Johny Lever started doing stand-up comedy long before stand-up comedy became popular in India. And since then, he has portrayed some memorable characters and given some of the most hilarious on-screen moments. Even today, Johny Lever continues to tickle the funny bone with his acts. The master comedian feels that comedy is one of the most difficult acts to pull off and it requires impeccable writing to make the audience laugh.

Talking about the dearth of quality comedy in the entertainment industry, he says, “If you notice, there are hardly any out-and-out comedy films being made now. And it is not possible to do so because the writers are not well supported. One writer is working on multiple projects at the same time as he has to support himself financially. So, how do you expect that writer to create something extraordinary when his mind is not at one place. Producers should ask writers to take time and come up with great content. They should be paid well so that they feel encouraged and inspired to write their best. The bigwigs of the industry are spending crores in all sorts of things, but not investing in good writers and good writing.”

Reflecting on his journey in showbiz, he shares, “I started doing stand-up comedy when I was being paid in double digits. And slowly, I made my way up. But as my pay increased, so did the expectations. Once you do well, the audience as well as the industry expects you do the same every single time. It is a responsibility that every popular artiste deals with in his career. And we must strive to justify our popularity, fan’s love and the kind of remuneration we get.”

He further adds, “Being a star is not only about charging huge amounts, it is also about owning the product and delivering what is expected out of you. I work with the same burden, but I take it as a challenge and do my best to entertain people.”