Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Mrs Kapoor's daughter's big fat wedding

YOUTUBE SENSATION PARLE PATEL ON HIS HILARIOUS COMEDY SHOW AND EXPERIENCES OF PLAYING A FEMALE CHARACTER

by MITA MISTRY and PRIYA MULJI


Hit theatre play Mrs Kapoor’s Daughter’s Wedding is back on tour in the UK with sold out shows.

The musical stage comedy about an overbearing Gujarati mother planning the perfect wedding is touring across the UK until May and sees popular YouTube star Parle Patel perfectly playing the title role. The family-friendly show, written and directed by Archana Kumar, has received great reviews, and returned due to popular demand.

We caught up with Parle to talk about the show, his experiences playing a female character, his sari-draping skills and hopes for the future.

Did you expect the show to be such a huge success when it was created?

When Archana Kumar told me about this idea, I took the opportunity on as a one-off show rather than something we’d definitely do again. I did feel people would ask for more, but I didn’t think it would result in so many more shows. How Archana has blended dance, live music and singing became a perfect habitat for the style of comedy I create. Her added ideas and direction meant I could approach what I do differently while still remaining extremely in line with my own style.

Tell us, what does the current UK tour mean to you?

I think every comedian or artist hopes to tour one day and when it finally begins to happen, you just want to start. It won’t even hit me that I’m on tour, until it’s almost all over. The feedback has been amazing and news of this London-based show has reached the US, India and Canada, so am majorly humbled.

What initially inspired the show?

The whole concept of the show regarding a daughter’s wedding is by Archana Kumar. I got a few messages on Instagram I wasn’t too sure about, that quickly turned into an email once I requested a brief. Here Archana explained her idea and why I’d be suited to the role of playing Mrs Kapoor. I helped to format the script and formalise the Gujarati or Hindi-centric dialogue and created overlaps from my own content.

Tell us about the show and your character?

The show revolves around Mrs Kapoor, a matriarch, mother and typical desi aunty who wants to marry her daughters off ASAP. Upon finding a possibility of this happening, she is at full steam ahead in trying to put on the biggest desi wedding of an era. The drama begins when there are clashes in cultures and expectations, but along with the drama comes the comedy, dance, music and masti. While Mrs Kapoor is what many would call traditional, she is often up-to-date with current trends.

What has the experience of playing your role been like?

It has been a huge opportunity to learn, develop and deliver, but it has been really fun and humbling too. I’ve learned all the life hacks of how to get lipstick to last longer and why a desi outfit always requires spare safety pins. Jokes aside, I’ve really had to think about the character to try and make it authentic. I’m used to creating digital content as a female character, but on the stage, there is less space for mistakes. Animating myself more has also been a challenge, especially when you’re on the last show after being in a sari and make up for, sometimes, 10 hours, but I’ve built up stamina. While the character has been something I’m used to playing, I’ve tried to find a way of challenging myself. Overall, I’ve been really lucky to work with AK productions.

So are you now an expert on make-up and women’s fashion?

Archana and I tried to make sure we are true to the character, including her being dressed in a way typical ladies of her age would. So, perhaps, I’m not an expert on contemporary women’s fashion. But I know how to wear a sari, and what wonders setting spray can do. I must say, I hate wearing makeup, so salute to all makeup wearers for not constantly wanting to scratch it all off.

Is your character Mrs Kapoor based on anyone in particular?

Lakshmi Kapoor is based on my character Kokila Patel who has become infamous via my own YouTube channel and social media, Planet Parle. I’ve now based my character Mrs Kapoor on what my new surroundings are - a Punjabi husband and being a mother to five daughters. Kokila Patel was based on all the super mums living their best desi lives in a world where there is a pressure to disown your roots. I hope anyone who sees’s overlaps with Mrs Kapoor and someone they know can celebrate them too.

Tell us, are any of the moments inspired by real life?

There are plenty. For one of the shows, I attended a wedding the previous week and saw something that then became improvised content. The audience feedback also says that they can relate because it’s happened to them before or they have seen it happen to someone they know.

What is your favourite moment?

There are so many moments I love, but some of my dialogues require a certain kind of silence from the audience before delivery. If they laugh, I know I’m doing my job right, if they don’t, then I approach the next act slightly differently.

What can audiences expect this time around?

Each and every show is different. As actors, we often refer to each show as ‘the one where this or that happened’ and that is the magic of a sketch-based theatre show. While each show is anchored down to highly energetic dancing, great live music and singing, from a comedy perspective, we try and add in current affairs when appropriate.

What does the future hold for this show?

We want as many people to attend the show as possible. It’s hugely special for me as I’ve not really taken any of my viral video elements to the stage like this. Archana does have lots of plans, but for now, we are concentrating on getting one daughter married and making sure as many people as possible attend.

What can we expect next from you?

More theatre, I hope. Honestly, it’s really difficult to find platforms to work on for south Asian comedy unless you’re doing stand-up, which I tend to dive into less. But, I hope the right people see this and what I’m striving to do. I’d very much like to join a theatre company or find an agent who can help me explore a potential that I can’t see myself. I’ll also create digital content, which gathers an audience globally and I really appreciate that. I do have some new song releases planned for Navratri. I’m still learning lots and hope someone sees what I do as something that could possibly be taken to TV or cinema.

What inspires you?

This varies hugely. Recently, I met Riz Ahmed after his show and he was so inspiring. Sometimes it’s someone whose story is unknown, but filled with passion, hard work and the hope to change the world for the better. My immigrant parents inspire me with their ability to work hard no matter what.

Why should we all come watch the show?

Let’s just say that my 91-year-old Baa, (grandmother) who can’t understand English, and Archana’s little three-year-old daughter, who runs around the house shouting the punch lines, loved the show. The show really is for all ages and audiences. It really does let you escape from the hectic nature of life while still reflecting on some deeper relationships. Everyone is welcome to attend Mrs Kapoor’s daughter’s wedding.

www.mkdw.co.uk

More For You

One year on, Starmer still has no story — but plenty of regrets

Sir Keir Starmer

Getty Images

One year on, Starmer still has no story — but plenty of regrets

Do not expect any parties in Downing Street to celebrate the government’s first birthday on Friday (4). After a rocky year, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer had more than a few regrets when giving interviews about his first year in office.

He explained that he chose the wrong chief of staff. That his opening economic narrative was too gloomy. That choosing the winter fuel allowance as a symbol of fiscal responsibility backfired. Starmer ‘deeply regretted’ the speech he gave to launch his immigration white paper, from which only the phrase ‘island of strangers’ cut through. Can any previous political leader have been quite so self-critical of their own record in real time?

Keep ReadingShow less
starmer-bangladesh-migration
Sir Keir Starmer
Getty Images

Comment: Can Starmer turn Windrush promises into policy?

Anniversaries can catalyse action. The government appointed the first Windrush Commissioner last week, shortly before Windrush Day, this year marking the 77th anniversary of the ship’s arrival in Britain.

The Windrush generation came to Britain believing what the law said – that they were British subjects, with equal rights in the mother country. But they were to discover a different reality – not just in the 1950s, but in this century too. It is five years since Wendy Williams proposed this external oversight in her review of the lessons of the Windrush scandal. The delay has damaged confidence in the compensation scheme. Williams’ proposal had been for a broader Migrants Commissioner role, since the change needed in Home Office culture went beyond the treatment of the Windrush generation itself.

Keep ReadingShow less
Eye Spy: Top stories from the world of entertainment

Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh

Eye Spy: Top stories from the world of entertainment

Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh’s ‘Sapphire’ collaboration misses the mark

The song everyone is talking about this month is Sapphire – Ed Sheeran’s collaboration with Arijit Singh. But instead of a true duet, Arijit takes more of a backing role to the British pop superstar, which is a shame, considering he is the most followed artist on Spotify. The Indian superstar deserved a stronger presence on the otherwise catchy track. On the positive side, Sapphire may inspire more international artists to incorporate Indian elements into their music. But going forward, any major Indian names involved in global collaborations should insist on equal billing, rather than letting western stars ride on their popularity.

  Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh

Keep ReadingShow less
If ayatollahs fall, who will run Teheran next?

Portraits of Iranian military generals and nuclear scientists, killed in Israel’s last Friday (13) attack, are seen above a road, as heavy smoke rises from an oil refinery in southern Teheran hit in an overnight Israeli strike last Sunday (15)

If ayatollahs fall, who will run Teheran next?

THERE is one question to which none of us has the answer: if the ayatollahs are toppled, who will take over in Teheran?

I am surprised that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, has lasted as long as he has. He is 86, and would achieve immortality as a “martyr” in the eyes of regime supporters if the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, succeeded in assassinating him. This was apparently Netanyahu’s plan, though he was apparently dissuaded by US president Donald Trump from going ahead with the killing.

Keep ReadingShow less
Comment: Talking about race isn’t racist – ignoring it helped grooming gangs thrive

A woman poses with a sign as members of the public queue to enter a council meeting during a protest calling for justice for victims of sexual abuse and grooming gangs, outside the council offices at City Centre on January 20, 2025 in Oldham, England

Getty Images

Comment: Talking about race isn’t racist – ignoring it helped grooming gangs thrive

WAS a national inquiry needed into so-called grooming gangs? Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer did not think so in January, but now accepts Dame Louise Casey’s recommendation to commission one.

The previous Conservative government – having held a seven-year national inquiry into child sexual abuse – started loudly championing a new national inquiry once it lost the power to call one. Casey explains why she changed her mind too after her four-month, rapid audit into actions taken and missed on group-based exploitation and abuse. A headline Casey theme is the ‘shying away’ from race.

Keep ReadingShow less