Encouraged by wife Ginni, Kapil Sharma resumed shoot after four months
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 1, 2020)

After 120 days, Kapil Sharma is back on the sets of Sony TV’s laughathon. After resuming work, the comedian-actor shot the first episode of The Kapil Sharma Show with Sonu Sood, who has emerged as a real-life hero during the Coronavirus pandemic, sending the migrant workers home and offering others jobs. “The episode with Sonu paaji was different from other shoots as it’s more like our tribute to him and with a dose of laughter. There is also an emotional live video chat with some of the migrants he helped,” informs Kapil, adding that Sonu was accompanied by his entire team working with him on-ground.

He shares that the video chats will be a regular part of the show now, since they cannot have live audiences in the studio. They will be interacting with people from Gurgaon to Kolkata to the US in an attempt to bring a little bit of sunshine to people’s lives in these tough times. They have shot a special episode with the families of all the comic artistes on the show. “Films are not releasing theatrically right now, so actors won’t come often. But, we have done an episode with Archana ji’s (judge Puran Singh) husband, Parmeet Sethi, Kiku’s (Sharda) wife Priyanka and Krushna’s (Abhishek) wife, Kashmera. “It was a homely feeling,” he smiles, admitting his better half Ginny won’t be stepping out for the next six months, till their baby starts walking. “In fact, I’ve heard that parents get even busier when the child starts walking. But sometime in the future, we’d like to do an episode with Ginny too.”

Their daughter, Anayra, was born in December and Kapil sees the forced break as a blessing in disguise as he got to spend a lot of time with her. “I canned back-to-back episodes in December as a result of which I didn’t get much time with her. Anayra was three months old when the lockdown was imposed. One needs to find happiness in all situations,” he philosophises, admitting that while he was at peace with his family, he was disturbed by what was happening across the globe. “I was feeling a little low, which is why my wife insisted I get back to shooting to take my mind off all this.”

Kapil and his gang have shot multiple episodes so far and the host insists that discussing gags with his team can be an escape from reality. “We are on the set for eight to 10 hours a day, it feels good to be amongst friends. The producers have made good arrangements to ensure our safety,” he avers, promising they will try to give a comic touch to current affairs. “We will talk of Covid too, but on a lighter note. As an artiste, it’s my responsibility to spread positivity.”

The show will be aired every weekend from now. Will producer Salman Khan come as a guest on any episode? “Salman bhai has isolated himself at the farm and isn’t shooting for anything now. But Nadeem bhai from his team is always on the set,” he says.

Ask him about his journey from being a participant on the stand-up comedy show, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, to having a show with his name and he says, “It’s the love of people that has got me so much work. Whenever you think, you have learnt it all, life teaches you something new. I am learning every day and this love gives me the energy to push the envelope.”

After Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon and Firangi, is there another film in the pipeline? “I am listening to a lot of scripts,” he shoots back.

Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; July 18, 2020)

He is inherently funny, no wonder that even in tough times, he finds a reason to laugh out loud. He narrates real-life situations in his usual tongue-in-cheek fashion that will make you crack up. We guess, that’s a trait and a skill, which comes with being a fine comedian — that you can stand up and face crisis, all with a dose of humour. In a conversation with BT, Kapil Sharma talks about living and enjoying the new phase of his life in the new normal, the lessons that he’s learnt from his past blunders and how there is still that ‘bachpana’ in him, which he’d like to hold on to. Read on...

We have all been mostly homebound for over three months now. Given how hectic the shooting schedule of your show used to be, did this come as a much-needed break?
Mujhe films dekhne ka bahut shauk hai, but I never got enough time. I have watched so many movies and shows during this period that all the stories have merged in my head. During the first 50 days (of the Coronavirus lockdown), I ate a lot. Then, when I saw my triple chin, maine socha... ab aur nahin (laughs!). Agar yeh lockdown chalta rahega and I keep eating this way, jab baahar nikloonga toh log pehchanenge nahin. Then, I started exercising and controlling my diet a bit. Also, time has flown by for me, as my entire life revolves around my little daughter, Anayra.

Parenting is said to be a life-changing experience. Your daughter Anayra is seven months old now. Tell us about this new phase of fatherhood in your life...
Yes, it is life-changing. Earlier, when I was a bachelor, life was different. Main yaar-doston ke ghar pe hota tha, ya woh mere ghar pe. Mehfil lagi rehti thi. All that changed after marriage, and I started spending more time at home with my wife (Ginni). And now, after the baby’s arrival, it has changed even more. A baby brings in surprises into our life every day. After marriage, our conversations were about each other, lekin baby ke hone ke baad, everything is centered around her. Life gets more disciplined, but the reverse can also happen, because when the child wakes up at 4 am, you have to wake up, too. However, in my case, the good thing is that Anayra does not have to wake me up… usko uska baap always jagaa hua milta hai chaar baje. I think daughters have a special connect with fathers. Right now, I feel Anayra thinks that duniya mein teen hi log hai…baap, ma aur nanny. Because of the lockdown, she hasn’t really seen anyone else. Mujhe lagta hai usko dikhana padega ki baahar kareeb 130 crore log aur bhi hai, abhi toh sirf hum hi duniya main hain woh maan ke chal rahi hai.

Kapil, you have seen several highs and lows — personally, and professionally — and every time, you have bounced back. What did the low phase in your life teach you? Also, did it change you as a person?
Mujhe abhi bhi lagta hai ke mera bachpana nahin gaya hai. I guess, I like to be in that zone. I think that life teaches you something every day. After marriage and fatherhood, there is certainly a mind shift and you start thinking that abhi mujhe iske liye jeena hai, iske liye apne aap ko fit rakhna hai.

I have had my share of highs and lows, but sometimes, we allow certain problems and issues to come into our life and disturb our rhythm. The way we react to the problem is what makes it bigger or smaller. Maine ek cheez seekhi hai, ki aap saari duniya ko khush nahin kar sakte ho. Yes, through your work you probably can, but personally, agar aap lage rehte ho har kisi ko khush karne mein, uss chakkar mein aap apne aap ko hurt kar baithte ho. Mere life mein aise bahut saare experiences hai, kitne blunders hue hai life mein…mujhe lagta hai ab bhi bahut kuch seekhna baaki hai. However, a lot of things that seemed blurred earlier have now become clear to me.

Has humour, which comes so naturally to you, helped you tide through tough times?
Yes, humour can help you through your low phases. If you are going through a bad phase and you see people in front of you haste-khelte, unki energy aapke upar positive asar daalti hai. It’s not like mera profession comedy hai toh main hamesha khush hi rahoonga. Meri zindagi mein bhi utaar-chadhav bahut aate hai. Woh andar wali happiness bahut zaroori hai, aur woh kahan pe hai…aapko dhoondni padti hai. Like this phase that we are going through, I value it because I am getting so much time with my family. Creative people also need time for themselves, so there is something positive about it, too. So yes, humour can help us get through tough times, aur zindagi ko jitni lightly le, utni mazey se kat jaayegi. We overthink so much about what happened in the past and what could happen in the future, that we miss out on the joys that we have in the present.

Several stand-up comedians are doing shows from their homes for an online audience. In a recent chat with us, some of them expressed how it does not give the same high and excitement that comes from the laughs and claps of a live audience. What’s your view?
My show is recorded for television, but there, too, we have a live audience on the set. So, I understand what they are saying…jo live show ka maza hota hai artiste ke liye, woh kuch aur hi hai. In stand-up comedy, a lot depends on the response of the people watching you. Mere case mein toh, main apni audience ke saath bada hasee-mazak karta rehta hoon. It’s so interactive. Aapne ek joke crack kari aur taaliyan aayi logon ki, tab tak aap kuch doosra soch lete ho. Toh performing in front of an audience and sitting at home doing a show on Insta live for an online audience — usme zameen-aasman ka fark hai. Jo maza stage pe aata hai, woh kahin nahi mil sakta.

So, you must be keenly waiting to go back on set and do what you love most?
Itna velle rehni ki aur khane ki aadat padh gayi hai ki abhi lagta hai ki zindagi aise hi hai. Jab khatam ho jayenge jo bhi paise savings mein rakhe hain, tab pata chalega hamein (laughs!).

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; April 5, 2020)

At a time when the country is practising social distancing to keep Coronavirus at bay, celebrities are making the most of their free time by pursuing their hobbies and spending quality time with their family.

A case in point is ace comedian Kapil Sharma, who is enjoying every minute of this stay-at-home phase with his three-monthold daughter, Anayra. He shares, “Aaj kal saara din baby ke saath khelta rehta hoon, and khaata aur sota hoon, bas. Badi mushkil se routine sahi hui thi. Usko settle aur hamein time par sote hue 10 din hi hue the ki phir se routine change ho gaya. Abhi baby bhi bore ho gayi hai dekh dekh ke mujhe saara din. Usko lagta hai, ‘Mera baap kuchh karta hi nahi hai’ (laughs!).”

Kapil has mostly been at home ever since his bundle of joy arrived. “In a way, I have been in a lockdown state since December 10, the day Anayra was born. I would step out only for two days a week to shoot for the show,” he says.

The comedian, who has barely spoken to the media about his daughter so far, tells us that he can’t keep his eyes off his baby. He says, “I don’t even realise when the day goes by. Abhi uska mere saath thoda zyada attachment ho gaya hai. Pehle Ginni (wife) ko hi dekh kar hasti thi. Since the past few days, she has started recognising me and even smiles. That feeling is out of the world. She totally justifies her name — Anayra, which means happiness. She smiles like my mother and me. Hum teeno ki aankhein band ho jaati hain haste time. Khoobsurat apni mummy jaisi hai woh, and thank God for that (laughs!).”

This phase has also led to a lot of introspection and realisation. Kapil shares, “We take a lot of things for granted. The lockdown has made us realise the value of people who work for us relentlessly. I have also realised that my mother has started behaving like a child, now that she has crossed a certain age. Jaise gajak (sweet) aayi thi Punjab se toh mummy ne bahut sari gajak dabbe mein daal kar apne room mein rakh lee. When I asked for it, I was told that it’s not in the kitchen and that I needed to ask my mother.”

He adds, “It’s been 14 years since I moved to Mumbai, but it’s for the first time maine koyal ki awaaz suni aur sparrows dekhe; something that I would see in my hometown, Amritsar. It feels like nature is in detox mode. Having said that, I want normalcy back in our lives again. Sadkon par raunak rahe toh achha lagta hai. Kisko achha lagta hai soonsaan pada hua hain sheher saara.”

Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 30, 2020)

“I have been home ever since my daughter was born in December. I would step out only to shoot for my show’s episodes. Now, of course, we aren’t shooting, so staying at home hasn’t really been all that different,” says Kapil Sharma.

He is glad to be at home with his three-month old daughter Anayra and wife Ginni as “time passes quickly when you have a child at home”. Moreover, he has been watching online content, has written a stand up skit and has started reading books that he had bought at airports but never read. He says, “I am happy that India has things under control, and I pray that the Coronavirus lockdown works and helps us get rid of the virus. People should follow it strictly but some of them aren’t taking it seriously as they don’t know the gravity of the situation. We should learn from countries that were prepared and ones that were not, about what to do and what not to do.”

The actor-comedian says that this lockdown has allowed a lot of nature to come back in our midst, “Earlier, I hardly could hear birds chirping, but recently, I was glad to hear a Koyal singing, and even spotted some sparrows near my house. It felt like kudrat detox kar rahi hai. We have developed a lot but in that race, we took nature for granted.”

Sharma also recently went live on Facebook, and spoke to his fans about Covid-19, the lockdown and the seriousness of it. He adds, “God forbid, if we were facing water shortage across the world, it would unimaginable. We should save water, ban plastic, and plant more trees. No one had ever imagined that a virus would bring the world to a standstill, but this virus has brought the world together. We have to change the way we think.”

Sharma has donated ₹50 lakh to the PM’s relief fund and urges others to do what they can to help people. “I read that [Telugu stars] Pawan Kalyan and Ram Charan had donated to the fund, so I felt I should as well. I tweeted about it so that people come forward and do their bit. At this time, any sum is helpful. We can afford to stay at home without pay checks for months but there are so many daily wage earners who need our help right now. I am also helping the NGOs near my house who are helping the strays and needy people in the vicinity,” he signs off.

Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 11, 2019)

December has clearly become a month of milestones in this celebrity household. Kapil Sharma and Ginni Chatrath tied the knot on December 12 last year in Jalandhar. On Tuesday, December 10, the couple welcomed a baby girl at a SoBo hospital. The actor-comedian, who shared the happy news online, was soon inundated with congratulatory messages.

Incidentally, Kapil’s close friend Rajiev Dhingra, who was associated with his last show, Comedy Nights With Kapil, and also directed him in his home production Firangi, became a father to a baby boy last week in the same hospital. “Our rooms are next to each other. Ginni had a natural delivery, while my wife went through a C-section. Kapil was a bit stressed on Monday night, but everyone is really happy now,” Rajiev says.

Meanwhile, Kapil is all set to return to work. “He was supposed to shoot for an episode of The Kapil Sharma Show with Deepika Padukone on Wednesday and another one with the Good Newwz gang on Thursday. When the production team reached out to him, he assured them that the shoot will go on as per schedule,” a source close to the show informed.

After wrapping up the two episodes, Kapil will shoot for the next episode in the new year. “The team had decided the schedule keeping the due date in mind. So, there are no more episodes planned for this month. The next one will happen only after the first week of January,” the source added.

Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 7, 2019)

Mirror was the first to report (May 24) that comedian-actor Kapil Sharma, who tied the knot with Ginni Chatrath in December last year, has another reason to celebrate, as the couple is set to welcome their first child. Soon after, Kapil had revealed to us that his mother is the most excited about the impending arrival and he is praying for the good health of Ginni and the baby. Now, we have learnt that the father-to-be is all charged up as he plans his work around D-Day.

“Ginni’s due date is in mid-December and Kapil has already started planning work on his comedy show (The Kapil Sharma Show), to make sure that the on-air scheduling isn’t interrupted. Simultaneously, he is making sure to spend time with Ginni in the last trimester,” revealed a source close to the development.

In the coming weeks, Kapil will be shooting for the show with Akshay Kumar and the Housefull 4 gang, the Made In China team and the real as well as reel-life daadis of Saand Ki Aankh. Govinda, too, is up for an appearance this month.

Kapil Sharma on dubbing for the hot-headed bird in the film’s Hindi version
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 25, 2019)

Three years after the release of Angry Birds, an animated film based on a popular video game by the same name, the makers are coming up with a sequel. Like most Hollywood films, The Angry Birds Movie 2 will be dubbed in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu for its release in India. Mirror has learnt that Kapil Sharma has been roped in to lend his voice to the central character, Red, for the film’s Hindi version.

Comedian-actor Jason Sudeikis has been voicing the character in English and though nervous about matching his pitch, Kapil eventually found the dubbing to be fun because “there was ample of scope to improvise”. Pointing out that dubbing for a film is different than voicing for a character, he says, “In the West, artists first voice for their characters and based on that, the film is shot using graphics. But over here, we have to talk according to the graphics.”

The comedian-actor, who rose to fame with a television show, confesses that he could relate to the character he was voicing for. “He is the hero but, at times, he gets entangled in tough situations. Knowing my history, you’d agree I am Red”, he chuckles.

Kapil goes on to promise that his audience will not be disappointed as Red is quite funny just like him. “The producers (Sony Pictures Entertainment India) expected me to scale up the humour and I have but it’s very situational. In fact, there are times when the character’s anger will make people laugh,” he reveals, adding that he is certain that people will connect to Red. “Though I’ll be voicing the character, they won’t see me in it,” he assures.

Recently, Shah Rukh Khan, Varun Dhawan, Ranveer Singh have lent their voice for the Hindi version of Hollywood films. Ask Kapil if the trend is here to stay and he reasons, “When Shah Rukh Bhai dubbed for the film, the audience could relate more to the character because it spoke in a voice they recognised.”

On the personal front, Kapil and Ginni Chatrath, who tied the knot in December last year, are set to welcome their first child. “I just want to take care of my wife and be by her side for now. We are obviously very excited as it’s our first kid but my mother is the most excited. She has been waiting for this moment for years now. We are just praying for Ginni and the baby’s health,” Kapil shares. And how is he prepping up for his role of a father? “There is no prep because we don’t know if it would be a boy or girl. It’s a happy time for the family and everybody is looking forward to welcome the new member,” he says dismissively before quipping, “I am dubbing for a film for children. So, once the baby grows up, it will pay off,” he grins.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 24, 2019)

Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma who tied the knot with Ginni Chatrath last December, has another reason to celebrate. A source close to the couple reveals that Ginni is pregnant and the couple has already started preparing for the baby with the ecstatic dad-to-be accompanying her on shopping sprees. Friends and family have also been informed.

“They got the good news just a few days ago, Ginni’s due date is in December. Kapil has been busy with the shoot of his eponymous comedy show, The Kapil Sharma Show, but he has now scheduled his shoot in a way that he gets to spend more with her. She too has been accompanying him on the shoot so they can spend time together. His colleagues ensure that she is well looked after on the set. At home, Kapil’s mother is taking care of her. Ginni’s family has also flown down from Jalandhar,” adds the source.

Mirror (October 8, 2018) was the first to report that Kapil and Ginni were tying the knot in December. After initially denying the news, the actor admitted that he would be marrying his long-time ladylove.

They took the vows with traditional Sikh and Hindu ceremonies on December 12 at Ginni’s hometown in Jalandhar. Later, they hosted a reception in Delhi for family and friends and another in Mumbai for the film fraternity. Singers Daler Mehndi and Gurdas Maan were among those who performed and Ranveer Singh with wife Deepika Padukone, Rekha, Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Anil Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Archana Puran Singh with husband Parmeet Sethi were among those who attended. The couple couldn’t go on a honeymoon immediately because of Kapil’s hectic schedule but the two holidayed in Amsterdam in March.

Meanwhile, buzz is, the 38-year-old stand-up comedian-actor has been offered the Hindi remake of the 2015 Malayalam romcom Two Countries. The film originally featured Dileep and Mamta Mohandas in the lead. The actor is yet to confirm if he is part of the project but has liked the story. Kapil had made his film debut with Abbas-Mustan’s Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon in 2015. His second film was his home production, Firangi.

Adjudged the most-viewed stand-up comedian in the world, Kapil returned with comedy show on December 29. Recast in a new format, it arrived a fortnight after his marriage, without Sunil Grover but with Krushna Abhishek, along with former co-stars like Bharti Singh, Sumona Chakravarti, Kiku Sharda and Chandan Prabhakar. The Kapil Sharma Show is produced by Salman Khan and in the last six months has gone back to being a family favourite.

BOMBAY TIMES (December 26, 2018)

Stand-up comedian-actor Kapil Sharma, who tied the knot with Ginni Chatrath on December 12 in Jalandhar, hosted a reception for his industry friends in Mumbai on Monday. The do was attended by the who’s who of Bollywood and TV fraternity. All eyes were on newly-weds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, as they walked in, hand-inhand. Other celeb guests included Karan Johar, Anil Kapoor, Salim and Sohail Khan and ace shuttler Saina Nehwal, among others.

Also spotted were Shekhar Ravjiani, Salim Merchant, Sanjeev Kapoor with wife Alyona, Raju Srivastava, Chandan Prabhakar with his family, Guunjan and Vikkas Manaktala, Subhash Ghai, Sidharth Sagar and Subuhi Joshi, Rochelle Maria Rao and Keith Sequeira, Udit Narayan with wife Deepa and son Aditya Narayan.

Also spotted were Shekhar Suman with his wife Alka, Keerti and Sharad Kelkar, Richa Chadha, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Kanika Kapoor, Sunidhi Chauhan, Kailash Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Boney Kapoor, Chunky Pandey, Chetan Bhagat, Shreyas Talpade with wife Deepti, Urvashi Rautela, Johnny Lever with daughter Jamie, Ishita and Vatsal Sheth, Divya Dutta and Ameesha Patel.

While Kapil wore a black suit, Ginni looked pretty in a silver-grey outfit. A guest informed us, “Kapil sang many songs and dedicated a few to his bride, too, including Hamein Toh Loot Liya Milke Husn Walon Ne. He also requested a singer to dedicate Lamberghini to Ginni. The couple danced with Deepika and Ranveer. Later, Ranveer shook a leg to, and even crooned Yeh Ladki Aankh Maare. Loveyatri actress Warina Hussain was seen grooving to Chogada.”

Guests mingled with the groom’s furry friend and sampled Turkish ice-cream
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 17, 2018)

Kapil Sharma and Ginni Chatrath followed up their traditional Hindu wedding and a Sikh ceremony on December 12 in Jalandhar with a reception in the groom’s hometown, Amritsar, on Friday night. Daler Mehndi was belting out hit numbers like “Bolo Tara Rara” and “Tunak Tunak” which upped the temperature and took the winter chill away.

The function started at 8 pm but Kapil arrived with his better half only past 10 pm and the party went on till late in the night. Kapil’s friends including Sumona (Chakravarti), Kiku (Sharda), Rajiv (Thakur), Chandan (Prabhakar) and singers Jasmine Sandlas and Zeus were all present at the bash. Krushna Abhishek had to leave because of a prior commitment in Mumbai but Abbas and Mustan, who directed Kapil’s debut film, stood out in their signature all-white. “His pet Shih Tzu, Cheeku (left; below), was a special guest, dressed in a specially-tailored suit with mirrorwork and a clip in his hair,” informed a guest.

There was lots of seafood and a live chutney counter, a Turkish ice-cream counter and cakes and pastry counters. “There was also Italian cuisine and of course, all the traditional Punjabi dishes,” added the source, saying all the leftover from the reception was parcelled off to a non-profit organisation with volunteers turning up at 4am.

The groom will be back in Mumbai on Tuesday to resume shooting for The Kapil Sharma show. Buzz is, Shah Rukh Khan will be his next guest. The couple’s Mumbai reception will be on December 24. 

BOMBAY TIMES (December 14, 2018)

Kapil Sharma tied the knot with long-time girlfriend Ginni Chatrath in Jalandhar on Wednesday. The couple had two ceremonies — a Hindu as well as a Sikh wedding. Singer Gurdaas Maan, who Kapil has always looked up to, specially performed for him at the wedding, which was attended by close family and friends. Comedians Krushna Abhishek, Bharti Singh, Sumona Chakravarti, Sudesh Lehri and Rajiv Thakur were also part of Kapil’s big day.

The newly-weds will host a reception on Friday in Amritsar, where singer Daler Mehndi will reportedly be performing. For his friends from the industry, Kapil will host another reception in Mumbai on December 24.

The couple tied the knot in Sikh and Hindu ceremonies on Wednesday; Salman Khan, Bachchans, among others, on guest list for Mumbai reception on Dec 24
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 13, 2018)

Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma and his long-time girlfriend Ginni Chatrath tied the knot on Wednesday in two weddings in the latter’s hometown of Jalandhar. The Sikh ceremony took place at 11.30 pm and was followed by a Hindu ceremony at 4 am.

A source close to the groom told Mirror, “Kapil reached Amritsar on December 8, just before the pre-wedding ceremonies were to take off, as he had been busy shooting for his TV show comeback, The Kapil Sharma Show, with his first two guests – Salman Khan and family and Ranveer Singh, Sonu Sood and Sara Ali Khan.”

According to the source, director-duo Abbas-Mustan, who had helmed Kapil’s 2015 big screen debut Kis Kis Ko Pyar Karoon, were among the guests at the wedding ceremony along with singer Gurdas Maan, who also performed. On the menu were traditional Punjabi dishes, along with Chinese delicacies.

Next up, Kapil, whose comeback show premieres on December 21, will host a wedding reception in Mumbai for his friends from the film and TV industries on December 24 at a suburban five-star. Guests expected to attend the do include the Bachchan family and Salman Khan, among others. Incidentally, Kapil’s comeback show is scheduled to premiere on December 29.

“Kapil and Ginni will go on a honeymoon later as he is required to resume shooting for his show early next week,” the source added.

Kapil and Ginni’s pre-wedding celebrations had kicked off last week with Akhand Path and chooda ceremony, which took place at the bride’s residence. Mehendi and sangeet were held at a five-star in Amritsar (Kapil’s hometown) on Sunday. The next day, the bride’s family had a Mata Ki Chowki at their residence, which was followed by a cocktail and dinner party hosted by the couple for their friends and colleagues, including Bharti Singh and Harsh Limbachiyaa, Krushna Abhishek, Sumona Chakravarti, Rajiv Thakur, singer Richa Sharma and Kapil’s Firangi director Rajiv Dhingra on Tuesday. “Later in the evening, both families took part in a ceremony where jaagos (pots decorated with lights) and decorated sticks (jaago sticks) are used as part of the celebrations. Guests danced and sang during the ceremony which went on till early hours of Thursday.

A few days ago, Kapil had sent out wedding invitations in cream-and-gold-plated boxes to his guests. The couple’s initials were emblazoned on the boxes with dry fruit panjeeri, almond chana bite, herbal green tea, mysore pak and baked cashew squares inside it.

Ginni Chatrath at her Jalandhar residence; the wedding invite (below)

Countdown to actor-comedian and his ladylove’s nuptials kicks off with Akhand Path and choora ceremony; Gurdas Maan, Daler Mehndi to perform on D-Day, reception
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 4, 2018)

Over the weekend, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh’s 18-day wedding celebrations wrapped up with a reception party for their Bollywood friends, while Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas became man and wife with two ceremonies. While Nickyanka wedding reception is to take place in Delhi today, another showbiz couple has kicked off the countdown to their own D-Day. Actor-comedian Kapil Sharma’s long-time love Ginni Chatrath, who he will wed in Jalandhar on December 12, took part in ‘Akhand Path’ late last week, which was followed by the ‘Path ka bhog’ on Sunday, where the bride-to-be and her family distributed prasad.

“The ritual was held at Ginni’s Jalandhar residence to mark an auspicious beginning of the ceremonies that will be held in the forthcoming days,” a source close to the development informed, adding that the choora ceremony took place on Monday. “Kapil will soon leave for Punjab after wrapping up work commitments in Mumbai. Singer Richa Sharma, along with Punjabi devotional singer Master Saleem, will perform at a Jagran on December 10.”

Also joining the list of performers at the wedding is Gurdas Maan, who was a guest on Kapil’s show last year, and will wield the mic on December 12 at a five-star. According to the source, Daler Mehndi takes over entertaining duties at the couple’s reception on December 14 in Amritsar.

Mirror had earlier reported that another reception for Kapil’s industry friends is also being planned on December 24 in Mumbai. Kapil had made his relationship with Ginni official with a social media post last year. “Will not say she is my better half. She completes me. Love you Ginni. Please welcome her. I love her so much,” he had said.

The actor-comedian recently sent out wedding invites in cream-and-gold-plated boxes to his guests. The soon-to-wed couple’s initials were emblazoned on the invites. “The box has dry fruit panjeeri, almond chana bite, herbal green tea, mysore pak and baked cashew squares inside it,” the source added.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; November 26, 2018)

After enthralling us with his comic timing and wit, the last couple of years saw Kapil Sharma grabbing headlines by being controversy’s favourite child. However, he does not believe in giving up. The ace comedian is set for a comeback on the small screen and will also tie the knot with long-time girlfriend Ginni Chatrath, in December. In an exclusive chat with BT, Kapil and Ginni speak for the first time, sharing their love story and marriage plans. Excerpts…

Kapil, after your last show — Family Time With Kapil Sharma — ended, everyone thought that your career was over...
Maine qatal kar diya jo wapas nahi aaunga? Why will I not come back? You cannot think straight when you are mentally not in a good state. It feels like everything is going wrong. I realise that people are waiting for me to come back when I meet them outside. Fans usually seek permission from TV and film stars before clicking pictures with them, but with me, they behave as if I am one of them. Mujhse poochte nahi hain, pakad lete hain. Haath pakad liya aur jhappi li. It feels nice. I left home to become a singer and didn’t realise when I turned comedian.

Ginni, how did you support him in his difficult times?
Ginni: I supported him in every phase. I was with him day and night, making sure that he was comfortable. God was with me and being patient paid off.
Kapil: She is very spiritual. I told her that you pray so much, pray for me, too. Mera dimag sahi nahi rehta, ajeeb sa lagta hai sab kuch. She would tell me that she prays only for me. She has been my emotional anchor; she has surrendered herself for my well-being. I will do as she says, because I know that she is right; hosh mein decision leti hai.

Kapil was under stress and also had anxiety issues. As a partner, it must have been difficult for you to handle the situation...
Ginni: He has given me so much love and care, I just paid it back during his difficult phase.
Kapil: It’s not easy for an outsider to understand this industry. She will take some time to learn the ropes. Abhi abhi toh Mumbai mein aayi hai; ab seekhegi aur dekhegi ki kaise kaam hota hai, main kaise kaam karta hoon aur log kaise hain.

We hadn’t heard much about Ginni earlier. Kapil, how did your love story begin?
Kapil: She studied in HMV College (Jalandhar). I was a scholarship holder, as I was a national winner in theatre. I was a student of APJ College and in order to make some pocket money, I started directing plays. I went to audition students at her college and that’s how we met in 2005.
Ginni: I had gone to audition for gidda (a dance form) and was sitting outside the auditorium. It was my teacher who insisted that I audition for the play.
Kapil: She was 19 then and I was 24. I was tired of taking auditions and explaining the role to the girls. Ginni was so good that I was quite impressed with her and told her to audition the girls for me. As we started the rehearsals, she started bringing food for me. Back then, I thought that she was doing it out of respect.
Ginni: I had started liking him (smiles). I would cook early in the morning with my mother’s help and take food for him every day.
Kapil: My friend told me that Ginni likes me, but I rubbished him. One day, I directly asked Ginni, ‘Tu mujhe like toh nahi karti?’ and she denied. Later, at a youth festival, I introduced her to my mother as one of my students. Then I came to Mumbai for the Laughter Challenge audition and by then, I had also appeared on a Punjabi TV channel. Ginni was impressed with me because I was studying and working at such a young age. When I got rejected for Laughter Challenge, I called her and said, ‘Please don’t call me’. I felt that our friendship has no future, as her financial condition was better and we belonged to different castes. So, we took a break. When I got selected for Laughter Challenge after auditioning again, she called to congratulate me.
Ginni: We were in touch on and off. When he got rejected for the first time, I had told him that everything would be fine.
Kapil: When I started earning well, my mother took my marriage proposal to her family, which got rejected. Inke papaji ne bade pyaar se bola, ‘Shut up’ (laughs!). Thereafter, I got busy with work, while she pursued an MBA in finance. I guess, she kept studying to avoid marriage proposals. At that time, I was settled in Mumbai, and so much was happening in my life. I then realised ki itna kuchh hua hai, but isne kabhi mujhe disturb nahi kiya. Itna patience kisi mein nahi dekha maine. Jab ye sab gadbad chal rahi thi, that’s when I decided that it was the right time to marry. It was my decision, because ye toh padhai kare hi jaa rahi thi (laughs!). So, on December 24, 2016, I called and told Ginni that I wanted to marry her. My mother has always been fond of her.

Ginni, what made you decide that Kapil is ‘The One’ for you? He was a student when you first met him, but he is a star now...
Ginni: Kapil is a gem of a person and very caring. There is no one like him and I can’t find anyone better than him. He is a family man. If he loves his mother and sister so much, it’s certain that he would love his partner, too. He is a star for the audience, not for me. He is still humble the way he was years ago and hasn’t changed at all.

Do the stories about him affect you, especially because you are not from the industry?
Ginni: I trust him blindly. Whatever he says, that’s the truth for me. I don’t care what the world says.
Kapil: I used to feel that I wouldn’t be able to marry, since I am not a responsible person. I love two things — my work and music. I have many friends in the music industry and I would often jam with them, without taking stock of time. Initially, I wouldn’t like anyone calling me at that hour. After a point, however, I started feeling the void. I think that with time, I realised the importance of having a partner.

Tell us about your wedding plans.
Kapil: The wedding is on December 12 in Jalandhar. Contrary to reports, we are not engaged yet and will complete all the ceremonies in December. My mother has organised a jagran at my home on December 10, and there will be an ‘Akandh Path’ at Ginni’s house on December 30. Our pre-wedding functions will include the bangle ceremony, cocktail and mehendi. We had decided to host a reception on December 22, but it is subject to change, as we are yet to finalise the venue. We are not going on a honeymoon anytime soon, because I will start shooting for my show immediately.

Ginni, what do you plan to do after moving to Mumbai post marriage?
Ginni: I will set up an apparel business, because he, too, will be caught up.

So, what are you looking forward to in 2019?
Kapil: I would like to balance my personal and professional life. I will take breaks regularly aur ghoomna hai. I will take time out for myself, it’s important. I have decided to not trust people blindly. I have also quit alcohol.
Ginni: I am looking forward to our marriage (smiles).

Kapil, what’s your fitness regimen now?
Kapil: A teacher comes every morning, and both Ginni and I practise yoga. I also hit the gym in the evening. Shaadi se pehle jitna (weight) kam kar lenge, kar lenge. Achhi photo aayengi.

After their December 12 nuptials in the bride’s hometown and December 14 reception in Amritsar, couple will throw a party for their industry friends
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; November 15, 2018)

Mirror was the first to report (October 8) that Kapil Sharma is set to tie the knot with long-time girlfriend Ginni Chatrath in December. After denying the news initially, the actor-comedian confirmed it. Now, we have learnt that while the traditional Hindu wedding will be held in Ginni’s hometown of Phagwara (near Jalandhar), the reception will take place in Amritsar, which is Kapil’s hometown.

Kapil had made his relationship with Ginni public in March last year with an Insta post, saying, “Will not say she is my better half. She completes me. Love you Ginni. Please welcome her. I love her so much.”

A source close to the couple reveals, “The celebrations will kick off with a Mata ka jagran at Kapil’s sister’s residence on December 10. This will be followed by a mehendi and sangeet ceremony at the bride’s place the next day. A five star has been booked for the big fat Punjabi wedding on December 12. It will be followed by a reception party on December 14 at another five-star in Amritsar.”

While many of Kapil’s friends are headed to Jalandhar, the source informs that the couple is also planning a big reception in Mumbai for industry colleagues and friends who won’t be able to travel to Punjab for the wedding. The Mumbai reception is likely to take place on December 24, coincidentally a day after Kapil makes his TV comeback on Sony with his highly successful weekend show. Both the actor and the channel spokesperson have confirmed that The Kapil Sharma Show which ground to an abrupt halt in August 2017 will be returning before the year is out.

After celebrating Diwali with CRPF jawans in Delhi, the actor-comedian had headed to Amritsar where he has been binging on kulchas, dahi wale golgappes, papri chat, puri-chole, gud ka halwa for the past few days. His insta pics have tantalised the taste buds of even health freaks like Tiger Shroff. He left for Mumbai on Tuesday after posting a lip-smacking picture of ghee ke parathes with homemade white butter, curd and chati ki lassi. While Kapil made it seem that he was just enjoying Punjab’s winter spread, many are wondering if this quick dash home was to set the menu in place for the fourday celebrations. 

MUMBAI MIRROR (October 23, 2018)

Finally, it’s official! After months of tight-lipped silence, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh confirmed on Sunday that the much-anticipated Bollywood wedding of the year would take place on November 14 and 15. The venue remains undisclosed, but buzz is, the wedding is going to be at Lake Como in Italy with only family and a few close friends in attendance, followed by two receptions and a quick honeymoon.

Even before the excitement triggered off by their joint statement had died down, speculations were rife that Priyanka Chopra (below) and her American singer-beau, Nick Jonas had secretly become man and wife after Irish actor Emmett Hughes posted pictures of the couple with actress Ashley Benson outside The Little Vegas chapel. PeeCee had flown off to Las Vegas earlier, Nick joined her later and the two attended a charity event together. The bouquet of red roses in her hands had many wondering if they had gone through a secret ceremony in Casino City at the chapel which offers every kind of wedding, from the traditionally elegant to an Elvis rock n’ roll.

Since their roka in Mumbai on August 18, the actress has been talking about babies and a bridal shower in the Big Apple, even as reports talk of a three-day shaadi in Jodhpur, from November 30 to December 2. Only 200 guests are expected to make the list, with Parineeti Chopra crooning, “Joote le lo, paise de do”, the Hum Aapke Hain Koun! chartbuster for her jiju.



Meanwhile, Parineeti’s Namaste England co-star, Arjun Kapoor, in an interview to Mirror last month (September 8), had admitted that his dadi, Nirmal Kapoor, had on his 33rd birthday issued a “threat and a request, a bribe and a command” that he get married soon. “Dadi has never articulated her feelings so firmly. Before this, it was all said in jest, this time she’s put a tick to it. And since she has few expectations from me, I intend to fulfil this demand at the right time with the right person,” he had said, quick to add that he’d like his sister Anshula and cousin Rhea to settle down first and also give the family time to recover from two back-to-back weddings (that of cousins Mohit Marwah and Sonam Kapoor) before he takes the plunge himself. “Mujhe bas thodi si mohlat de do (just give me some time), please,” he had pleaded.

Since then, Arjun has been spotted driving in the same car with good friend Malaika Arora and sitting next to her in the front row at a recent fashion show. Recently, while promoting his last release on the talent hunt contest that Malaika judges, the duo made an entry on stage, hand-in-hand, before going on to set the stage on fire with their moves. If this was not enough to set tongues wagging, Malaika on Sunday posted a picture from a bistro in Milan with a somewhat cryptic message: “We found LOVE in a hopeless place…. He looks at me like nobody else does with….” It ended with a heart emoji, followed by another post the next day, of her shapely waist, a belt unfurling and a tonguein-cheek quip, “Tugging at my heart strings… Sorry belt.”

While everyone’s reading between the lines there, her ex husband, Arbaaz Khan and his firang girlfriend, Giorgia Andriani, attended a dandiya event in Gandhigram over the weekend, playing the dhol. East is East, West is West, but somewhere this twain did meet for this twosome.

Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal are now open about their relationship after making a public appearance at Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja’s wedding party. They recently turned up for a screning of Junglee Pictures’s quirky comedy, Badhaai Ho. It now remains to be seen if congratulations pour in for the cuties soon.

Meanwhile, for Shruti Haasan and her steady date Michael Corsale (right) every day is an adventure. In a lovey dovey post, the actress on Sunday told her Brit actor beau, and the world, that he’s shown her what it means “to have a best friend in your partner and a total nutter in your corner… Laughing, chatting and walking together”. Awww! While Kamal Haasan and Sarika’s daughter who’s a free spirit has no immediate plans of taking the pheras, Kapil Sharma (left; above) is ready to be tied up in knots by Ginni Chatrath on December 12 in Jalandhar. A friend of the actor-comedian had earlier revealed to Mirror that it will be a four-day long, big, fat wedding for which his friends from the industry would be flying down to Punjab. After initially denying the news, Kapil finally confirmed the news and the date, saying the reception will be in Mumbai two days later.

He explained that he had tried to keep the news under wraps while promoting his Punjabi production, Son of Manjeet Singh. In March last year, Kapil had announced his relationship with Ginni, posting, “Will not say she is my better half. She completes me. Love u Ginni, please welcome her. I love her so much.” Thank God for the social media that brings secrets out in the open.

Jaspreet Nijher (BOMBAY TIMES; October 12, 2018)

Among all the controversies that actor, comedian and film producer Kapil Sharma has courted, the latest about his wedding to childhood girlfriend Ginni Chatrath is tickling him the most. In Chandigarh on Tuesday, while answering a query on his proposed marriage in December, Kapil said, “Among all the things I was doing, preparing for a comeback on TV, producing a Punjabi film, I got this udti-udti khabar that I am getting married in December. Mera bhi dil karta hai shaadi karane ka, but the point is, let's first focus on the things that are priority for me currently and that need to be done. Marriage can wait.” Adding to this, his friend, actor, comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi quipped, “When Kapil is getting married, when he has kids…we will inform everyone about these developments. Why should we hide this?”

When asked about the other debates that have kept his professional life in the news, Kapil shrugged, “I have become thick-skinned now. Earlier, I would worry about what people are saying about me, and why. Now, I realise people say things because negativity thrives, and it sells. If I go to the temple with my mother in the morning and press her feet, no one wants to report that.” However, the comedian says that he has burnt his fingers, too, while speaking his mind. “Earlier, towards the evenings, I would get emotional and write something on social media that I felt from my heart. But then I would regret that, seeing the trolls. Now I have sworn off writing anything on Twitter in an emotional mindset.”

Kapil also rubbished reports of his ongoing battle with erstwhile friend Sunil Grover. “Somethings belong in the past, let’s leave them there,” he mocked, adding, “Sunil is a dear friend whom I met recently. Right now he has his own commitments, he is doing Bharat with Salman Khan and recently did Patakha. TV is long-standing commitment, and I am sure when he finds enough time from films, he will come to us on TV.”

Meanwhile, after two shows ended abruptly, the actor is all set to return to the small screen with his signature comedy show around Diwali
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 8, 2018)

Kapil Sharma has been prepping up for his small screen return for a few months now. The actor was recently spotted working out at the gym to get back in shape after battling various health issues. Now, Mirror has learnt that even on the personal front the actor-comedian-host has reason to celebrate. He will be tying the knot with fiancée Ginni Chatrath in December.

A friend of Kapil reveals that the wedding will be in his hometown Amritsar and preparations have begun. “It will be a four-day long, big, fat Punjabi wedding for which his friends from the film industry will be flying down to Punjab. He will be hosting a party in Mumbai later,” the friend added.

In March last year, Kapil had announced his relationship with Ginni. He had posted, “Will not say she is my better half . She completes me. Love u Ginni, please welcome her. I love her so much.”

Meanwhile, as Mirror had reported (August 30), Kapil is ready to return to TV with a comedy show on Sony. The actor confirmed the news on Saturday, as did the channel’s spokesperson, saying, “Yes, Kapil Sharma is coming home to our channel with his highly successful weekend comedy show ‘The Kapil Sharma show’. We are delighted and looking forward to collaborate with Kapil and his talented creative team and actors again.”

Earlier, in March, the actor’s last stint on televsion, the game show Family Time with Kapil Sharma, ended after just three episodes. The Kapil Sharma Show too had ground to an abrupt halt in August 2017 after a mid-air brawl with co-actor Sunil Grover lead to him a few others walking out of the show. Their exit hit Kapil badly, and he left a string of Bollywood actors from Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn to Emraan Hashmi and Shraddha Kapoor waiting on the sets and sometimes even not turning up.

In an earlier interview to Mirror (September 7), Kapil had admitted from a holistic healthcare centre in Bangalore that the channel has always stood by him. “I have a wonderful relationship with the Sony team. Another channel would have put insane pressure on me to carry on, but the Sony bosses never issued any threats. I could not afford to cancel another episode, so I called them and requested that I wanted to take a break. They readily agreed. They have been really supportive. I will complete my medical course and start promoting my film before returning to the show. I have no plans of leaving Sony,” he had asserted.

Meanwhile, he is busy with the promotions of his Punjabi production, Son Of Manjeet Singh, a father-son relationship which releases later this month.