Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 3, 2016)
Kapil Sharma may have moved from one channel to the other but he promises that his brand of comedy will not suffer. Even as he gears up for his The Kapil Sharma Show, which is slated to begin next month, he talks about the recent controversies and the big challenge ahead of him...
How do you react to Krushna Abhishek taking digs at you in the first episode of Comedy Nights Live?
Jiski jo marzi. I can't stop anyone from taking digs at anyone. We are here to entertain people and focus on our work. I have watched the show and my idea of entertainment is different. I will not take digs at him. The whole controversy is a thing of the past.
Your new show won't have popular characters like Guthi, Palak, and Dadi...
We will still have Sunil Grover, Kiku Sharda and Ali Asgar (who played these characters). Ali is feeling much lighter now as he does not have to don dadi's get-up. His wife is thanking me that she gets to see her real husband now! All three actors are so talented that they will easily get into other characters in our new show. So the credit goes to these three individuals and not their characters. I am happy that most of my old members are with me as comedy can't happen alone. Upasana Singh (bua) could not join me as her contract is for an extended period with the previous channel. Controversies arise... all I can say is that our sensibilities did not match with that of the previous channel and so, we parted ways.
With so many comedy shows on TV, how will yours be different?
We are here to make people laugh. I am not focussing on any other shows, I am only concentrating on how we can do better. The rest is for the audiences to decide.
We hear that the first episode of your show will have Shah Rukh Khan and it will be a live event in Delhi. Is it true?
I have also heard that. Yes, it will be a live event in Delhi but about Shah Rukh Khan, it will be the channel's decision. I did call him to invite him, but he did not pick the phone. My team and the channel are trying to reach him... let's see if he agrees.
There's buzz that after your first film, you raised your fee to Rs 5 crore. Are you looking at creating a space for yourself like actor Mehmood?
I really want to meet the person who is spreading these rumours; it is completely baseless that I demanded a huge amount. That was a different era. Why should I play a comedian in films when I am being offered lead roles?
What's on the personal front? Are you dating Preeti Simoes?
No, I'm not dating anyone. She is a part of my team.
How do you react to Krushna Abhishek taking digs at you in the first episode of Comedy Nights Live?
Jiski jo marzi. I can't stop anyone from taking digs at anyone. We are here to entertain people and focus on our work. I have watched the show and my idea of entertainment is different. I will not take digs at him. The whole controversy is a thing of the past.
Your new show won't have popular characters like Guthi, Palak, and Dadi...
We will still have Sunil Grover, Kiku Sharda and Ali Asgar (who played these characters). Ali is feeling much lighter now as he does not have to don dadi's get-up. His wife is thanking me that she gets to see her real husband now! All three actors are so talented that they will easily get into other characters in our new show. So the credit goes to these three individuals and not their characters. I am happy that most of my old members are with me as comedy can't happen alone. Upasana Singh (bua) could not join me as her contract is for an extended period with the previous channel. Controversies arise... all I can say is that our sensibilities did not match with that of the previous channel and so, we parted ways.
With so many comedy shows on TV, how will yours be different?
We are here to make people laugh. I am not focussing on any other shows, I am only concentrating on how we can do better. The rest is for the audiences to decide.
We hear that the first episode of your show will have Shah Rukh Khan and it will be a live event in Delhi. Is it true?
I have also heard that. Yes, it will be a live event in Delhi but about Shah Rukh Khan, it will be the channel's decision. I did call him to invite him, but he did not pick the phone. My team and the channel are trying to reach him... let's see if he agrees.
There's buzz that after your first film, you raised your fee to Rs 5 crore. Are you looking at creating a space for yourself like actor Mehmood?
I really want to meet the person who is spreading these rumours; it is completely baseless that I demanded a huge amount. That was a different era. Why should I play a comedian in films when I am being offered lead roles?
What's on the personal front? Are you dating Preeti Simoes?
No, I'm not dating anyone. She is a part of my team.