Female comedians are still viewed through gendered lens: Swati Sachdeva

Comedian Swati Sachdeva took Mumbai by storm through her latest gig. She headlined ‘No Fox Given’ by Foxtale, a bold, culture-shaping comedy show that struck a powerful chord with audiences.

With a packed house in Mumbai on June 27th, it featured sharp, unapologetic sets by Swati and Shashi Dhiman that spotlighted the everyday judgments women face. Blending humour with truth, the show became an instant hit, creating a space where women could speak freely, laugh loudly, and feel seen. In an interaction with TOI, Swati said, “One of the thoughts that I’m faced with daily, and something that makes its way into my comedy, is the conversation between expectation and reality.

Society often sets an unspoken standard for how women are supposed to be; there’s an invisible script we’re all expected to follow, and it’s that disagreement between who we are and what we’re that becomes a powerful source material for me.

Writing for No Fox Given, I focused on honesty—whether about identity, family, or the subtle sexism in daily life. The aim wasn’t to provoke, but to be real. These aren’t just “women’s issues”; they’re human experiences told through a woman’s lens, and when I speak from emotional truth, it resonates with anyone who’s felt unseen or misunderstood.”

Female comedians often get flak for not being funny enough or resorting to sex jokes unnecessarily. Swati reacted, “It’s unfortunate, but there’s still a very gendered lens through which female comedians are viewed. There’s an unspoken pressure to be just the right amount of everything—funny, but not loud; bold, but not too opinionated; personal, but not too personal. Ironically, the criticism often isn’t about the joke itself, but about the fact that a woman dared to tell it.

I try to approach this criticism with perspective and focus on what helps me improve. But to be fully transparent, no matter how thick-skinned you are, it’s exhausting—and dealing with negativity, which often includes vulgar threats, is no walk in the park.” The comedian is however optimistic about the future of standup comedy in India. She concluded, “Yeah, there’s a shift, and it’s been a long time coming. For years, comedy was filtered through a narrow lens—anything outside that was called “niche.”

Now, there’s more room for stories that are honest, layered, and reflect real life. It’s great to see brands like Foxtale supporting that shift—not leading it but backing voices that have long been doing the work.

Events like this give space to people who’ve often been on the margins, especially women. I just want to see more of it—consistent platforms where artists can be whatever they need to be: raw, funny, emotional, loud, quiet.

That’s what real comedy is—it’s honest and unfiltered." Romita Mazumdar, Founder and CEO, Foxtale, added, “When we imagined No Fox Given, it wasn’t just about creating an event - it was about creating a space. A space where women could show up fully, without the weight of expectations, judgment, or societal pressure that so often shadows our everyday lives. We wanted to offer something that felt bold yet deeply personal, something that entertains and educates without preaching.

For us, this platform is an extension of everything we stand for as a brand - championing real voices, real stories, and the power of unfiltered honesty. No Fox Given is our way of saying: you don’t have to fit a mould to be heard, seen, or celebrated. Our hope is for it to grow into a cultural movement -one that evolves year after year, inspiring more women to speak freely, live authentically, and take up space unapologetically.”