‘Nahi milega, phir aa jaate ho': Comedian Gaurav Gupta's witty crowdwork with Pakistani audience amid Indo-Pak tensions sparks mixed reactions

Time of India

2 days ago

A Surprise in the Crowd and a Joke That Walked a Line
Humour Meets the Kashmir Question
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In the wake of heightened Indo-Pak tensions following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, stand-up comedian Gaurav Gupta found himself at the centre of an unlikely cultural moment. While on his US-Canada comedy tour , Gupta's spontaneous crowdwork with a Pakistani audience member has gone viral—drawing both cheers and criticism.Performing in Chicago as part of his international tour that kicked off in Atlanta on May 30, Gaurav shared a snippet from the show that featured an unexpected guest from across the border. Spotting a Pakistani man in the crowd, Gaurav appeared momentarily taken aback. 'Brother, you have a lot of guts coming to the show,' he joked, alluding to the recent blocking of Pakistani artists' accounts in India. 'He thought artistes were banned, but audience members are still allowed,' he added, drawing laughter from the crowd.What followed was a mix of humour and geopolitical undertones. As some audience members began shouting "Sindoor"—a reference to Operation Sindoor—Gaurav swiftly called for calm. Then, with his signature smirk, he turned back to the Pakistani attendee and quipped, 'Go on, recite the Hanuman Chalisa now,' a line that had the crowd in splits.The exchange turned sharper as Gaurav probed further, asking whether the man understood his jokes. Upon receiving an affirmative response, Gaurav took a subtle jab at the long-standing Kashmir issue: 'Toh tumhe samajh nahi aata, nahi milega tumhe? Itne saalon se keh rahe hain nahi milega, nahi milega, phir aa jaate ho tum (You still don't get it? We've been saying it for years—won't get it, won't get it—but still, you keep coming).'While some hailed it as bold satire, others felt the moment could have been used to bridge divides rather than reinforce them.Social media lit up soon after the clip was posted. Fans praised Gupta's deft handling of a sensitive moment, with one user writing, 'Nahi Milega was brilliant.' Another applauded his timing: 'He was hesitating while roasting him… but he still did it gracefully.'But not everyone was amused. One Instagram user remarked, 'So disappointed. He could have used this opportunity to celebrate in a positive manner.' Another added, 'You should respect your audience—they are your source of income.' A more conciliatory voice said, 'You kept the audience in check while also letting them have fun… things can go so wrong in such situations—you handled it beautifully.'Gaurav Gupta, best known for his sharp takes on Baniya culture and middle-class life, shot to fame after reaching the top 12 of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in 2017. Over the years, his blend of personal anecdotes and social commentary has made him a fan favourite across both India and the diaspora.This latest episode, however, is more than just a moment of comic improvisation—it's a reflection of the complex, often tense interplay between art, identity, and geopolitics. And as one viewer poignantly noted, 'People in both countries are simply striving to make a living, seeking peace and harmony. We can't deny that we have more in common than what the political narrative suggests.'