Earlier this month, Govinda was injured after his gun misfired and the actor was rushed to the hospital. Over the next few days, his family and friends dropped by to check on him, however, his nephew Krushna Abhishek was notably absent. His wife Kashmera Shah had visited Govinda in the hospital, but Krushna was on a professional tour in Australia. We have now learnt that he recently visited Govinda at his home.

Krushna shares, “I was in Australia when I heard about Chi Chi mama’s accident. I almost cancelled my tour, but after checking with the hospital staff and Kash, I was reassured that he was fine and in good spirits. As soon as I returned to India, I visited mama at his home — for the first time in seven years. It felt like I had completed half a vanvaas. He’s recovering well. I spent about an hour with him and met Nammo (Govinda’s daughter Tina Ahuja) after seven long years. It was such an emotional moment; I just hugged her.”

Talking about their reunion, he continues, “We laughed, joked, and reminisced about old times. It felt just like before. All those years I spent living with mama and mami (Sunita) in their home flashed before my eyes. Maine mama ko bola ki hall toh poora badal gaya hai. Ab sab issues resolve ho gaye hai, sab gile shikve door ho gaye hain. I am glad there was no mention of the past and that’s how families are. There can be misunderstandings, but nothing can keep us apart for long. I couldn’t meet mami as she was busy, but honestly, I was a bit scared to face her because I knew she would scold me (laughs!). Par aapse nasamjhi mein kuch galti ho jaaye toh badhon ki daant sunne ke liye bhi taiyyar rehna chahiye.”

Ask him why it took him seven years to reconnect and whether things could have been sorted sooner and Krushna reflects, “Bas pata nahi kyu itna time laga. Kaafi cheezein ho rahi thi jis ki wajah se milna nahi ho paa raha tha. However, I am glad we’ve finally buried the hatchet and moved on.”

After the first visit, Krushna, who went to see Govinda again, says he is doing better now and can move around the house with the help of crutches. “Ab toh jaata rahoonga aur mami se bhi mil loonga. As of now, I look forward to meeting Nammo at Arti’s (Krushna’s sister) place – a plan my two sisters have made,” he adds.

Over the past many years, tensions have often flared between Govinda and Krushna, along with their respective families. Govinda had openly expressed his discontent with his nephew’s sense of humour and the jokes made at his expense. Additionally, his wife distanced herself from Krushna and Kashmera, citing misbehaviour and disrespect, and vowed never to speak to them again. Since then, the two families kept their distance from one another until Krushna’s sister, Arti Singh’s wedding in April this year, which was attended by Govinda and his son, Yashvardhan.

Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 31, 2020)

The death of Sushant Singh Rajput has been a wake-up call for many in the film industry, feels actor Krushna Abhishek, as it has brought the focus on mental health as well as the indiscrepancies that exist in Bollywood.

“This incident has proved that mental health is what is most important. Otherwise how will you work? After Sushant’s death, people have become very cautious, they have calmed down as well. Earlier, people used to think, ‘Main hi hoon bas duniya mein’, now they have come down to earth. Industry ke kuchh log bahut udd rahe the, ab shaant ho gaye hain,” he says.

The actor also points out that negativity on social media is another aspect that celebrities find difficult to cope with. “A person will go mad and take a drastic step. It is better to quit social media. Ranbir Kapoor never came on social media. If you can’t handle, don’t come on it at all,” he explains.

Talking about how he maintains his sanity on social media, Abhishek says he uses the medium in moderation and that is the key. “I only post about my work. I rarely share personal posts. If you give out all details of your life like when you went to the loo and when you brushed your teeth, tab toh log gaaliayan dena shuru hi kar denge,” he says.

The actor says he wonders why most celebrities can’t follow that and not give updates about every two minutes of their life. “On one hand you say that ‘Oh I am getting trolled’ and then upar se aapne kaun si chaddi khareedi hai woh raat ke 11 baje post kar rahe ho. Why are you so available that people start trolling you?” he quips.

Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 11, 2020)

The film industry stands divided once again as the debates around insider vs outsider and nepotism rage on. But for someone like Krushna Abhishek, who is also actor Govinda’s nephew, these discussions are rather unfounded.

He tells us, “Everyone has to struggle on their own. Yes, I am Govinda’s nephew. But woh nahi aate mere liye kaam karne, mujhe khud kaam karna padta hai. Maybe he will get me work, but after that it’s all about talent. Nepotism has no role in it.”

The 37-year-old also opines that family background can never decide the fate of an actor. “It doesn’t matter which film family you belong to. I am from a film family; I should have been in Varun Dhawan’s (actor) position. Varun also probably thinks he should be in some other position. [But] everyone has their own journey and struggle,” he explains.

All these discussions gained momentum after the passing of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, which saw a spurt in voices calling out the bigwigs of the industry for creating an uncomfortable climate for the outsiders. “These people, who are talking about such things, are the people who are at home and not doing any work,” retorts Abhishek, while adding that Rajput’s death was a personal loss for him.

“I cried so much when I got the news. He was my friend, we both were part of a dance reality show. It is so sad because he was so bright. But he set a very wrong example by what he did. So many youngsters looked up to him and his wonderful journey. I can only wish that they don’t lose hope about chasing their dreams,” he says.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; February 11, 2019)

After doing Comedy Circus for eight years, Krushna Abhishek emerged as the face of several shows like Comedy Nights Bachao (2015-2017), Comedy Nights Live (2016) and The Drama Company (2017-2018). At one point, he was considered the alternative to Kapil Sharma. So much so that each time the latter shut down his show, it was the Bol Bachchan actor, who came to the rescue with his brand of comedy. But today, the once arch-rivals are sharing screen space and creating a laugh riot on The Kapil Sharma Show. Krushna, who plays Sapna, owner of a beauty parlour in it, talks to us about his equation with the popular stand-up comedian, working with him and changing his style of comedy.

You and Kapil Sharma were arch-rivals at one point. So, what prompted you to be a part of his show?
I didn’t have any personal rivalry with him. Even in my interviews, I would say that. Whatever rivalry we had was in connection with the ratings of our shows. Both of us wanted our shows to be the best and rank high on the charts. Whatever he or I may have said at that time, when my father passed away, he immediately called me. Mera personal equation Kapil ke saath kabhi kharab nahi tha. We have always been respectful of each other. When I was offered The Kapil Sharma Show, I thought Bharti (Singh) bhi hai saath mein, so it will be good. The three of us had done Comedy Circus together and this would be a reunion. I hadn’t met Kapil for a long time, but first meeting mein hi the ice was broken.

From the first episode, the two of you have been raising laughs taking digs at each other...
Yes, the show is doing fantastic and it’s wonderful coming back with him and Bharti. Kapil works so hard. I have seen that during the rehearsals, he works on everything not just his entries, but even ours. Jaate jaate do-teen punches bhi de jaata hai. This is my genuine feedback. I don’t have to butter him up. We share a good equation. We also improvise a lot on stage, and make fun of ourselves —  khud ki taang kheench lete hain. For instance, in the first episode we played on our alleged rivalry by saying ‘Main paise ke liye aaya (on Kapil’s show), izzat toh jaati jaati rehti hai’. In a recent episode, I said, ‘Maine tere liye apna poora character badla’. The best thing about Kapil is that when I come on stage, he stands up and gives me the chair to sit. He gives so much respect and space, I didn’t know this about him.

There is a marked difference in the way you are doing comedy on this show. Is that deliberate?
Yes, my style of comedy was very different — loud, and over-the-top. But abhi thehraav ke saath karta hoon. The credit goes to Bharat Kukreti (content director), Kapil and writer Vankush. During the rehearsals and on stage, Kapil tells me to do subdued comedy. Kisi aur ke territory mein jaake apna style change karna is extremely challenging. For me, the most important thing was acceptance from the audience and I am happy they are appreciating it.

From Comedy Circus to The Kapil Sharma Show, what changes have you seen in Kapil?
When I started out with Comedy Circus, I was an actor, not a stand-up comedian. My partner Sudesh ji (Lehri) used to teach me. Kapil and I were competitors on that show, but I would learn looking at him. They are the real stand-ups. Kapil has grown a lot, when I watch him ‘live’, he is fantastic. He is so good at doing things impromptu, interacting with the audience, interviewing the celebrities, woh uski power hai. So many times Kapil and I burst out laughing on the stage, especially when we play KBC where he plays this character Rajesh Arora. He is a wonderful guy. When Rohit Shetty came on the show, he said, there is nobody better than Krushna and Kapil in comedy and that was the biggest compliment.

Didn’t you want to have your own show at one point?
Never. I am an actor and my dream is different. I want to do a very good comedy film with Govinda and me as the lead and be a part of Bol Bachchan 2. Main stand-up comedy karne aaya hi nahin tha. I am enjoying my space.

Which was your best episode so far?
I enjoyed the episode when Ajay Devgn had come to promote Total Dhamaal. We really did dhamaal and while going, Ajay told me he wants to cast me in his next!

What next?
I am hosting one of my favourite shows OMG! Yeh Mera India. I have just done the fifth season. Then there is a web series Booo - Sabki Phategi, a horror comedy that I am doing with Tusshar and Mallika Sherawat. Farhad (Samji), who directed me in Entertainment (2014), is helming the series and it is great fun.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; June 22, 2018)

In the past, Krushna Abhishek has always tried to mend ties with Govinda and his family, but this time around, he is in no mood for a patch-up. He says, “Sunita mami has influenced the family to an extent that now even their children (Tina and Yashvardhan) don’t talk to us.” Talking about their fallout two years ago, he says, “Chi Chi mama was upset when during an episode of my comedy show, I said, ‘Main koi chhota aadmi nahi hoon, maine Govinda ko mama rakha hua hai’. I can’t fathom why they take humour so seriously. I am proud of my mama and I have apologised to him and his family time and again, but to no avail.”

Although a lot has been said regarding Krushna using Govinda’s name to make his career, he strongly refutes it. “Has he launched me? Does he perform on my behalf for me? Then I would have been indebted to him for life.”

Krushna adds, “If they feel that I have cashed in on his name to make a career, then mama has several nieces and nephews. Where are they? It’s appalling to see them even make such claims. Yes, there is no denying the fact that he has helped me on the personal front when I was young. He has even given me money. But I have made a career through sheer hard work. I feel bad, especially because I have always loved and respected them. I have stayed in their house for six years and Sunita mami has treated me like her own child. However, I am fine if things are not resolved now. They know what they mean to me and nothing can change that.”

While Sunita says they are upset about Kashmera’s social media post after their appearance on Krushna’s show The Drama Company, Krushna recalls, “Sunita mami and Kashmera have not been on talking terms for years. The very night they came on my show, mami called up Kashmera and brought up a previous incident and started scolding her. The next day, she sent me a text message asking about Kashmera’s social media post. In reality, Kashmera’s post was directed at my sister Arti (Singh). Mami mistook it for Chi Chi mama and herself. I tried to explain to her that it wasn’t about them. How can we write anything against them? Hamari koi aukaat hai jo hum unke liye kuchh bole? Govinda is a superstar. I told Kashmera to delete the post and apologise to mami even though it wasn’t meant for her. But they just wouldn’t budge. Thereafter, I realised that there was no point trying to patch up.”

Despite the tension, Krushna says that he invited Govinda and his family for his twins’ birthday party a few weeks ago. “They were in London at the time, but I feel they planned their trip in a way that they could skip the birthday party. Forget that, they didn’t even come to see Rayaan (one of his twins) when he was battling for his life in the hospital. I was hurt. My mother literally brought up mama, a fact even he acknowledges. Does it then not deem fit for him to visit my kids?” Krushna concludes.

Kashmera Shah and Krushna Abhishek recount their struggle to become parents, and for the first time, share pics of their twin boys — Rayaan and Krishaang — with BT
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; May 7, 2018)

The road to parenthood was not easy for Kashmera Shah and Krushna Abhishek. But three years of struggle feels like nothing when one sees their be aming faces every time they talk about their twins Rayaan and Krishaang. The couple secretly tied the knot in 2012, but didn’t want a child immediately since they were focussed on their careers. However, all attempts to conceive naturally failed when they started planning for a child in late 2014. Finally, they opted for In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). Says Kashmera, “Everything was fine with us, but we lead such stressful lives that it often becomes a matter of luck. When Krushna’s dad fell ill, we put the plan on hold for six months. It was a difficult time for us. I went through five (ovum) pick-ups and three (embryo) transfers, but all in vain.”

The actress adds, “In a span of 10 days, I went from size two to eight. I didn’t give it a break and kept trying every month, thereby pumping myself with injections, as I didn’t have the time or luxury to wait. After all, I was not in my 20s anymore. Also, it’s a little dangerous to have a kid when you are older. It took us 13 attempts and two years of constant pain and no work to have our babies. Some people have to go through the struggle and maybe, God wanted to test us.”

The couple even toyed with the idea of adoption. “It’s harmful to torture your body beyond a point,” says the actress, adding, “It was not easy to look pregnant and not be pregnant, as these injections tend to make you bloated. We then decided that if everything failed, we would adopt a girl child.”

But when their doctor as well as Krushna’s cousins Vinay and Rishaab suggested surrogacy, the couple decided to give it a thought. “My doctor called to tell me to decide about the next move as there were chances of a ban on surrogacy in India. So, we signed the papers and it happened,” reveals Kashmera. “When an actress opts for surrogacy, people think that we are figure-conscious. But that’s not true. I know how hard it was for me. I empathise with women who are in this profession, as you don’t tend to marry or have kids early usually,” she adds.

Krushna finds a connection between his father and his sons as he recalls how much his father, who was suffering from cancer, wished to see his grandchild. “Coincidentally, four days before he passed away, my father told me that he would return to us as my son. The twins were conceived on the 14th day of his demise. Krishaang reminds me of my dad because he is always smiling.”

However, their anguish was far from over, as the elder twin (Rayaan) fought for his life in the hospital for six weeks. Thus, the couple delayed the announcement of their kids’ arrival. They were extremely anxious and cautious and would check on him every five minutes to make sure he was breathing normally. “The first month was tough. We had no support from the family, barring Ragini’s (cousin Ragini Khanna) mother and my sister Arti (Singh),” says Krushna.

The couple do not believe in making a fuss over their children and want to give them a normal childhood, like the way they themselves were brought up. However, they do believe that the kids need to get used to one parent being around them. “I am not a helicopter mother. I don’t want to bring them up as spoilt, pampered kids. We don’t want them to take our status for granted. They will have their own struggles. I just want to teach them to be good to women, which is a huge responsibility, especially when you are parents to boys in current times,” says Kashmera.

The conversation ends on a high note, with the kids jiggling as their mom sings Lag Di Punjaban Lag Di Patola to them. “That’s their favourite song. Ek gaayak hai aur ek naayak hai,” quips the proud mommy.

Sunil Grover, whose show was to replace his, was on the finale of a dance show on a rival channel
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 25, 2017)

Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; July 13, 2017)

Actor-comedian Krushna Abhishek and Kashmera Shah became proud parents to twin boys through surrogacy in May. Speaking to mid-day, the newly-turned father reveals that it was Salman Khan who nudged him towards starting a family. “Many people counselled me about having babies, one of them was Salman,” says the comedian, before adding, “Salman was one of the first stars I told about my twins. He was extremely happy for us.”

Abhishek describes fatherhood as “one of the best feelings in the world”. “When I first saw the twins, I didn’t know how to react. I was scared to pick them up.”

Ask him if fatherhood has changed him and he says, “I’ve become more responsible. I’ve never been an actor who relies on his producers. I’ve always been in such a position that I can walk off anytime. I never had the fear of a show not working or being ousted from it. But after having kids, I get that feeling. I’m no longer as carefree, there is a fear that keeps me in check.”

Has he decided on the names for the babies? “We thought one of the names could be Krishaan, but we’ve not finalised it yet.”

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; July 13, 2017)

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; May 30, 2017)

Salman Khan and Sohail Khan have kickstarted the promotions for their upcoming film Tubelight and are doing the rounds of TV shows. They recently shot for India Banega Manch hosted by Krushna Abhishek. The episode was shot at Bandra Fort. Says Krushna, “Salman is the only star who supported me. He was the first star to come on Comedy Nights Bachao when it started and also the first star to visit Comedy Nights Live when I took over from Kapil (Sharma). He is a man with a great heart. Once he came on the sets just because he was shooting nearby and that was when Katrina was on the show. And, now he has come on my new show.”

To make the episode interesting, Krushna played a game Sach Ka Tubelight on the lines of Sach Ka Samna. He asked the superstar questions like whether he had ever been to Bandstand and whether for any mistake of his, Sohail had to face the wrath of their father Salim Khan, etc. “I have asked him personal questions and he has answered them all,” says Krushna.

Incidentally, the Marathi song Gacchi that Salman has sung for FU (Friendship Unlimited) is picturised on Krushna’s wife Kashmera! “When Salman had come for the shoot of my show, Kashmera was on the sets. He told her after this song, she will get more shows. He always wants others to prosper,” says Krushna, who turns a year older today. Ask him what he plans to do on his birthday and he says he is waiting for a surprise from his wife and sister.

Tannishtha Chatterjee was roasted on Comedy Nights Bachao Taaza and subjected to remarks on her skin colour. Her outrage against the comments has sparked off a debate on this age-old issue once again. Here's what the actress and host Krushna Abhishek had to say about the controversy...
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; September 30, 2016)

Krushna Abhishek reacts to the actress being upset at the remarks made on Comedy Nights Bachao Taaza and storming off the sets
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 29, 2016)


We spoke to Krushna Abhishek who is one of the hosts of the show to ask what went wrong. “Tannishtha is going overboard. She is doing this for publicity. We always meet the actors before they come on the show. I had asked her if she had seen the show before and if she was familiar with our (roast) concept. She said she hadn’t seen the show. She hadn’t watched even AIB Roast. If she didn’t know what it was, she shouldn’t have come on the show. But she came with Radhika Apte and Leena Yadav to promote Parched. We gave more importance to Radhika who is a bigger star. That must have been a problem for Tannishtha, who is known for her festival films.”

But didn’t they make comments on her complexion? “I didn’t say anything and I don’t know who said it. In any case, it is a roast format aur hamne wahi masti ki jo hamesha karte hai. In fact, we have toned it down from what it was earlier. Initially, she was enjoying it, but after a while she told us she doesn’t like this kind of mass humour. However, neither Radhika nor Leena had any problems with our comments. In fact, they were laughing and while going both Radhika and Leena hugged me and danced with me.”

As for her walking away from the show, that’s not true, says Krushna. “After three acts, we realised that she was not enjoying the show at all. We thought she will spoil the show, so it was mine and director Nikul Desai’s decision that we will send them because we had finished doing their film’s (Parched) integration with the show.”

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.

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."