Showing posts with label Bharti Singh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bharti Singh. Show all posts
Gippy Grewal reveals he cleaned toilets in Canada: "Had to struggle until my second album"
10:45 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 18, 2026)
Actor-singer Gippy Grewal who is gearing up for the release of Carry On Jatta 4, recently opened up about his journey towards success, including the struggles he faced in Canada in his early years.
During a conversation with comedian Bharti Siingh and husband Harssh Limbachiyaa, Gippy shared that although his debut song Chakk Ley was a hit, he had to juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet until his second album’s release.
“I used to do 3-4 jobs. By the time I returned home, it would be 4 o’clock in the morning. Then, I would pick up my wife (Ravneet Grewal) and the two of us would distribute newspapers. She also worked at Subway from 6 am to 4 pm and then worked as a security guard,” revealed the Angreji Beat singer.
The 43-year-old added that he and his wife even took on a cleaning contract at a mall to support themselves. “In the evening, we would work for 2-3 hours. Picking trays from the food court was her work and I did the cleaning. I had to clean the toilets as well. In other jobs, I would make 8 dollars, but in the mall cleaning job, I would get almost $13 (around Rs. 900).”
Despite the hardships, he and his wife always supported each other. Recalling the newspaper job, he shared, “My wife and I would think that this is our time together. So we would keep talking the whole time and get done with that job in two hours.”
Gippy married Ravneet in 2007. They are parents to three kids: Ekom Grewal, Shinda Grewal and Gurbaaz Grewal.
Shilpa Shinde on retracting her sexual harassment allegation against producer Sanjay Kohli: "I wanted to come clean"
10:56 PM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 4, 2026)
Nearly a decade after accusing Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! producer Sanjay Kohli of sexual harassment, actor Shilpa Shinde has claimed that the allegations were “false” and made because she had “no other option” to exit a contractual dispute.
Shilpa, who played Angoori Bhabhi before being replaced by Shubhangi Atre in 2016, was embroiled in one of TV’s biggest public fallouts. She had accused Kohli and the production team of sexual harassment, mental torture, non-payment of dues and creating a hostile work environment. The dispute also involved industry bodies, including CINTAA and the producers’ association, before ending in a settlement.
Speaking on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s podcast, Shilpa said, “I filed a sexual harassment case against my producer because I had no other option. Eventually, I got out of that situation because the matter was settled. I filed the case on that basis because the police directly tell you that if you want an FIR registered, you have to make serious allegations.”
Shilpa said she felt trapped despite having quit the show and claimed Kohli later understood the circumstances that led to the complaint. “Poor man, he ended up getting defamed because of it. Today, through this platform, I want to say that it was false. I am confessing this for the first time,” she said.
Shilpa returned to Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! in 2025 and says she now shares a cordial relationship with the team. We reached out to Sanjay Kohli for comment. No response was received till the time of going to press.
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Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; June 5, 2026)
Nearly a decade after her acrimonious exit from the TV show Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!, Shilpa Shinde returned to the show last December. This came as a surprise to everyone because the actress had accused producer Sanjay Kohli of sexual harassment, non-payment of dues and creating a hostile work environment in 2016. In a recent podcast, Shilpa admitted that the allegation that she had made against him was false. Her remarks have also raised uncomfortable questions about accountability and the impact such reversals can have on survivors of workplace harassment. It is against this backdrop that we spoke to Shinde.
‘I cannot even begin to explain the kind of harassment I went through during that phase’
Recalling how the dispute escalated at that time, Shilpa says, “I was asked to sign an exclusivity contract with the channel for the show. In return, I asked for a 25 per cent raise and five days off every month, but they didn’t agree. After that, stories started circulating that I was troubling the producers and wasn’t reporting to the shoot. CINTAA (Cine and TV Artistes Association) asked me to resume shooting the very next day without anyone hearing my side of the story. I told them my dues of Rs. 37 lakh should be cleared, and then I would return to work immediately. Meanwhile, auditions for my replacement were being conducted without informing me.”
She adds, “No one was taking my calls. Main 20 saal se industry mein kaam kar rahi hoon, aur aap kisi ko is tarah badnaam karte ho. No one tried to understand the challenges I was dealing with. I cannot even begin to explain the kind of harassment I went through during that phase.”
‘Sanjay Kohli is a nice man and was the one person who could have resolved the issue back then’
Speaking about Sanjay Kohli, she says, “He is a nice man. He speaks softly and knows how to get work done. What I never understood was why he wasn’t present at the meetings around my exit. He was the one person who could have resolved the issue. The matter was eventually settled in court, and we agreed not to speak about each other after that. After all this, I continued receiving offers to return to Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai! from different quarters. And finally, I took it up in December last year, and things have been fine between all of us.”
When asked whether her allegation could undermine the experiences of women who genuinely face sexual harassment, Shilpa says, “A year of my life went by dealing with all this. A fake MMS of mine was also circulated at the time, which caused even more stress. I have a family, too. Jo mere saath hua, I wanted to return it.”
I’m glad Shilpa came forward with the truth: Binaiferr Kohli
When contacted, Binaiferr Kohli chose not to comment on the larger controversy. She said, “Shilpa speaking up and admitting that she falsely accused my husband after so many years was unexpected. I am glad she came forward with the truth and clarified the matter, as we have always known what the truth was. We have moved on, and I do not wish to comment further on the matter.”
Shilpa’s admission that she falsely accused producer Sanjay Kohli has sparked a discussion in the industry. Hina Khan, without naming Shilpa, posted on Instagram.
She wrote, “Yes, using your sex to malign someone’s image in order to Win during a conflict is absolutely shameful. And everyone is Absolutely Right to Call it out and demand justice. I am shocked beyond words... But I want to talk about the “Real Victim” here. A respected Man with a wife, a daughter and many other women in his family.. A real hardworking producer with many iconic shows. Who went through such an ordeal. As admitted by the Female Actor, her allegations were not just baseless they were used to gain advantage, to win, to score, to claim, to settle without the utilisation of Law. And even after that, the SAME producer gives the SAME show to the SAME person. Another LAUNCHPAD, another MOUTHPIECE, another RELEVANCE, another CHANCE to legitimise her Fake Claim of SEXUAL ASSAULT.. What if the Actor repeats it? After all the actor has been given the same show by the one she falsely ACCUSED... I AM APPALLED. THE JOKE IS ON US (sic).”
Shekhar Suman reacts to relief in 16-year-old court case: "Justice prevails"
2:58 PM
Natasha Coutinho (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 3, 2026)
Sixteen years after a complaint over a joke on the show Comedy Circus Ka Jadoo led to a case against actor and TV host Shekhar Suman and comedian Bharti Singh, the Bombay High Court has quashed the FIR, bringing relief to the two artistes.
The case dated back to 2010, when an FIR was filed over allegedly offensive remarks made on the Sony TV show. Apart from Suman and Singh, the channel and a scriptwriter were also named as accused. The complaint, filed by a representative of Raza Academy, alleged that Singh had cracked a joke about a Quranic verse on the show, and that Suman, who was associated with the episode, had repeated the verse.
The court has now clarified that the role attributed to Shekhar and Bharti was “too remote” to bring them within the alleged offences, and that no material had been found to show deliberate or malicious intent on their part.
Reacting to the verdict, Suman tells us, “I did not even know about it. It was Bharti who had said something innocuously, with no religious connotation. I wasn’t even part of it, but was unnecessarily dragged into the matter to gain publicity.”
The actor says he is relieved by the court’s decision. “I’m extremely thankful to the honourable judge who trashed the case,” he says, adding that he was unaware the matter was still going on. “It came as a surprise. I had long forgotten about it. I wasn’t sent a notice or asked to appear for my stand. Thank God for that. Imagine how some people waste the precious time of court and hassle innocent citizens. Justice prevails.”
I hadn’t expected to be so pampered during my second pregnancy-Bharti Singh
8:15 AM
Yashika Mathur (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 9, 2025)
Comedian Bharti Singh and her husband, writer Harsh Limbachiyaa, are thrilled about their second pregnancy. They made the announcement in October. And now, in her first interview since, she tells us, “I’m getting so much love! I hadn’t expected to be so pampered during my second pregnancy, too. Koi ghee de raha hai, koi laddoo la raha hai, meri daadi ne achaar daala mere liye, koi kala dhaga pehena raha hai.”
Emotional about this outpouring, the 41-year-old shares that their three-year-old son Laksh aka Gola was the first to know about the good news. Sharing how the couple has explained all about being a big brother to him, Bharti says, “We took Golu to the sonogram where he heard the heartbeat. Tab usko kuch samajh nahi aaya. but next two-three sonograms mein usko baby kaju ki tarah laga tha! He now tells me, ‘Aapke tummy mein kaju hai!’ (laughs)”
Known for her comic timing, and hosting popular shows, Bharti confesses that she hopes for a baby girl this time around: “Humein bohut logon ne bola tha ki aap bahar ghumne gaye thhe, aap check karwa lo. But na mujhe ye chahiye tha na ghar waalo ko. Main to yehi dua karti hun ki beti ho jaye. Behen bhai hone chahiye, ek ladki toh honi hi chahiye! Pura Ghar discipline mein rehta hai. Gola bohot excited hai.”
Bharti Singh responds to backlash: "In Thailand for work, not on holiday"
10:27 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (May 13, 2025)
Comedian Bharti Singh has received backlash for seemingly vacationing in Thailand as military tensions between India and Pakistan escalate.
In her latest vlog on her YouTube channel, a visibly emotional Bharti addressed the harsh comments she has been receiving and clarified that she was in the country for a shoot.
“I’m in Thailand for work and not for holiday. We had a shoot for 10 days and we had committed to this project 3-4 months ago. It is not professional to ditch someone at the last moment,” she said. “India is a very strong nation aur isse koi hila nahin sakta. When I read your comments, I don’t get angry, I just feel aap log bahut bhole ho,” the 40-year-old added.
Breaking down, the comedian went on to share: “Yes, [Amritsar, where her family lives] and the country is going through turmoil. But my family is safe... and I have full trust in my country and the government.”
All of Bharti Singh’s and my efforts, paisa has gone into our channel, says Haarsh Limbachiyaa on YouTube hack crisis
11:05 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 21, 2024)
It was a stressful day for writer Haarsh Limbachiyaa and his wife, comedian Bharti Singh, who revealed on Thursday that their YouTube channel, Bharti TV, was hacked. The channel, which boasts three million subscribers and showcases their daily lives, was compromised.
Limbachiyaa recounts, “We upload videos daily, three or four times a day. Suddenly, around 6.30pm, we were logged out of our channel. When we checked, the channel was no longer visible, and everything — the name and videos — had been altered. We were confused and reached out to YouTube’s support via Twitter and Instagram.”
YouTube’s team from the United States then contacted them. “We emailed them, and due to the time difference, we spent the night working with their technical team to resolve the issue. Thankfully, we regained access to our channel by Friday morning,” Limbachiyaa shares.
He also notes the additional stress, saying, “It plays a very big role in our lives. It is very difficult to get people to subscribe to your channel, especially when your background isn’t in the medium. We were from TV and mainstream media, this world and YouTube’s world are completely different. We have built this channel over a period of four years. We started in 2020, and today, in 2024, our efforts and paisa, everything has been invested in this channel. We were under a lot of stress,” he ends.
Agar main jo charge karti thi, uska 25% bhi nahin doge, toh fir kaam nahin ho payega-Bharti Singh
8:46 AM
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 23, 2023)
Bharti Singh is content posting vlogs of her daily routine and her one-year-old son Laksh (aka Golaa) on her YouTube channel. The reason the actor-comedienne is investing time in the channel is because her fee has been affected due the Coronavirus related budget cuts. “No artiste would be fine if they aren’t paid what they deserve. Agar main jo charge karti thi, uska 25% bhi nahin doge, toh fir kaam nahin ho payega,” says Singh, who had a cameo in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
The 39-year-old further adds, “I won’t mind if it was a day’s work, but if you ask me to give 26 days in a month to a show and I’m not being paid well, I would prefer to take a step back, kyunki main apne bacche ko 12 ghante ghar par chhod kar aaungi.”
Speaking about her work ethic, she explains that she doesn’t like to complain or “say things like, ‘Main one lakh leti thi, ab 50 hazaar le rahi hu, toh sirf teen jokes maarungi’”. She adds, “Once I’m on stage, I don’t remember how long I was asked to perform or how much I was paid.”
She says, her vlogs allow her to spend “time with Golaa, who is growing up [so fast]”. She adds, “I want to enjoy these moments. Ye waqt mujhe wapas nahin milega.”
"Don't mock my lips": Sumona Chakravarti prompts body shaming debate
8:47 AM
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 18, 2023)
It’s been long since body shaming jokes have been sadly normalized on comedy shows and stand-up acts. Fortunately, many have objected to the discourse, stating that some of these jokes go way below the belt and are outright offensive.
In a recent interview with YouTuber Ashdin Doctor (The Habit Coach), actor-comedian Sumona Chakravarti opened up on how demeaning jokes about her lips by fellow actors on a comedy show left her hurt. Earlier, celebs including Archana Puran Singh, Kiku Sharda, Neha Kakkar and many others have been at the receiving end of such body-shaming digs.
Addressing the larger issue, some comedians weigh in on where to draw a line when it comes to cracking jokes on a person’s physical appearance.
Comedian-host Bharti Singh opines that whenever a person feels offended by such jokes, they must say it “loud and clear in the first time itself”. “It does not make sense to get up and express one day how it was disrespectful. I’m sure nobody would repeat it if your boundaries are established,” asserts Singh, who happily takes such jokes on herself.
She doesn’t mind being laughed at for her weight because she is “secure” in her space. She explains, “Someone’s joke cannot decide my respect or how I feel about myself.”
Actor-comedian Gaurav Gera feels the culture has diminished over a period of time. “Thankfully, the whole world has united to share their opinions on this topic on the internet. What the person on the other side feels should be observed and jokes have to be developed keeping that it mind,” he states, hoping that with so much talent in our country, “we can come up with fresh ideas and innovative humour”.
Stand-up comedian Anubhav Singh Bassi feels one “can’t outrightly mock anyone or pass distasteful comments”.
He says, “If I have a doubt that some statement might hurt someone, then I don’t take the risk. It’s an art to convey important points in a comical way.”
Bassi adds that jokes on body image have been done to death. “Priyadarshan ki movies mein yeh sab already ho chuka hai. If I want to do something better, I need to come up with newer ideas,” he notes.
On hitting below the belt and making personal comments in the name of fun, actor-comedian Sunil Grover says, “I just want people to laugh and for that, I do not support making personal comments that may hurt others. If I can make people laugh without the personal remarks, then why to unnecessarily poke anyone or hurt their sentiments or trigger their insecurities.”
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“I felt really bad. After the show (a show with actor-comedian Kapil Sharma), I became very conscious of my mouth. I would not wear a bright lipstick.”
- Sumona Chakravarti
NDPS court refuses to cancel bail granted to Bharti Singh, Haarsh Limbachiyaa
8:09 AM
Rebecca Samervel (THE TIMES OF INDIA; June 7, 2023)
Mumbai Observing it was the prosecution’s fault and there was no illegality committed by the magistrate in passing the bail order, a special NDPS court recently refused to cancel the bail granted to TV comedian Bharti Singh and her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa, almost three years after they were released from jail in a drugs case.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had moved the special NDPS court in 2020 seeking cancellation as a magistrate’s court granted them the relief after neither the NCB nor the public prosecutor representing the investigating agency appeared before the court to make submissions on the bail pleas.
The special NDPS court pointed out that when the matter was posted a day after the bail plea was filed in the magistrate’s court, the agency did not come to court. “Therefore, it is not the case that (the) prosecution was not given (an) opportunity to oppose the applications but it is fault on the part of the prosecution that they did not avail the opportunity to file reply and to oppose the bail applications. The prosecution neither filed reply on bail applications nor filed any application for adjournment seeking time to file reply...Even investigating officer and special public prosecutor failed to appear before the court. Therefore, it is fault of prosecution,” the court said.
As pointed out by the couple’s advocates Ayaz Khan and Zehra Charania, the court also said that the offence involves punishment of up to one year in jail or with a fine of Rs 10,000 or both. “Since (the) present offence does not fall under category of any of the offences as given in Sec 37-Bof NDPS Act, the condition of giving opportunity to the public prosecutor is not applicable,” the court said.
The court also said that there are no allegations against the accused about their interference with the administration of justice, evasion or attempting to evade the due course of justice or about abusing the concession granted to them in any manner. “There are no allegations of committal of breach of conditions of bail order granted by… magistrate. Therefore, there are absolutely no grounds made out for cancellation of bail to the respondents. . . The application is devoid of merits and is liable to be rejected,” the court said.
In November 2020, the NCB allegedly recovered 86.5 grams of marijuana, also known as ganja, from Bharti and Haarsh’s home and office and they were taken into custody. In October 2022, NCB submitted chargesheet in which it cited statement of accused-turned approver Sowmiyanarayanan (23), a Bandra (E) musician, recorded before a magistrate’s court.
So what if my wife Bharti Singh takes home a fatter paycheck?-Haarsh Limbachiyaa
8:36 AM
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 28, 2023)
Screenwriter-anchor Haarsh Limbachiyaa feels proud that his wife, comedian Bharti Singh, earns more than him. “So what if my wife takes home a fatter paycheck? I feel lucky that my wife is doing really well in life. I laugh at those who have a problem with her earning more than me, or being more popular. Aise log bahut kam hain jinko apni wife ki popularity se khushi hoti hai. Together, we make a happy world for ourselves. Others can think what they want to,” he says.
Their son, Laksh, will turn one on April 3. Sharing how the last one year of fatherhood has been for him, Limbachiyaa says, “The feeling is out of the world. Everything has changed for us, especially for me. Now, I plan a bit more and have become more serious. Even my writing has taken an upswing.”
On the work front, Limbachiyaa and Singh are excited about debuting as actors this year. “Bahut din se we have been looking forward to making our debut as actors on television. We wanted something good to come our way. And finally, there are a few exciting projects and our fans are in for a big surprise,” he says.
Interestingly, he has already had a few stints in front of the camera, thanks to his outings as an anchor on reality TV shows. “Anchoring comes naturally to me,” says the Comedy Circus writer, adding, “Itna likha hai life mein for other anchors that I feel comfortable being an anchor now.”
Haarsh Limbachiyaa and I want our son Laksh to know all rituals-Bharti Singh
8:24 AM
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 24, 2022)
Diwali, today, is extra special for Bharti Singh, as it is her son, Laksh’s first. The comedienne says she and her husband, writer Haarsh Limbachiyaa, have a special celebration planned, as they want to instill traditions and values in their son — whom they fondly call Gola — early on.
“Haarsh and I want Laksh to witness everything. We will definitely have our Diwali puja as usual. We will take him out to the balcony to show him the celebrations around. I am sure he will be overjoyed as he has begun to recognise colours,” she tells us.
Not just Diwali, Singh is enjoying all festivals and traditions with her six-month-old. She says, “Every festival of Laksh’s is very special as it’s his first. Sometimes, Haarsh shouts at me for making our son wear traditional outfits. He is like, ‘Utaaro ye kapde, use uncomfortable feel karwa rahi hai’. But, I think it’s only a mother who can teach her child the value and significance of traditions and the way to celebrate a festival. Also, I feel abhi se aadat daalni chahiye bachhe ko. I dressed him up as Lord Krishna for Janmashtmi. I also made him wear traditional clothes on Raksha Bandhan and Karwa Chauth.”
Though this happens to be a memorable occasion, Singh says they are keeping things simple and intimate, and are avoiding crowded gatherings, keeping in mind the safety of her son.
“We didn’t have gatherings because of Covid-19 in the last two years, nor did we invite any friends to our place. This year, too, we intend to keep it simple... We are continuing to see Covid-19 cases here and there. Therefore, I cannot put my child’s health at risk. We will stay away from the crowd as much as possible,” she says, adding that she plans to visit her in-laws as well as her mother.
Another thing she is wary about is how her little one may react to the sound of firecrackers. “He is very young and could be scared by too much noise. So, I’m a little nervous... I hope we can all have a safe and happy Diwali,” she wraps up.
My baby looks like me when he is asleep and resembles Haarsh when is awake-Bharti Singh
8:11 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; April 18, 2022)
Bharti Singh surprised everyone by returning to the shoot of Hunarbaaz - Desh Ki Shaan just 12 days after delivering her baby boy on April 3. Leaving a newborn at home can, no doubt, be difficult for any mother. It was no different for her.
“I won’t deny that it was very tough to leave my 12-day-old baby at home. I was extremely emotional and cried a lot when I left for work. But, thanks to technology and science, I could do a lot of things for my baby even while being physically absent. There are cameras installed in the house. So, I could watch him. I pumped milk before leaving, which sufficed for the day. He sleeps all day. I have been on stage since I conceived. So, by default, my child has also been on stage since he was conceived. Naturally, he is used to noise, shorsharabe mein bhi so jaata hai. Also, Haarsh (Limbachiyaa) and I are fortunate to have our families by our side to take care of the baby. In fact, the two grannies are always fighting amongst themselves for a chance to pamper him (laughs)!”
Ask her, if motherhood has changed her at all, and she nods in excitement. She says, “Zindagi ke har padaav par changes aate hain. When you are single, you are carefree, but when you get married, other responsibilities get added. I guess that’s God’s way of training you for motherhood.”
Bharti adds, “Motherhood has changed me in more ways than one. I have started taking quick showers, as I want to rush to be with my child and see what he is up to. I keep staring at him when he is asleep. It feels like a miracle that he was in my womb for nine months and I gave birth to him. It angers me when someone tells me ‘Arre, he looks just like Haarsh.’ For nine months it was me carrying him in my body and how come now he looks like Haarsh? He looks like me when he is asleep and resembles Haarsh when is awake. Hamaara bachcha uske mummy aur daddy ki tarah chalaak hai (laughs!).”
Now that she is a mother, will her flirtatious acts with male celebs on her show continue? “When I got pregnant, I would feel shy ki logon ko lagega ki pet mein baby hai phir bhi flirt kar rahi hai. Now that the baby is born, I will get back to my histrionics (laughs!). Also, how can someone not praise beauty? It’s all a part of my act. Toh flirting toh chaalu hi rahegi, woh bhi Haarsh ke saamne ekdum bindaas. After all, he is the one who writes those lines,” she cracks up.
It's a boy for Bharti Singh, Haarsh Limbachiyaa and a girl for Gurmeet Choudhary, Debina Bonnerjee
8:21 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (April 5, 2022)
Bharti Singh, who was expecting her first child with husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa, took to social media on Sunday to share that they have welcomed a baby boy (left). Bharti took to her Instagram handle and posted a picture from her maternity shoot.
In the caption, she revealed, “It’s a BOY.” Following the revelation, several celebs shared their wishes for the couple.
Another TV couple, Gurmeet Choudhary and Debina Bonnerjee, welcomed a baby girl on the same day (right). The couple shared a video giving a first glimpse of their baby’s little hand.
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HINDUSTAN TIMES (April 5, 2022)
It’s good news pouring in all the way from TV town. Comedian Bharti Singh and scriptwriter Haarsh Limbachiyaa, who got married in 2017, are now parents to a boy. Limbachiyaa made the announcement on Instagram on April 3 with a picture from Singh’s pregnancy shoot. He captioned it, “It’s a boy.” Singh had been working until a day before her delivery.
Also joining the first-time parents squad are actor couple Gurmeet Choudhary and Debina Bonnerjee. They took to Instagram to announce the birth of their daughter. They shared a cute video of their newborn’s hand in theirs. However, the couple didn’t reveal the face of the child.
“With utmost gratitude, we welcome our baby girl into this world. 3.4.2022. Thank you for all your love and blessings. Love and gratitude, Gurmeet and Debina,” wrote the actors who got hitched in 2011.
Fans showered both sets of first-time parents with congratulatory messages.
The money goes to the same house, so Harsh Limbachiyaa and I don’t have any fights-Bharti Singh
8:22 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; January 30, 2022)
Bharti Singh and Harsh Limbachiyaa are going to become parents soon, but that hasn’t stopped her from shooting. The two are currently hosting the talent-based reality show Hunarbaaz — Desh Ki Shaan.
Bharti started her career as a comedian, while Harsh used to work as a writer for comedy shows. They have come a long way since then, and today have anchored a lot of shows together. In a candid chat, the duo spoke to us about their journey and what makes them a formidable team.
Harsh says it wasn’t a conscious decision on his part to move to anchoring. He adds, “I think the only conscious decision both of us took together, was to get married! We produced the comedy show Khatra Khatra Khatra, which featured both of us. After that we were offered a show to host and since then it has become a regular thing. We do our work with absolute commitment because the makers are spending money on it.”
According to Harsh, usually, when two anchors perform together, there is insecurity, and sometimes, it can lead to fights when one feels the other got to deliver better lines. “Two anchors have not worked well in the past due to insecurities. But in our case, we are husband and wife and there is no such insecurity. That has helped us perform better,” he says.
Bharti also shares how she finds it fun to host a show with her husband. “The money goes to the same house, so we don’t have any fights. Now that Harsh and I work together, he can’t party after pack-up with his friends, he is forced to go home with me. I am happy that we make a good team,” she signs off.
Funny part is many thought it’s some kind of weight loss surgery that I underwent-Bharti Singh
8:08 AM
Comedian Bharti Singh shares her journey towards a fitter and better self
S Farah Rizvi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 20, 2022)
Comedian, actor, anchor Bharti Singh feels achieving a fitter self eventually led her not only to become a better person, but also helped her conceive in no time.
“It’s more about grit and determination. During the lockdown, I just decided to try intermittent fasting because gym toh mujhse hota hi naa. I wanted to get in shape because it was more about my well-being as a whole. Fasting and eating only in a fixed time span really worked wonders for me. After seven in the evening, I just refused to eat and soon this routine became part of me. I was so determined that aap chahe chappan bhog rakh do but I didn’t fall for it,” says Singh who was last seen hosting the reality show Dance Deewane.
Sharing how her fitness stint really worked for her, “Pehle se bahut patli ho gai main...Nobody believed my transformation of being fat to fit and now it’s simply fab for me. Funny part is many thought it’s some kind of weight-loss surgery that I underwent. I was like arey, mujhe inke naam bhi nahin pata, so how would I get one done? (laughs),” she says.
“Becoming fit and toned actually worked well for us (me and my husband, screenwriter Haarsh Limbachiyaa). I think it did make it somewhere easy for me to conceive last year, as we both greatly wanted to become parents. I am on mum-to-be diet for now and we are waiting for our bundle of joy to arrive in April this year,” Singh adds.
Known for her spontaneous acts and one liners, the Khiladi 786 (2012) and Sanam Re (2016) actor, says, “As a chef masters his craft, same way I too learnt the art of making people all happy and positive. At times it feel I have been into comedy since forever and so maybe it does come naturally to me. The one liners are like a tadka to any of my acts.”
For the comedian, it’s always about staying happy come what may. “I enjoy my work and thankfully it never feels that I am on a job or something. I have always enjoyed whatever work came to me and I think this adds positivity to all my projects too,” she concludes.
Mere se zyada iss bachhe ki maa Haarsh hai-Bharti Singh
7:36 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; December 17, 2021)
After remaining tight-lipped about her pregnancy, comedienne Bharti Singh has finally confirmed that she is all set to welcome her first child with her husband, Haarsh Limbhachiyaa. She took to social media to announce the big development recently. Talking to Bombay Times about the happy news, she says, “I am five months pregnant and the baby is due at the end of April. I had to be guarded about it, as our families didn’t want me to talk about it until I had completed four months. In fact, we disclosed the news to them after I completed three months.”
Bharti, who tied the knot with Haarsh in 2017, has often joked with him about becoming parents on various reality shows they have hosted together. So, how excited is the dad-to-be? “Yes, I would often jokingly tell him on stage, ‘Kab mummy banayega, kab papa banega?’ In fact, even during the shoot of Dance Deewane, when we learnt about our pregnancy, everyone continued with the joke.”
Bharti says, “I would laugh, thinking ki kya bataau sabko ki we are already pregnant. Haarsh was in tears when I shared the news with him. He loves kids. Mere se zyada iss bachhe ki maa Haarsh hai. He is very excited about the new phase. I am experiencing severe mood swings and morning sickness, but Haarsh has been pampering and taking extra care of me through it all (smiles!). It’s a beautiful and challenging phase,” she answers.
She was also in the news for her weight loss. She had shed almost 15 kgs in a year. Ask her if the weight loss was the first step towards pregnancy and she replies, “During the pandemic, I realised that I had become healthy and fit. I suffer from asthma. So, I decided to work on myself and lose weight for a healthier lifestyle. We hadn’t planned to go the family way. However, a child is God’s gift and this is His blessing. I find it so funny. Main kal tak bachchi thi, logon ke saath flirt karti thi aur ab sab kuch khatam ho gaya (laughs!).”
The couple will be seen hosting Hunarbaaz — Desh Ki Shaan. Bharti shares, “I am glad that we are working during my pregnancy. I want to work till the ninth month of my pregnancy. Hamaara bachcha bhi hamaari mehnat mehsoos kar raha hai and I hope the child grows up to become as hard-working as us. I hope and pray that bachcha apne papa ki tarah mehnati nikle. Haarsh has started putting more hours into work. We want to do as much work as possible before the baby is born so that we get ample time to spend with our bundle of joy.”
Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa expecting their first child?
8:26 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 9, 2021)
There has been much speculation about a new member in comedian Bharti Singh and her husband, writer and host Haarsh Limbachiyaa’s family for quite some time. And, we have now exclusively learnt that the couple is expecting their first child in 2022.
A source close to the couple confirms the pregnancy: “It is at a very early stage. Singh is already on rest and has halted her work commitments for now. She is not stepping out much and keeping a low-profile.” However, we have learnt that Singh will resume work in a few days. She will re-join Kapil Sharma’s comedy show soon.
When we contacted Singh for a clarification, she did not deny or confirm it. “I’m not going to deny or confirm anything. But when the time is right, I will speak openly about it. One can’t hide such things. So when I want to reveal it, I will do it publicly,” she explained, while her husband was unavailable for comment.
Singh and Limbachiyaa married in 2017 and celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary recently. Of late, the two have become absolute favourites with the paparazzi, who are constantly questioning them about the baby. “Rumours of us having a baby started since the day we got married,” the 37-year-old laughs.
The comedian had previously stated that she and her husband intended to have a child in 2020, but the pandemic put a halt to their plans.
Everyone felt the pinch when they were asked to take a pay cut, and I was no exception-Bharti Singh
7:54 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 22, 2021)
It has taken a while for the industry to get back on its feet after everything came to a grinding halt owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. Unable to sustain the pressure, a few daily soaps were shut abruptly, broadcasters had to tighten their purse strings in an attempt to stay afloat and everyone took a financial hit. Though initially, several actors found the decision to reduce their remuneration unfair, gradually everyone had to adhere to the new rule. Comedienne Bharti Singh was no exception.
According to sources, she has taken a 70 per cent pay cut for Dance Deewane and around 50 per cent for The Kapil Sharma Show. Talking about it, she says, “I guess everyone felt the pinch when they were asked to take a pay cut, and I was no exception. I also negotiated a lot over it. However, when I reflected on the recent times and what has unfolded in the last year, I realised itna kaam band ho gaya hai. TV and shows ko sponsors nahi mil rahe hain toh channels kahaan se paisa laayein. Everyone is trying to get back on their feet. Once we generate good ratings, sponsors will automatically come back and our fee will also be raised.”
Bharti says that everyone needs to do their bit to sail through these challenging times. She is hopeful that their original fee will be restored once everything has returned to normalcy.
Bharti says, “Itne saal hum ek channel par kaam karte hain aur woh hamaari har baat maante hain, toh aaj jab woh saamne se help maang rahe hain toh mujhe nahi lagta hai ki kisi bhi artiste ne mana kiya hoga. They listened to us and fulfilled all our requests and demands when things were fine. I know sabke paise cut rahe hain. I feel jo set pe technicians hain, unke paise nahi cut nahi karne chahiye. We are working together and trying our best to stay afloat. So, I don’t think anyone had an issue in taking a pay cut.”
She further adds, “There was a time when we were sitting at home after everything stopped. Hum yahin soch rahe the ki kaam kab shuru hoga, aur koi kam price dega toh usme bhi kaam kar lenge, kyunki people had to run their homes. Kuchh mahinon mein gaadi track par aa jaayegi, sab sahi ho jaayega. Hona bhi chahiye.”
For now, Bharti is excited about the return of the stand-up comedy show. She says, “We are returning after almost seven months. Aise pandemic mein comedy shows aane chahiye.”
I don’t mind getting married to Aly Goni this year-Jasmin Bhasin
8:16 AM
Unnati Joshi (BOMBAY TIMES; January 11, 2021)
After staying in the Bigg Boss house for 100 days, Jasmin Bhasin was evicted from the show. But the Dil Se Dil Tak actress says she is happy as her BFF turned BF, Aly Goni is still in the house. “I was sad about my eviction, it was shocking. But I was very happy for Aly. I wanted him to stay. He left the show once for me, I didn’t want him to go again. I will definitely miss him, main roz subah uth ke sabse pehle usko dekhti thi, I will miss that now,” she tells us.
After leaving the show, Jasmin decided to not go to her house, and instead, visited her friends Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa. “After leaving from the Bigg Boss house, I was thinking about a lot of things, including my fans’ reaction towards my game. I didn’t know what people outside were thinking about me. So, I was a little low and decided to go to Bharti and Haarsh’s house first. They are my support system. And I felt lighter after meeting them, phir maine chhole bhature bhi khaaye aur mutton biryani bhi,” she says laughing.
‘I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH ALY GONI’
When Jasmin’s parents visited her in the house during the family week recently, they pointed out that her love story perhaps is taking precedence over her gameplay. They even asked her to play solo. And it didn’t go down very well with Aly. “My parents were misunderstood. They asked me to focus on my game, jo bhi kaha unhone woh game ke liye kaha. Why will my parents have any problem with our relationship? I have had a discussion with them and they are very happy,” she says, adding, “I have fallen in love and it’s a beautiful feeling. I don’t mind getting married this year; my parents are okay with it. Once Aly comes out, they will meet his parents. We need to know what his parents have to say about it. I have met them a few times, but pehle hum sirf dost thay. Once they approve our relationship, phir main wait nahi karungi, I will get married. I know Aly is the one for me.”
‘IT’S NOT EASY TO LIVE WITH RAKHI SAWANT’
Jasmin and Rakhi Sawant’s recent altercation has grabbed a lot of eyeballs, though not for the right reasons. Mention that to her and she says, “I still believe that I didn’t hurt her, she banged her head multiple times on the table and injured herself. If it was because of me, I am really sorry about it. I didn’t want to hurt her intentionally. Maine unse maafi bhi maangi hai. To be honest, it’s not easy to live with her. She is entertaining when you see her one-minute videos on social media or watch her for an hour in a show. Living with her 24X7 is not easy. She is very irritating, har baat par drama karti hain woh. I didn’t like her personality and main unke game ki ninda karti hoon. I was always nice with her, unhone mera dil dukhaya hai by saying things about my character. But it’s done and dusted. Now, if I meet her, I will be nice to her.”
‘I CAN’T BE FRIENDS WITH RUBINA’
Talking about her on-and-off friendship with co-contestant Rubina Dilaik, Jasmin says, “Rubina and I had a very beautiful bond initially, but it got ruined during the show. She always spoke behind my back, while I said everything to her face. She was very mean to me. I don’t think we can ever be friends, but I don’t have any grudges against her. I think we can chill together if we meet socially.” Despite that, she feels Rubina can win the show. “She can win because of her cleverness and manipulation skills. I also see Aly as a winner because he has a clean heart and is playing well. He is equally strong,” she signs off.
Negative publicity: When Bollywood’s brand value dipped
8:18 AM
Prashant Singh (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 23, 2020)
This year saw Bollywood making news for multiple wrong reasons. So, if Sushant Singh Rajput’s death sent shockwaves throughout the country, Hindi films also lost out on tonnes of business with theatres being shut (due to lockdown), and OTT platforms showing their muscle power.
But probably, the biggest shock came when a number of top names, such as Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, and others like comedian Bharti Singh, cropped up in the infamous drug scandal.
And the big question is: will this have any long-term impact on the popularity or brand value of those actors/stars? “Any kind of negative news is bad for an actor because people’s perception (about them) very is important. Brands, too, are extremely particular of that. That’s why such a thing may have some short-term impact but the long-term effect will depend on the final outcome (of the ongoing investigations),” says ad guru Prahlad Kakar.
In fact, in September, a report by Indian Institute of Human Brands (IIHB) had showed that 85% of the respondents said they wouldn’t buy a brand endorsed by a drug-tainted celebrity. “Those people, who are proven to be involved are surely going to see a huge dip in their popularity and brand value, in terms of films, endorsements or anything else,” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
Powerful entity
Interestingly though, a few days back, the IIHB’s TIARA (Trust, Identify, Attractive, Respect and Appeal) report -- that works on the idea of ‘celebrities as human brands’ — saw a string of Bollywood stars dominating various lists of the research. For example, Padukone emerged as the Most Trusted female Bollywood celebrity, while Akshay Kumar was voted the Most Trusted male celeb. “Movie stars will always be huge icons in India,” says filmmaker and ad director, Vinil Mathew.
For Kakar too, the “temporary blip” won’t leave a permanent mark. “People aren’t going to forget and turn away from the industry forever. Also, remember, as they say, ‘public memory is too short’. A few months down the line, actors come up with one or two hits, and everyone will forget everything,” he says.
Adds Adarsh: “Bollywood, due to its sheer reach and popularity, is powerful. So, whatever has happened in 2020 can be seen as a big hiccup.”
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