Latest news with #Lever
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First Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Johnny Lever opens up on his son's cancer diagnosis: 'The doctors warned me that they cannot operate because...'
Lever continued narrating a dark chapter of his life and said, 'My wife was very worried about what the doctors in India had told her, but I somehow convinced her.' read more Legendary actor and comedian Johnny Lever has shed light on his son's cancer diagnosis and broken his silence like never before. His son Jessey has acted in films like War and Yeh Saali Aashiqui. The actor revealed in an interview, 'My son developed a knot on his neck, and he went through several types of treatment, including an operation, but they couldn't remove the tumour because it was intertwined with nerves.' He added, 'They warned me that they cannot operate, as my son risks losing his eyesight or getting paralysed. I saw my son lying on the hospital bed, with the cut still open. They gave us medication to melt the tumour, and my son used to take 40-50 pills each day, but it didn't work, and the tumour just kept growing.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lever continued narrating a dark chapter of his life and said, 'My wife was very worried about what the doctors in India had told her, but I somehow convinced her. I had some good doctor friends in Jersey, and they suggested a doctor called Dr Jatin Shah. Even though I was not a very pious person, during that time I prayed a lot.' He added, 'The operation took place, and I was so engrossed in prayer that I felt as if I was in the operation theatre, and my wife thought I had gone mad. Shortly after they brought him out, he raised his left hand up and signalled to me that he was okay.'
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Johnny Lever SLAMS Modern Comedians For Vulgarity: ‘No Aukaat To Stand Before Us'
Johnny Lever criticizes today's comedians and actors for relying on vulgar jokes and Hollywood-style humour. He says real talent lies in clean comedy. Veteran comedian Johnny Lever, a name synonymous with clean, family-friendly humour for over four decades, has expressed his concern over the increasing reliance on vulgarity and double entendre in both films and stand-up comedy today. In a candid interview with actress Kunickaa Sadanand on her YouTube channel, Lever shared his disappointment with the shifting sensibilities in Indian comedy, blaming the growing influence of Hollywood and the erosion of cultural nuance. 'People are freely abusing today because of Hollywood films," Lever observed. 'In the West, it's common to use foul language and make crass jokes, and now our actors and comedians are copying that. They've developed a habit. They only watch English films now." Kunickaa echoed his sentiment, noting, 'A lot of them don't even know Hindi properly anymore." Lever, who has acted in over 300 films across a career that spans generations, believes that this unfiltered comedic style has become the norm rather than the exception. 'They pick up exact things from Hollywood, thinking, 'Chal jayega, kya farq padta hai.' That's how double meaning jokes have become so common." Turning his critique toward the current stand-up comedy scene, Lever didn't mince words. 'Most of today's stand-up content is full of double meanings. But when we were trained in the craft, we were taught never to take that route. If we start speaking double meaning, these new guys won't even be able to stand before us. But we never chose that path." In a pointed remark that seemed both a challenge and a call for introspection, Lever added, 'If they are really talented, I challenge them—say something clean and still make people laugh. That is the real test. I'm not saying they're bad, people are enjoying their content. But I have a family audience. I have to be answerable to that." He also took pride in the fact that his daughter, Jamie Lever, who has carved her own space in the comedy world, upholds the same values. 'She does solo shows too and doesn't rely on vulgarity," he said with evident pride. Ironically, Lever's latest screen appearance was in the fifth installment of the Housefull franchise, a film that drew criticism for its heavy use of innuendos and over-the-top crass humour—an unfortunate alignment with the very trend he critiques. 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.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Johnny Lever throws shade at modern-day actors and comedians for relying on vulgarity, double-meaning jokes: 'No aukat to stand before us. They copy and think...'
Johnny Lever has voiced his concerns about the increasing vulgarity and double-meaning jokes in modern Indian comedy, attributing it to Hollywood's influence. He challenges today's comedians to prove their talent by creating clean, skillful humor, emphasizing the importance of family-friendly content. Lever proudly notes his daughter, Jamie Lever, continues his legacy of clean comedy. Johnny Lever , one of India's most beloved comedians, is not mincing words when it comes to the current state of comedy. In a recent chat, the veteran performer took a sharp dig at modern-day actors and stand-up artists for leaning heavily on vulgarity and double-meaning jokes. With over 300 films to his name and a career built on clean, skillful humour, Lever's critique carries weight—and a challenge to the next generation. Hollywood's Influence on Indian Comedy In a conversation with actress Kunickaa Sadanand on her YouTube channel, Johnny pointed out that the rising use of foul language and crass humour in Indian comedy is influenced by Hollywood. He criticised today's actors and comedians for blindly imitating Western content, noting that many now consume only English films. Kunickaa too echoed Lever's concerns, adding that many young actors and comedians today lack a proper command of Hindi, further distancing themselves from traditional Indian comedic sensibilities. A Shift in Comic Sensibility The veteran comedian further explained that this shift in influence has impacted comedic sensibilities. He noted that many performers directly lift content from Hollywood, assuming it will work in the Indian context. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bristol: If You Were Born Between 1940-1975 You Could Be Eligible For This Life Cover Reassured Undo This mindset, he said, has led to the widespread use of double-meaning jokes in today's comedy. Stand-Up Under Fire Johnny also weighed in on the current wave of stand-up comedy, criticizing its frequent reliance on double-meaning content. He emphasized that his generation of comedians was trained to avoid such shortcuts, and insisted that if seasoned performers like him resorted to that style, today's newcomers wouldn't be able to match up. Yet, he added, they consciously chose to stick to clean, skillful comedy. He wrapped up his thoughts with a subtle challenge to today's comedians, urging them to prove their talent by making people laugh without relying on vulgarity. He acknowledged that audiences may enjoy the current wave of content, but emphasized the importance of clean humour, especially for those who cater to a family audience—something he continues to hold himself accountable to. Jamie Lever Carries the Torch Johnny also mentioned that his daughter, Jamie Lever, continues the legacy by performing solo shows without resorting to vulgar humour, staying true to the values he upholds. Ironically, the veteran comedian was recently seen in Housefull 5—a film that came under fire for the very elements he criticises, including crass jokes and excessive vulgarity.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Johnny Lever takes dig at today's actors and comedians, says ‘no aukaat to stand before us': ‘They copy and think chal jayega'
Veteran comedian Johnny Lever recently voiced his concern about the changing nature of comedy in films and stand-up routines today. With over 300 films to his credit in a career spanning more than four decades, Lever has long been regarded as a clean, family-friendly performer. But in a new interview, he shared his disappointment over how easily comedy now leans on vulgarity and double entendre. In a candid conversation with actress Kunickaa Sadanand on her YouTube channel, Lever said, 'People are freely abusing today because of Hollywood films. In the West, it's common to use foul language and make crass jokes, and now our actors and comedians are copying that. They've developed a habit. They only watch English films now.' Kunickaa agreed, noting, 'A lot of them don't even know Hindi properly anymore.' Johnny Lever went on to explain how this shift has affected sensibilities. 'They pick up exact things from Hollywood, thinking, 'Chal jayega, kya farq padta hai.' That's how double meaning jokes have become so common.' ALSO READ | Vaani Kapoor breaks silence on not being part of War 2: 'If Tiger Shroff comes back, I am returning too' The veteran comedian didn't hold back from commenting on the current wave of stand-up comedy either: 'Most of today's stand-up content is full of double meanings. But when we were trained in the craft, we were taught never to take that route. If we start speaking double meaning, these new guys won't even be able to stand before us. But we never chose that path.' He concluded by throwing a subtle challenge to today's comedians: 'If they are really talented, I challenge them—say something clean and still make people laugh. That is the real test. I'm not saying they're bad, people are enjoying their content. But I have a family audience. I have to be answerable to that.' He shared that his daughter Jamie Lever too holds solo shows and doesn't lean on vulgarity, following the footsteps of her father. Meanwhile, Johnny Lever was recently seen in the film Housefull 5, which was criticised for its crass jokes and vulgarity.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exclusive: Johny Lever on consciously cutting down on work; here's what he says
Johny Lever Veteran comedian Johny Lever, who has entertained audiences for over four decades, has consciously cut down on work in recent years. The reason, he says, is simple - the lack of strong, inspiring roles. He adds, 'When someone approaches me with a project, I try to see how I can take it a notch higher with my inputs. If the role is not interesting, why would I ruin my name by taking up mediocre work?' 'Comedy pe zyada kaam nahi ho raha hai' Last seen in Housefull 5, Lever observes that comedy is no longer being explored as actively in films. 'Comedy ko kum kar diya hai, uss pe zyada kaam nahi ho raha hai. Comedy has become tough now. People are watching so much comedy in form of reels, toh aur zyada innovative comedy laaye kahan se? Also, we lack good comedy writers. Usually, we improvise and enhance a scene. Legends like Mehmood saab and Kishore Kumar saab would add their own inputs to the script. Hum bhi kar sakte hai par kuch likha toh ho. Kuch dhaancha ho toh uske upar kuch sajayenge na. Dhaancha hi nahi hai toh kya karenge? For now, there's only action in abundance in movies.' 'We used to observe people & imbibe their body language' Lever also feels there are very few actors today who are keen on doing comedy or who can pull it off well. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Shop Sale Libas Undo He says, 'The thing is, today everybody is trained in a film school. But the theoretical knowledge doesn't work on set. When you are on a set, you have to follow the cues of the team members. We used to observe people and imbibe their body language for our characters. Character ko andar se jeete the. Pagalon ki tarah kaam karte the. ' 'Comedy mera shauk tha aur phir mera profession ban gaya' One of the reasons he supported daughter Jamie Lever's decision to step into comedy is that he didn't receive that kind of support from his own father. 'Whenever I used to go on stage, my dad used to come to hit me. Once, I was performing at the Shanmukhananda Hall in Mumbai, and he came with a rubber pipe and began chasing me. The audience thought it was part of the act and started laughing and clapping,' he says. On a nostalgic note, he says, 'One day, I shot an ad and was paid Rs 25,000. It was equivalent to dad's provident fund, which he received after 25 years of service. That is when he realised, 'Mera beta kuch kar raha hai.' He would be surprised to see people clap and laugh while watching me perform. It opened his eyes. Comedy mera shauk tha aur phir woh mera profession ban gaya.' 'Comedy is in Jamie's blood' Lever, known for his roles in Baazigar, Koi… Mil Gaya, Awara Paagal Deewana and Golmaal Again, beams with pride when speaking about his daughter Jamie, who has carved a niche in the comedy space. 'See, that's in her blood. Initially, she didn't plan to pursue comedy as a career. She was studying in London. One day she visited a café with her friends where a live stand-up performance was on and she suddenly told her friends, 'Yeh barabar nahi kar raha. He is missing all the punches.' She pointed out where the comedian could have added the punches. Then she called her mom up and said she aspires to do stand-up. Pehle mujhe gussa aa gaya, because I've been through struggles, and I was worried that my daughter would also have to go through that,' he says.
