Comedy Nights Bachao was the reason Kapil ended his show, says Krushna Abhishek

The first episode of Comedy Nights Live that has replaced Comedy Nights With Kapil has got a thumbs down from viewers and critics alike. Krushna Abhishek who has taken Kapil’s place in the show has been panned. Here the stand-up comedian defends himself and his show unflinchingly and promises to do better.

The reviews to your first episode are not flattering. Did you expect this?
Definitely.  I was expecting bad reviews. This was Kapil’s (Sharma) show and we came on air just a week after his ended. This happens with every new show. When we were planning Comedy Nights Bachao, everybody told us Roast jaise shows India mein nahi chalte. I was told ‘Tumhare show mein Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Deepika Padukone nahi ayenge. This will be a flop show’. Kapil had also told me that.  But today Comedy Nights Bachao is one of the top-rated shows. Production houses are calling me to say so and so actors will be coming on your show. Today people want entertainment.  If not me somebody else will do it.  For two months log gaaliyan denge...  Gradually, we want to increase audience interaction. It’s a learning process. Bahut saara baggage leke kar raha hoon. Kapil has his own fan following, even I am one. Main uske joote mein chal raha hoon, so people will be angry. But memory is short. No actor is god. Mihir Virani died in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi but producer Ekta Kapoor continues making shows.

How involved are you in the creative lines and gags?
I am totally involved. Three days before the shoot I sit on the creatives with the team for both the Comedy Nights’ shows. Everybody does that, even Kapil does it. I don’t go on the sets like an actor, take the script and start delivering the lines. I plan the characters and at times do things impromptu. 

You had several drag acts in the episode. Hasn’t it been done to death?
We are still learning. You have pointed this out. Some people have told me that I should purely be hosting the show and not play characters. But if I have to be different from Kapil I should play characters because he didn’t. As the episodes progress we will see which characters are being liked by people — Siddharth’s, Sudeshji and bua — and make it better.

What happens to Comedy Nights Bachao now that Bharti Singh and you are here?
We will do both. Bachao will be pure roast and here we will do masti. Lekin main pareshan ho gaya hoon. Both Bharti and I don’t have time. We are shooting or prepping for either of the shows. Haalat kharaab hai. But it’s a golden period for me. I am the face, the hero of two primetime shows on a top channel. I may be getting tired but I am enjoying it.

Do you think Mika Singh is the right choice to replace Navjot Singh Sidhu? Because they are both Sikhs?
Mika is a very good friend and I share a great rapport with him. He is a musician and brings in the youth factor. Uper se Punjabi banda hai like Sidhuji. We wanted a Punjabi guy only. Also, Mika understands humour and being a singer we get to have a music item too. Completely different from Sidhuji. 

What about Bharati? Is she a replacement for Kiku Sharda because they are both the same size?
Yes, dono mein bhaaripan hai. That tempo is there and Bharti dances too. Kiku ladki banta tha aur Bharti ladka toh they are more or less in the same space. 

How about getting your wife Kashmera to play your wife in the show?
(Laughs) Nahi woh ghar mein theek hai.

You keep making fun of her in Comedy Bachao...
Yes and she enjoys it a lot. I will bring her on this show and band bajaunga (laughs).

The Saroj Khan act has been done so many times before by Kiku..why did you bring that back?
When Kiku did the Saroj act sporting a big butt  Sarojji was offended. She had told me also. Humne usko thoda sophisticated kiya - we did not touch upon the physicality. The reason we did it was Madhuri Dixit who has a connect with her. She also gave a go-ahead. As far as Kiku is concerned his acts were mind-blowing. But most of the gags he and the team did on the show have already been done by me on Comedy Circus. If you see my videos from the show that was aired seven-eight years ago you’ll find them. It’s just that when they did it in a different space people liked them.

What was the reason for having Madhuri Dixit in the first episode?
We had several discussions on who should be the first guest. This show has a family audience and Madhuri is a legendary heroine who has a fan in every household. She has stardom and at the same time is parivaarik. She was the best for the first episode. The second one will have Katrina Kaif, Aditya Roy Kapur and Abhishek Kapoor. Bachao mein roast karenge yahan pe izzat denge (smiles).

You said Kapil was being insecure when he ended the show. Why?
Comedy Nights Bachao was the reason Kapil ended his show. Mujhe koi shauk nahi tha uska show karne mein. Kapil should have been here doing his show on the Sunday slot. Hamare saath fight karna chahiye tha. I wanted Bachao to get more ratings than Kapil’s show and we got it. Only when two shows are good there is competition.  Mazaa tab aata hai jab ek side mein Dabangg ho aur doosri side mein Singham. Dono mein dum hai. Par Kapil chala gaya aur samaan chhod gaya!