Comedy Nights Bachao is undergoing a change in format and will be on the lines of Comedy Circus
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 13, 2016)


A bunch of new people like Ssharad Malhotra, Nia Sharma, Aditi Bhatia, Sumeet Vyas and Gujarati stand-up comedian Mayank will be a part of the show now, which they will call CNB Season 2. Says Krushna, “The show will now be completely positive. Some film stars were not comfortable with the earlier format and stayed away. Akshay Kumar did not come on our show to promote Rustom. We want him to come now. Getting Amitabh Bachchan on the show will be a big thing for us.” Ask him why Bharti and he are not hosting CNB 2 and he says, “We have been hosting for a year and wanted a change. Mona and I have co-hosted Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and we know each other. Besides, she is a good host.”

As for CNL’s shutting down. Krushna says, “Its format was similar to Kapil’s show and he has a mastery over it. He has been doing it for the last two-three years, whereas we are strong in CNB. For one year, we are consistently getting good ratings for the show, so we decided to concentrate on that. Also, doing two shows simultaneously is very difficult, still we managed Live for eight months along with Bachao, which I think is a big feat. But now, we would rather perfect one. Even if Kapil is given two shows at the same time, he will find it difficult.”

The first episode of Bachao 2 will have Prabhu Dheva, Sonu Sood and Hans Raj Hans as guests. They will be promoting their upcoming film Tutak Tutak Tutiya.

But the actor-comedian insists that a 'rival team' won't have the last laugh when it comes to his shows
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 13, 2016)

When Kapil Sharma quit Comedy Nights with Kapil following fallout with Colors, the channel that aired the show, Krushna Abhishek's Comedy Nights Live stepped in to fill the Sunday slot of 10 pm, while Comedy Nights Bachao was being aired on Saturdays. Now, both the shows' slots stand to be disrupted with the arrival of the ninth season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, which goes on air on July 30 and will be telecast every Saturday at 10 pm. Jacqueline Fernandez, Karan Johar and Ganesh Hegde appear as judges.

"Comedy Nights Bachao will now air on three Sundays in a month while Comedy Nights Live on the remaining Sunday slot. Both shows are doing well and rumours of them going off air are baseless and being spread by rivals. We are definitely not scrapping Comedy Nights Live, we don't want people to think it went off after Kapil launched his own show," asserts Krushna.

The actor-comedian is however quick to add that Kapil isn't spreading the said rumours. "He has always been very encouraging but I'm sure it's someone from his team and I am on the lookout for that person. Even when we started off with Comedy Nights Bachao, people said it won't work. But from Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan to Deepika Padukone, everyone has appreciated the show. In fact, when Deepika made her first appearance for Tamasha, she promised to get Ranveer Singh on it too," Krushna reveals.

He admits that it would have been better if Comedy Nights Live which first aired on January 31, got more time. "But Jhalak is an equally important property for the channel and we are thankful to them for having given both my shows two primetime weekend slots. Now that they have a new one coming up, we don't mind adjusting and once Jhalak wraps up after four months, I will get my slots back," he concludes.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 1, 2016)

Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; June 24, 2016)

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; June 15, 2016)

Makers of Comedy Nights Live, which received bad press after stand-up comic Upasana Singh quit the show, label her accusations of delayed payment and unreasonable terms and conditions in contract as “a selfish view”. Singh, who played ‘bua’ on the show, alleged that she was used for her popularity earlier only to be disregarded later.

Vipul D Shah of Optimystix Entertainment, which produces Comedy Nights Live, says, “Upasanaji spoke to her celebrity manager and the show’s director about not having great lines in the show. When we took over from Comedy Nights with Kapil and started Comedy Nights Live, she was the only member from the previous show who stayed back. It takes time to establish a story and give it shape. Somehow, it was difficult to fit in bua because the immediate recall is with the previous show. We tried, but it didn’t work as the equation with the new characters had changed. We didn’t intentionally keep her away from the limelight or give her bad lines. It is just her selfish view. We respect all our artistes and I have great respect for her too. She has decided to quit and we wouldn’t want to force her to stay.”

So, what was the issue with her contract? “It has been with her since long, but she hasn’t signed it yet. People often negotiate certain terms and that takes time. Also, there is no ‘We can throw you out of the show in 24 hours’ clause in the contract. We can’t fire anyone in 24 hours. We don’t want to give this matter too much importance,” he asserts.

Shah adds that he would clear her pending dues, but she has to sign the contract for that first.

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; May 31, 2016)

He is no stranger to controversies and he does take them in his stride — unless he has been wronged. Mika Singh was recently thrown out of his ‘special guest’ seat on Colors’ Comedy Nights Live for making a friendly appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show on Sony TV (remember the infamous fall- out between Kapil and Colors earlier this year?). While the singer isn’t complaining much about his ouster, we hear he wants his pending dues to be cleared.

If sources are to be believed, Mika has sent a notice to Colors for withholding his payment. “He did 15 of the 26 episodes that he was signed on for. However, the channel has decided to withhold his pending dues because of the breach of contract. So, now, Mika has slapped a notice on them which states that they have to make the payment, failing which he will take recourse to legal action,” says a source.

The channel authorities refused to comment on the issue. They have apparently shot for one episode without Mika and his chair. When we contacted Mika for a clearer picture, he said his publicist would get in touch with us. However, despite repeated attempts, they both did not answer our calls or respond to text messages.

Last week, Mika had shot for Kapil’s sketch comedy show with fellow singer Kanika Kapoor and West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle to promote his songs from the upcoming film, Housefull 3. He had earlier told hitlist, “My visit to Kapil’s programme was part of the film promotions, and not to undermine any of my shows. My intention was not to hurt anyone, but just promote the movie as a singer.”

Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; May 28, 2016)

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; May 28, 2016)

Comedy Night Live host Mika Singh’s visit to The Kapil Sharma Show might cost him his job. Sources say that even after the channel sent a notice to Mika for this breach, they are not in the mood to forgive him because they might believe this was a deliberate error in judgement. Says an insider. “He, as well as the industry knows the fallout between the channel Colors and Kapil, who moved to Sony, thereafter. By going on the show on the rival channel, Mika has added fuel to the fire. It is doubtful that they will let his transgression pass because if they do, other artistes will also start flaunting rules.”

While action to be taken against Mika is being contemplated, the source says that the makers have initiated talks with Sohail Khan. “Sohail was a judge on Comedy Circus and has a good tuning with Krushna Abhishek,” adds the source.

Krushna Abhishek says he has no bad feelings towards the singer or Kapil Sharma, but Mika was wrong to go on his show...
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; May 27, 2016)

Krushna Abhishek cannot believe that Mika Singh who speaks to him every third day over the phone omitted to tell him that he was going onThe Kapil Sharma Show. “Mika is a dear friend of mine and the decision to bring him on Comedy Nights Live was taken by the channel and our team. He was slowly getting into the groove, but I don’t know what happened, he didn’t inform the channel or tell me. I saw it the next day when Kapil put a picture on social media,” says Krushna. Incidentally, the comedian spoke to Mika two days ago, post his visit. “I asked him ‘aap kaise chale gaye’ and he said he had gone to promote his music single so it doesn’t matter. I told him it’s a rival show, and he shouldn’t have gone,” states Krushna. But Mika justified that since Kapil is his friend, he went on the show.

Krushna says he has no issues with Kapil and vice versa. “But if I call (Navjot Singh) Sidhu will he come, Mika kaise chala gaya? It’s not as if Mika’s going there will affect our ratings but it’s a rival show and it’s a breach of contract,” says the actor-comedian. He also stresses that he has no hard feelings about it. “There is healthy competition between Kapil and me. I am trying to bring out good content, he is trying to do the same. Yeh maara maari mein people are getting good shows and being entertained.”

Recently, there have been rumours of Comedy Nights Live going off air, to which Krushna says, “There have been rumours of it going off air since it began! People are just spreading these things, the show is doing well, why will it go off air? In fact, people were even talking about Comedy Night Bachao (CNB) going off air, which is not true at all.”

What about reports that Akshay Kumar was upset with him and his team when he along with the cast of Housefull 3 had come on CNB? “That was a pre-decided prank. It was Siddharth Jadhav’s first day. He was filling in for Karan Wahi who was unwell. So, we decided to scare him. I have worked with Akshay in Entertainment and know him well. Akshay was supposed to get upset with Siddharth’s comments (he passed some racist remarks on Lisa Haydon). We stalled the shoot for 20 minutes and later when Siddharth was almost in tears, Akshay went and got him inside and all this will be shown in the episode,” explains Krushna.

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; May 24, 2016)

Looks like it is not just Colors that is miffed with Mika Singh for appearing on The Kapil Sharma Show on a rival channel. The singer is said to have rubbed authorities of Zee TV the wrong way too — he features in their popular show, Sa Re Ga Ma Pa as a mentor.

A source close to the creative team says, “Kapil’s show is aired at the same time as Sa Re Ga Ma Pa, so, they are direct competition for Zee. The least Mika could have done is inform channel officials about his plans to make an appearance on a Sony TV show. It was unprofessional on his part.”

We hear Zee is yet to decide about taking action against the singer. However, it is also to be noted that while Colors has a policy preventing one from associating with a rival channel, Zee apparently lays down no such clause in artistes’ contracts. Zee TV authorities refused to comment on the issue.

Mika, who shot with singer Kanika Sharma and West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle for Kapil’s show, explains that his contentious appearance was just to promote his recently released songs. “Currently, I am a part of two big ticket shows on TV — Sa Re Ga Ma Pa as mentor and Comedy Nights Live, and I am deeply attached to both. I have put in my best efforts for the two shows as a thorough professional and will continue to do so. Both my shows are topping the charts in their own genre. My visit to Kapil’s programme was part of the film (Housefull 3) promotions, and not to undermine any of my shows. My intention was not to hurt anyone, but just promote the movie as a singer,” he says.

Stand-up comic Krushna Abhishek, who is associated with Comedy Nights Live, says he is “very upset” with Mika for going on arch nemesis Kapil’s show. “I don’t know what the channel has decided, but this is breach of contract.” Told about Mika singing praises of Kapil’s show being the best, he said, “Ask Mika to tell Kapil to replace (Navjot Singh) Sidhuji with him. I challenge Kapil to make Mika sit in his show.”

The channel has sent a notice to the production house and the broadcaster that airs Kapil Sharma's comedy show
Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; May 23, 2016)

Krushna Abhishek's Comedy Nights Live may have garnered decent ratings, but is he ready for the real battle with Kapil Sharma?
Roshni K Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; February 20, 2016)

As Krushna Abhishek takes over Comedy Nights from its star host, Kapil Sharma, he talks of the struggle and pressure to prove himself all over again
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; February 7, 2016)

Krushna Abhishek is rehearsing his script for Comedy Nights Bachao with fellow comedian Sudesh Lehri. The show follows the form of a roast, bringing its guests down a peg or two.

The night we visit the sets, Sonam Kapoor is around to promote her next movie Neerja, along with the cast of Tere Bin Laden Dead Or Alive — Manish Paul, Riya Sen and Sikander Kher. Sudesh is dressed as a baba who is answering Krishna’s questions in an all- knowing manner. “Baba Sikander Kher ke bare main kuch bolo?” says Krushna, “Nahin tu bata,” says Baba. “Pehle aap”, “Pehlu Tu”… “ koi toh batao, kaun hai yeh Sikander Kher?” As we laugh inside Krushna’s crowded dressing room on the sets, we know millions will also laugh when they see the show on television.

Krushna has been hosting Comedy Nights Bachao since September 2015. Last week, he took over the crown from Colors’ big ticket Kapil Sharma, who left Comedy Nights with Kapil last month. The show has now been re- titled Comedy Nights Live (CNL).

Rumours are rife that Kapil was replaced as the channel thought he had gotten too big for his boots and was upset that Krushna’s Comedy Nights Bachao was doing as good, or better, than his show. In media reports, Colors’ CEO Raj Nayak has gone on record, saying, that Kapil was “renegotiating and asking for more money which we gave, but the more important and worrying thing was that he violated his contract by hosting shows on competing channels” and also that “his managers started panicking when, in terms of ratings, Comedy Nights Bachao started doing well, and better, than Comedy Nights With Kapil in some episodes”. After it was reported that Kapil left in a huff, and now is in negotiations with several different networks for a new show, Krushna was asked to take over the empty slot.

“It’s the same dhancha, because people are used to that,” says CNL director Nikul Desai, who also used to direct Comedy Circus — the talent show on Sony TV which launched Kapil, Krushna, Bharti Singh and Sudesh among others. “Comedy Nights is a brand and they want to continue that. Krushna plays Pappu and his family and friends come to visit as that’s the brief — ‘naye kirayedaar aye hai’. Of course, there is a certain pressure as Kapil was awesome, and the brand is so successful, but I think over a period of time, people will like our jokes. Krushna is a full entertainer — he can dance, act, sing… he is not a stand up- comic. He’s a performer.” “People are calling me up and saying that they want to be on my shows. Salman has tweeted about me, Shah Rukh has as well,” says 33-year-old Krushna as he sits for a touch- up just before going on stage for Bachao.

Dressed in black tracks and a T-shirt, he seems bigger and broader in person. And he doesn’t seem one to mince his words. If anything, he seems intent on telling it as it is. “If you ask me, the greatest stand-up comic in the country is Kapil Sharma. I am his fan. We were the pillars of Comedy Circus. He is popular for his one-liners, and his audience interaction. I am different from him, because I am an actor — I take on guises, I dance and I sing.”

There’s truth to that. Krushna has also done some 40 films in Bhojpuri, and a few in Tamil, Telugu, and Bollywood (Bol Bachchan, Entertainment), but his big break, he says, came with Nach Baliye in 2007. “I had just started dating Kashmera (Shah), and Star asked us to participate. Once that finished, Comedy Circus (2009) came calling,” he says, adding that he has no clue where his comedy gene comes from. It could be credited to growing up in a filmy family. Krushna is actor Govinda’s nephew — born in Borivali, he grew up in Juhu next to Farah Khan’s house. He says he grew up watching ‘Chi Chi’ mama, and knew that he always wanted to be an actor. “I was impressed by him, but he hasn’t helped me in my career. I used to wear his hand-me-downs. So, when I went somewhere, people would say ‘oh, that’s the jacket Govinda wore in Ankhiyon Se Goli Maare’,” he laughs. “I think my first acting assignment was as Jesus in a school play. I entertained the girls all the time.”

He sees these two shows as the next big challenge in his life. “Meri abhi haalat kharab hai,” he turns towards us and says seriously. “When Bachao started, I had to prove myself, and now Comedy Nights Live is on my head, and I have to prove myself all over again. I have to keep proving myself, despite being a part of this industry for over a decade. That’s the nature of this line of work. Your next appearance decides your next move, month, year, producer…” Colleague, Bharti, who stars with him in both Bachao and CNL, says Krushna is her strength. “If he is around, I can do anything,” she laughs, and then adds, “but seriously, we haven’t replaced anyone. We are just carving a space for ourselves, with our brand of comedy. If someone says no to hot pizza, will you also say no it? Kapil left, so we are doing the show.”

J D Majethia, co-chairman of the Indian Film and TV Producers Council, says that unlike daily soap actors, comedians have a lot of avenues to branch out into — “they can host award shows, and they do a lot of live shows.” He feels that when a channel has a hit show and a star leaves, it doesn’t really affect the channel. “Shows go on. And if a person is really talented, they will find success on a different channel as well.”

He feels that TV is losing its audience to the digital platforms and the best way to combat that is not to ape each other. “If one show is successful on one channel, don’t make another one like it. We need to up the quality of content.” Krushna is aware that he, too, may be asked to leave if the show doesn’t do well. But, he seems to take it in his stride, “We are actors, we are not gods.” Then, he pauses for effect and smiles, “When Amar Upadhyay (who played Mihir Virani, the lead) left Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, it still went on, didn’t it? Shows go on. We will have to work very hard because Kapil is a star and I know that, people love him. He used to stand up for me at one time. I think he got angry, because I didn’t go on his show for two years. But if you are a brand, I am also making my brand. My ego doesn’t allow me to come on your show and do a two-minute appearance.”

When Krushna goes on set, the live audience breaks into a thumping applause, and he poses in full filmy style for the photographer. Before he heads off to shoot the episode, he tells us in all seriousness, “I am still working on myself. I now have this big show on my shoulders. I made Bachao work, and now I will have to make this work. That’s the way it is. When Kapil starts a new show, even he will be under pressure to make it work. But that’s just the way it works in this world."

Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 5, 2016)

Salman Khan, who was in Ahmedabad on January 30 for a cricket league, flew into Mumbai in the wee hours of the following day, and headed to a suburban studio to prep for his upcoming wrestling drama.

At the same venue, former flame Katrina Kaif was filming the second episode of Comedy Nights Live. "Bhai heard that Kat was a stones throw distance and dropped by to surprise her and the unit. He even gave Kat and new host, Krushna Abhishek a jadoo ki jhappi before making a quick exit," revealed a source from the sets. Now that's what we call sachcha pyaar!