and future of Mumbai,” says artist CSMVS education consultant Brinda Miller who has curated the series. Past Forward will resume after the monsoon, she informs.