India, March 8 -- Sharul Channa, Singapore-based stand-up comedian, returns to India with her tour "Saree, These Are Just Jokes!" in March. In a male-dominated industry, she's says she has used humour to challenge stereotypes while staying fiercely committed to her craft. "The journey has been long and yet so rewarding. There weren't enough roles for women, for brown women in Singapore," she says, adding how a three-minute open mic set at a comedy club changed things. "The first time people laughed, it felt like validation. But the next time I went on stage, I completely bombed."

With over a decade in her career, Sharul has learnt in many ways, but she's also clear-eyed about the gender imbalance within the comedy circuit. "If you see th...