Kapil Sharma's TV show, The Kapil Sharma Show, is quietly getting a revamp to keep up with the com petition. Since Sunil Grover's exit in April, followed by several other actors quitting, the TRPs have been plummeting. Now, with Kapil himself laid down by health issues, the channel has decided to bring in some much-needed aides to bolster his sagging morale and dipping confidence. After comedienne Bharti Singh, a new writer, Raaj Shaandilyaa, has been brought on board to up the humor quotient in the gags. Raaj has earlier worked on comedy shows with both Kapil and Krushna Abhishek but had quit TV for films since the past two-and-a-half years. He has scripted Anees Bazmee's Welcome Back, Sanjay Dutt's Bhoomi, Sohail Khan's Freaky Ali and his next which will roll soon. His previous writer, Bharat Kukreti, has moved on to Krushna Abhishek's newly launched show on the same channel, The Drama Company.

Shaandilyaa admitted to Mirror that after Sunil, Ali Asgar and the creative team moved to rival shows and Kapil's health became a concern, he got a called from Kapil and his team asking if he'd join them. “I have worked with Kapil in the past so I decided to go for it,“ says Shaandilyaa, acknowledging that he has been roped in for the gags that had gone missing in some recent episodes. “The madness and energy is missing. We are not changing the format but we will be introducing new gags and faces in upcoming episodes. We are also getting some of the popular characters back. Kapil will now play Mr Arora, Sittu and Gattu.“

The writer continues to back Kapil who he asserts has been a champion since The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. “After Johnny Lever and Raju Shrivastav, he's the only comedian to have a show named after him. He always keeps himself updated with what is happening and that is important,“ says Shandilyaa.

What about competition from Krushna's show? “They could be competing with us, we are not competing with anybody. Many shows have come and gone but Kapil show is still on. I have worked with Krushna too, for me both Kapil and Krushna are alike. If it were a different channel it would be a different,“ he signs off.