Upala KBR (DNA; February 23, 2016)
Kapil Sharma’s success with Comedy Nights With Kapil (CNWK) and the subsequent shows in USA, Canada and Spain with his troupe has opened doors for other stand-up comics like Vir Das, Krushna Abhishek and Bharati Singh, who have hiked their fees now.
When he started with CNWK, he’d charge Rs 3 lakh for a show, his shows last year in July fetched him up to a crore per show. Ditto with other comedians who’d would charge Rs 1.5 to 3 lakhs a show and have increased their rates as well.
Ex-producer of CNWK, Preeti Simoes says, “The audience reactions to our 21-member ‘family’ shocked us. We broke records in Canada, where over 20,000 people showed up. We had a televised show in Dubai which was ticketed and even then, it was a full house. We didn’t realise we had become so big abroad. We tend to live in a bubble and you realise how much people love us only once you get out.”
Preeti says they had almost cancelled the USA-Canada shows last year. “Kapil had a slipped disc and he wasn’t allowed to travel, but the organisers said they had sold many tickets, so we had to travel with lots of injections and medicines.”
She also admits that Kapil and his team opened doors to Indian stand-up comics. While she doesn’t put a figure to his fee hike, she says it is a humongous one. “Apart from his fee, they also pay for the team’s stay, travel and accommodation there and then get returns on the show, so you can imagine the kind of money they make. Our shows opened up the market for all comedians today. Earlier, a comedian used to just come in between the Bollywood star acts. The money has increased tenfold and has opened an entire market there for stand-up comedians. They travel now business class with their managers and entourage. For stand-up comedians like Vir Das, whose acts are in English and more niche, the market has improved too after Kapil’s act which appeals to both markets.”
There has been a definite image change, she says. “Johnny (Lever) sir, our best stand-up comedian, had disappeared from the show business but now his shows are tremendously popular and housefull every weekend. Kapil with his CN team has given respect to comedy. It’s not just a filler anymore but a genre of its own. People want to shell out money to see stand-up comedians.”