Russell Peters lets comedy take a back seat in The Indian Detective

“You look at these guys and there’s something common about them. They’re predators. I was bullied growing up and this is completely bully mentality. I knew this stuff happened out there, but it never happened to me and I never perpetuated it. But that’s what happens to a bully, you eventually get bullied.”

We are supposed to be talking about Peter’s latest project for CTV, The Indian Detective, his first leading role in a scripted television series. It debuts Thursday at 9 p.m.

But the conversation has taken something of a U-turn. In Hollywood, the discussion is now firmly on sexism and abuse of power.

That would include the last time we talked before the Juno Awards when Peters called Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly “hot” on live television. He also pointed out young females in the audience and commented that it was “a felony waiting to happen.”

The remarks created a social media furor, with Joly saying the comments were “inappropriate,” prompting the head of the awards ceremony to apologize.

“It turned into a weird witch hunt for absolutely no reason,” says Peters, who seemed befuddled over the backlash. “It was just complete misquotes for the rest of the day.”

But for someone who makes a living performing racial comedy and sending up stereotypes, Peters is used to creating politically incorrect controversy. And the title of his show, The Indian Detective, suggests he’s not afraid of continue tackling the thorny subject of identity politics.

As his character, Toronto police constable Doug D’Mello, says, “When I was in Canada I felt Indian, but when I’m in India I’m 100 per cent not Indian.”

It’s familiar ground for fans of Peters’ sometimes risqué standup comedy. In development for five years, the show is his long-awaited starring debut in a series.

D’Mello becomes wrapped up in a murder mystery while on a visit to his ailing father in Mumbai. His investigation leads him to uncover a dangerous conspiracy while at the same time grappling with his heritage. Cue the fish out of water in Mumbai jokes.

“It took a while, there were so many people in and out over the years. I was also leery of the process,” says Peters. “They would pitch me something, but my idea was that if you’re hiring me to be me, then let me be me. But if you’re hiring me to be somebody else, then hire somebody else.”

The long gestation period had a silver lining. The series ended up being produced by Emmy-nominated Frank Spotnitz (The Man in the High Castle, The X-Files) who brings a certain gravitas to D’Mello and grounds the practised flippancy of Peters, who comes across at times like a snarky, South Asian version of the roles that once went to Jon Lovitz.

“Frank is a great dramatic writer and he tried to write jokes. And I said, ‘No, Frank, you write how you write and I’ll read it the way I read it, and we’ll find a happy medium.’”

It works. The Indian Detective has the heft of a good drama, but it also allows Peters to be his snide but likeable self. It also, for a Canadian show, feels expansive, with extensive location shooting and international cast in India, South Africa and Canada, allowing for a distinctive, first-rate dramedy on three continents.

Co-stars include William Shatner, who plays one of Canada’s richest men, and Christina Cole (Casino Royale), perhaps best known as Harvey Specter’s psychiatrist love interest in Suits. The scene stealer, though, is veteran Bollywood star Anupam Kher as D’Mello’s sardonic, toupee-wearing father.

“The first day on the set William Shatner is standing across from me and all I can think in my head is that T.J. Hooker is on the set! How cool is that?” says Peters.

I suggest to Peters that the concept seems to be eminently franchisable, since he can theoretically do just about any accent, casting himself in all the roles.

“You’re right. You can just keep going. Like have The Chinese Detective or The Korean Detective. That’s good thinking.”

CTV, Canada’s largest broadcaster, is going all in with The Indian Detective, placing it in the crucial Thursday night block right after The Big Bang Theory, Canada’s most watched show, and spinoff series Young Sheldon.

Not that, according to Peters, he ever watches The Big Bang Theory.

“I never watched that show in my life and I’m not going to watch it anytime soon,” he says. “Then I see parts of it and I think, ‘This is great,’ and then it’s like, ‘My god, when is it ever going to end?’”

Peters is confident that Canadians will watch The Indian Detective, although it doesn’t hurt to have some stragglers left over who can’t be bothered to change the channel after Young Sheldon. Or as he tweeted: “I think they’re going to love it. Or at least like it. If they don’t, they’re dead inside.”