Latest news with #ComedyCircus
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
I wanted to be a singer, comedy just happened: Sudesh Lehri
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI) Sudesh Lehri, best known for shows like 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge 3" and 'Comedy Circus", says he initially wanted to make a mark as a singer but people appreciated his comic skills more. Almost two decades later, Lehri is now a well-established name in the world of television comedy and has even worked in films like 'Ready" with Salman Khan and 'Loveyaapa" and 'Dreamgirl 2". 'I didn't choose comedy, it just happened. I wanted to be a singer. I used to sing songs on stage but people would like me more in comedy. I would often mimick the singer whose song I was singing and people used to like that. I would also copy people and I realised that comedy was fun because you get the response instantly," Lehri told PTI in an interview. The comedian said it was not easy to transition from Punjab to Mumbai. 'I'm not educated… Going from Punjabi to Hindi was a challenge, but while acting, it just kept happening (learning). I've been in Mumbai for at least 18 years… I'm having a lot of fun," he said. The actor, who was last seeen in 'Laughter Chefs 2", is now part of JioHotstar show 'Pati Patni Aur Panga" with wife Mamta Lehri. The show also features other celebrity couples like Hina Khan-Rocky Jaiswal, Rubina Dilaik-Abhinav Shukla, Debina Bonnerjee-Gurmeet Choudhary, Avika Gor-Milind Chandwani, Swara Bhaskar-Fahad Ahmad and Geeta Phogat-Pawan Kumar. 'When we shot it, it was fun. We are having a lot of fun. We're getting money, and it's easy," Lehri said about the show. PTI NM BK BK (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Comedian saw extreme poverty after losing dad at 2, survived on leftovers, mom cleaned toilets; now among highest-paid in the industry
'Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.' This iconic quote by Charlie Chaplin rings true for many comedians who rise from marginalised backgrounds to rule the world of laughter. Kapil Sharma's journey from Punjab to Mumbai was anything but easy. The late Raju Srivastav drove an auto rickshaw in Mumbai before making it big. Bharti Singh, too, faced numerous hardships before earning the title of 'Laughter Queen' and becoming one of the highest-paid comedians in the industry. But Bharti's journey sets her apart from all the male comics, and she has made a name for herself in an industry that has largely been dominated by men. Bharti was just two years old when her father passed away, and all the financial responsibility of the family fell on her mother and two elder siblings — a sister and a brother. In an old interaction, Bharti had revealed that to keep the household running, her siblings had to give up their studies and start working in a blanket factory. She also shared that her mother worked multiple jobs, from making 'Maata Rani ki Dupatta (ceremonial clothes)' to doing household chores in other people's homes. She had told Times of India, 'My focus was always poverty. I was two years old when my father passed away. My brothers and sisters gave up their jobs. They worked in a factory. They carried heavy blankets, blankets that we could never have used. They stitched them night after night.' While speaking to Brut India, Bharti admitted to experiencing extreme hunger during her childhood. She said their financial condition was so dire that her mother had to work in people's homes, cleaning their houses and toilets. From there, she would bring home leftover food that Bharti and her siblings would eat. She said, 'There was so much hunger and poverty. I used to get depressed during festivals. We would do Lakshmi puja after my mom would get the sweet box from work. I would go and stand near other kids bursting crackers so that others would think I burst them. When my mom would work at people's homes, I used to sit near the door. She would clean toilets. While leaving, they would give her leftover food. Their stale food would become our fresh food. And that would make our day.' She added, 'We have eaten salt and roti but now we have dal, sabzi and roti. I just hope my family always has at least dal to eat. I will never want to face the situation or have my family go through that.' Bharti started doing theatre and comedy shows during college in Punjab, and that's where her talent was first discovered. She soon got an audition call for Comedy Circus. After she gave her audition in Amritsar for the show, she was called to Mumbai. 'I was briefed about the show and took my first-ever flight, to Mumbai with my mother,' she told India Today. After doing back-to-back comedy shows on TV, Bharti became a household name, with her character 'Lali' becoming a fan favourite. She also participated in the dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 and soon moved on to hosting popular shows like Dance Deewane, Hunarbaaz: Desh Ki Shaan, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa L'il Champs 2022, and the recent Laughter Chefs – Unlimited Entertainment. She also runs her own YouTube channel Bharti TV, and another channel LOL (Life of Limbachiyaas) with her husband and writer Haarsh Limbachiyaa, where they share vlogs. She also boasts 9 million followers on Instagram. According to a report in ETimes, Bharti is among the highest-paid comedians in the industry and was paid between Rs 10 to Rs 12 lakhs per episode for hosting Laughter Chefs Season 2. According to TOI, Bharti owns several high-end vehicles, including an Audi Q5, Mercedes-Benz GL 350, and BMW X7. With an estimated net worth of around Rs 30 crore, she is among the richest comedians in the country. Bharti also owns a luxurious 2BHK home in Mumbai, valued at approximately Rs 6 crore.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Archana Puran Singh revealed her laughter was used to lift weak jokes on Comedy Circus; says 'I have a loud laugh, but that doesn't mean I have an irrational or silly laugh'
Archana Puran Singh , known for her loud laugh and as a judge on Comedy Circus, once shared that the show's makers often edited and added her laughter in the episodes to make weak jokes look funnier. In an old interview with Times of India TV, Archana shared how she was very upset about the same and sternly communicated it to the Comedy Circus team. Speaking about it, Archana had shared in our old interview, "What happened in Comedy Circus really affected how people see me. It was the first show of its kind and ran for a very long time. Comedy is tough, and during some episodes, the jokes didn't land well. So the team would rely on my laughter. They thought, 'If we add Archana's laugh here, people will find it funny.' They started taking my genuine laughter from other jokes and placing it over weak ones just to make them seem better. They did this for a long time, and I had a serious problem with it. I got really upset and told the production house clearly, 'You can't do this. I won't laugh just for the sake of it.'' In the same interview, Archana admitted that she has a loud laugh, but also clarified that she doesn't have an irrational, idiotic laugh, "Maine keh diya tha, 'Main hasungi hi nahi, toh edit kaise karoge?' They did this for around 4 to 6 months in the beginning, and then slowly reduced it. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleep ResMed Buy Now Undo But the damage was done. viewers only saw me laughing. The other judges who didn't laugh, their reactions were never used. Only clips of me laughing loudly were shown. Yes, I agree I have a loud laugh, but that doesn't mean I have an irrational or silly laugh. I don't laugh at every joke. I'm an educated, intelligent person who understands humour. But because of all this editing, people now believe Archana laughs at anything. The truth is, I do laugh a lot and I laugh loudly, I fully accept that. But I don't laugh at bad jokes. As a professional, it's my responsibility to uplift a performer's act, but that doesn't mean I'll fake my reactions." Archana is currently seen as a co-judge on The Great Indian Kapil Show season 3 along with Navjot Singh Sidhu. Archana recently touched on the same topic in her latest Vlog. Archana Puran Singh reveals the real reason behind hiding her marriage with Parmeet Sethi for four years
News18
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Rajiv Thakur Reveals Why He Was Dropped From Kapil Sharma Show: ‘Didn't Get Space, Was Called Boring'
Rajiv Thakur reveals why he's missing from Kapil Sharma's show and how a joke with child artist Saloni Daini led people to label him 'boring,' affecting his career. While The Great Indian Kapil Show recently made waves with the return of Navjot Singh Sidhu, fans were quick to notice the conspicuous absence of comedian Rajiv Thakur. Known for his impeccable timing and camaraderie with Kapil Sharma, Rajiv's missing presence raised several questions. Now, the comedian has finally broken his silence on why he hasn't been seen in the latest season. In a recent chat with Pinkvilla, Rajiv joked about the situation in his trademark style: 'Nobody takes rest in such a big show, obviously apko nikala gaya hoga," he said with a laugh, hinting at the nature of high-stakes ensemble shows. He then got candid about the real reason behind his absence. 'Dates didn't match. They were calling in-between, but I had prior commitments, and I don't like breaking them," Rajiv said, adding that the show's limited runtime of 55 minutes also left little room for him. 'In those 55 minutes, Kapil, Sunil Grover, and Krushna Abhishek have to perform their skits, there's also the guest segment. There just wasn't enough space left. And if you can't do justice to a character, then what's the point?" But Rajiv didn't just speak about scheduling woes—he also reflected on how self-deprecating humour once hurt his public image. Recalling his Comedy Circus days, Rajiv shared a heartfelt anecdote about working with child artist Saloni Daini. 'She was very young at the time, and I didn't feel right cracking jokes at her expense. So I gave her all the punches and told her to mock me instead." One particular punchline—'Main ek bacche ki salary pe jee raha hoon"—may have brought laughs on the show, but it had unintended consequences. 'People started taking that literally," he admitted. 'They began thinking I was boring or unsuccessful. That perception stuck with me off-screen. But can a boring person do 14 seasons of a comedy show over 8 years?" Rajiv's revelation serves as a reminder of the thin line comedians often walk between character and identity—and how the best jokes, while landing on stage, sometimes leave a mark off it too. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Rajiv Thakur was dropped from Kapil Sharma's show, trolls called him ‘boring'; career took a hit after he was mocked by a child on TV
The latest season of The Great Indian Kapil Show saw Navjot Singh Sidhu make a comeback, but fans noticed comedian Rajiv Thakur missing from the show. In a recent interaction, Rajiv opened up about not being part of the latest season and admitted that due to the show's short run, he didn't get enough screen space. In an interaction with Pinkvilla, when Rajiv was asked why he had taken a break from the show, he responded jokingly, 'Nobody takes rest in such a big show, obviously apko nikala gaya hoga (they would have removed you).' The actor then went on to reveal the reason behind his absence from Kapil Sharma's show. He said, 'Dates didn't match, they were calling in-between, and I had prior commitments which I don't like to break. It's also that they have to deliver a very short, 55-minute long, show and within those 55 minutes Krushna Abhishek, Sunil Grover, Kapil — they all have to perform their skits. Along with that, conversation with guests is also there. They have so much to do in those 55 minutes and which is why space for me was very less in the show, then it is not possible to do justice with me.' When Rajiv was asked about how important it is for an actor or comedian to be able to take a joke on himself, he recalled an instance about how this very thought process ended up hampering his career. He spoke about his time on the show Comedy Circus, where he was paired with child artist Saloni Daini. Since Saloni was a kid at the time, Rajiv didn't find it appropriate to make fun of her and instead asked Saloni to only take jibes at him. While the audience laughed at Saloni's jokes, they started perceiving Rajiv in a certain light, which, he said, affected his career. He said, 'This thought process has hampered my career in a way you can't even imagine. In Comedy Circus, comedians had partners and they would crack jokes on each other. I was cast opposite Saloni and I couldn't do that. I allowed her to make fun of me but I couldn't do that to her. In fact, I gave her dialogues to mock me on the show.' He went on to say, 'One of the dialogues was: 'I am making a living on a kid's salary.' But people started using that dialogue elsewhere and I thought it is okay because as a performer I should be able to take a joke on myself. But slowly people started believing this line and they would tell me that, 'I bore them.' But that was wrong. Can a boring person do 14 seasons of a comedy show for 8 years?'
