Back as a mentor for a comedy show, Farah Khan on being roped in to analyse varied skills
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; August 15, 2021)

Farah Khan’s last directorial venture was Happy New Year in 2014. She was slated to helm a potboiler in 2019—described as the ‘mother of all entertainers’, backed by Rohit Shetty—but the project did not take off. Last year, she produced husband Shirish Kunder’s Netflix film, Mrs Serial Killer. Though it’s been a while since Khan wielded the directorial baton, she is in no hurry to work on her next. “There is such a huge backlog of films waiting to be released in theatres. The pandemic made filmmakers revise their plans umpteen times. Let it all clear up, then I will plan something,” says Khan, now seen on the recently launched weekend offering, Zee Comedy Show.

Being funny is an “inherent” part of her personality. She has “the ability to laugh at myself”; it is her way to spread cheer in the prevailing scenario. “The show has a lot of physical comedy, and I am the Laughing Buddha on the show. Participants have to make me cackle with their funny acts, so it is all about who makes me laugh the loudest. There is a laughometer [to monitor that].”

Celebrities and comedians, including Ali Asgar, Sanket Bhosale,  and Ballrajj, are part of this offering, performing stand-up acts, skits, and parodies, to entertain Khan. “There are two teams, and they compete with each other. We have had guests like Tabu, Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh portray their comic side as well,” says Khan, who is also working on choreography, and directing music videos and ad films.

Apart from dance reality shows, Khan has also been on the mentors’ panel of Indian Idol, and hosted Bigg Boss. “It is easy to be part of varied things. I know I am not taken for my oomph factor, but for my personality. Next year, I will complete 30 years in the industry,” says Khan.