Showing posts with label Sunil Pal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sunil Pal. Show all posts
Even Shah Rukh Khan becomes the butt of jokes on comedy shows-Sunil Pal
10:07 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 5, 2026)
One of the most unexpected team-ups in the Indian comedy scene happened recently on The Great Indian Kapil Show when comedians Samay Raina and Sunil Pal came face-to-face. The episode sparked online buzz with many feeling that the veteran comic was called in to be humiliated. However, Sunil does not feel so.
“Main usko humiliation nahin maanta hoon kyunki woh comedy show hain. Koi mann mutaav nahin hai. People will make jokes at each other. I made punchlines at him, and he did the same. Even Shah Rukh Khan (actor) becomes the butt of jokes on such a show, so mujhe koi shikayat nahin hain.”
Sunil, who has earlier publicly criticised the young stand-up comic over his style of “abusive” comedy, shares that he had been informed beforehand about Samay’s presence in the show.
He says, “I don’t have a personal beef with anyone. It’s just a difference in opinion with not just Samay but all Gen-Z comedians who use abuses.”
He adds, “Audience tak acchi cheezein pahuchni chahiye kyunki woh unka haq hai, par ghum firkar, wahi gaali galauch jata hain aur usse mera dil dukhta hai. It’s only my request to all young comics to utilise the access that they have well.”
A documentary on Latent controversy?
YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, in the behind-the-scenes vlog of the same episode of the show, hinted at a documentary on India’s Got Latent controversy: “We are releasing a very detailed Latent documentary next month. Everything that happened day by day has been recorded.”
UP Police announce Rs. 25,000 reward for accused in Sunil Pal, Mushtaq Khan abductions
8:14 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (December 19, 2024)
The Meerut Police in Uttar Pradesh has announced a reward of Rs. 25,000 for information on Lavi Pal, the main accused in the abductions of comedian Sunil Pal and actor Mushtaq Khan.
Both Sunil and Mushtaq were invited in separate incidents under the guise of performing and attending an event. Both were taken to Bijnor on the outskirts of Delhi, and the kidnappers tortured them before extorting lakhs out of them. While Sunil was released by the kidnappers, Mushtaq managed to escape and seek help from locals.
Following this development, Sunil thanked the police in a video on his Instagram handle.
He says, “Namaskar doston, main hun Sunil Pal. Jaisa ki saara desh jaanta hai ki 2 December ko mere saath apharan kidnapping ki durghatna UP Meerut ke aas pass hui thi, aapne suna hoga. Lekin main bahut dhanyawad karna chahunga humaare Yogi sarkar ko, UP sarkar ko jinke nirdeshan mein yahan ke Meerut police ne, UP police ne badhe bahaduri se is case ka saamna kiya aur jitne apradhi hain, unke upar sakht se sakht karyawaayi ki.”
Police had earlier conducted raids to nab Lalvi and five members of his gang have been arrested so far.
Sunil Pal's abduction staged? Audio clip raises publicity stunt doubts
8:23 AM
Krishna Chaudhary & Harveer Dabas (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 11, 2024)
Meerut/Bijnor: A leaked audio clip has raised questions about comedian Sunil Pal's alleged abduction in Meerut last week. In an FIR filed in Mumbai's Santa Cruz police station last week, Pal said he was kidnapped and released after paying a ransom of Rs 7.5 lakh. While the new audio clip suggests the incident may have been a staged publicity stunt, Pal has denied the allegations.
The minute-long audio, confirmed as genuine though edited and manipulated by Pal to TOI, features a voice identified as one of the abductors, Lavi Pal, telling him, "We did whatever you asked us to do, and now you've filed an FIR against us." Pal is heard responding, "The police approached my wife after the matter surfaced; neither she nor I went to them. Don't worry, everything will be managed." Pal then advises the alleged abductors not to meet him, saying, "Things will worsen if you do."
Pal insisted he was coerced into making the statements and claimed the conversation was manipulated to make him appear complicit. Speaking to TOI, he said, "The perpetrators cleverly forced me to say things that portrayed them as innocent and then edited the audio before circulating it. I was threatened during the call and, under duress, said what they wanted me to. I just wanted to end the conversation as they repeatedly pressured me to meet them. I was unsure how to respond, so I answered according to their prompts. They called me 17 more times after I hung up. They have edited the audio to fit their narrative. If this was staged, why didn't they include the entire conversation?" he questioned.
Meanwhile, Meerut police said the suspects — Lavi Pal and Arjun Karanwal, both from Bijnor — are on the run. CCTV footage reportedly shows them buying gold jewellery with the ransom money. Bijnor (City) SP Sanjeev Vajpayee said, "Meerut and Bijnor police are working together on the case." A police officer privy to the case said six individuals have been detained for questioning, a claim Vajpayee did not confirm or deny.
Pal recounted that he was lured to Meerut last Monday under the pretext of performing at a comedy show and then abducted by five men. "They said they were unemployed and demanded Rs 20 lakh, but eventually settled for Rs 7.5 lakh. They promised to return the money once they found jobs. I was held hostage for 24 hours and released the next day. The kidnappers also gave me Rs 20,000 to travel back to Mumbai."
It was the worst 24 hours of my life; paid Rs. 8 lakh for my freedom-Sunil Pal
3:42 PM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (December 6, 2024)
Mumbai: Santacruz police recorded a statement from comedian Sunil Pal, who claimed that he was abducted in Uttarakhand and later released after a ransom was paid. No FIR has been registered so far. On Tuesday, Pal’s wife approached the Santacruz police station to lodge a missing person’s complaint but eventually did not register the complaint.
Pal had gone to Uttarakhand to perform shows. Late on Tuesday, police were able to contact Pal, and he confirmed that he was on his way back to Mumbai. In a video byte to media persons on Wednesday, Pal said he was abducted from Uttarakhand and a ransom was demanded from him. He called his friends and arranged for the payment to be made. Police are verifying the facts.
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Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 6, 2024)
Comedian-actor Sunil Pal, known for his stint on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, claims that he endured a harrowing ordeal that has left him scarred. On his way to Haridwar, Uttarakhand, for a private event, Pal says he was abducted, with kidnappers demanding a ransom of Rs. 20 lakh. After tense negotiations, Pal alleges that he secured his release by paying around Rs. 8 lakh.
Back home in Mumbai, Pal is still grappling with the traumatic experience and considering whether to pursue legal action against his abductors. Recalling the terrifying ordeal, Pal tells us, “It was a full-fledged kidnapping, and it started when I got an invite for an event on December 2 in Haridwar.”
Pal explains that he had been invited to perform at a private birthday party at a five-star hotel. “They paid 50% in advance and sent a car for pick up at the airport. I was shifted to another vehicle after one hour. That was the point when my nightmare started. I was told that they had kidnapped me, blindfolded me and taken me to a place. They said they had weapons, stressing that my life was in danger. There were 7-8 people, some drunk, shouting at me,” he recalls.
The kidnappers initially demanded Rs. 20 lakh, according to Pal, but after he explained that he could not meet the amount, they lowered it to Rs. 10 lakh. “I reached out to friends in Mumbai for help and managed to raise around Rs. 7.5-8 lakh for my freedom,” the comedian tells us. He says that he was later abandoned on the Delhi-Meerut road with just Rs. 20,000 to help him return home.
The incident came to light when Pal’s wife, Sarita, contacted the Mumbai police on Tuesday after learning about his situation from one of his friends. Pal admits, “My family panicked and reached out to the police. Otherwise, I was planning not to tell anyone.”
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3 days on, FIR filed in comedian Sunil Pal’s UP abduction case
Nitasha Natu (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 8, 2024)
Mumbai: Three days after stand-up comedian Sunil Pal's mysterious disappearance and subsequent reappearance, the Santacruz police registered an FIR of extortion and abduction against four to five unknown persons on Friday. The case was transferred to Lal Kurti police station in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, in whose jurisdiction the offence is alleged to have occurred.
On Tuesday, Pal's wife approached the Santacruz police station to report her husband missing. She said Pal left for Haridwar to perform at an event but lost contact with her. She also told the police about Pal's friends received messages asking for money. Later the same night, the police were able to touch base with Pal over the phone. He said he was boarding a flight to Mumbai from Delhi. He reached the city on Wednesday and as a result, no police complaint was lodged. Pal recorded his statement with the Santacruz police thereafter.
Pal told the police that a car was to pick him up and take him to the event at Haridwar, but the vehicle left him at a dhaba where he was bundled into another vehicle. He was then blindfolded and driven to a location where he was allegedly confined.
Pal claimed the abductors were demanding a ransom of Rs 20 lakh for his release. He was threatened with dire consequences if he failed to pay up. When Pal told them that he was not carrying that kind of money, the abductors told him to make arrangements through his friends. Pal claimed he paid Rs 7.5 lakh to the abductors, after which he was dropped back in a car to Meerut. He then reached Delhi and returned to Mumbai by flight.
After returning to Mumbai, Pal told TV news channels, "I did not want anyone — not even my family — to find out about my abduction. It was only after my wife visited the Santacruz police station that everyone learnt of it."
Lost and found: Sunil Pal heads home
10:43 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (December 5, 2024)
Comedian-actor Sunil Pal sparked alarm on Tuesday when he went missing for several hours, leaving his family in distress and his fans deeply concerned. As per reports, his wife, Sarita Pal, revealed that his phone was unreachable for hours, prompting her to approach the Santacruz police station in Mumbai for assistance.
Fortunately, the situation resolved later that evening when Sunil contacted his family, informing them he was safe and on his way home. By late Tuesday night, he had reunited with his loved ones. However, the mystery surrounding his disappearance continues.
According to a report by ETimes, Sarita claimed the comedian-actor was kidnapped and later rescued, though this remains unverified till the time of us going to press. The police are now set to question Sunil to ascertain the details of the incident
Shah Rukh Khan would come to slums at night to meet his staff’s family-Sunil Pal
8:21 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (June 7, 2024)
Comedian-actor Sunil Pal unearthed from the memory bank a heartwarming gesture that actor Shah Rukh Khan used to extend to his staff member’s family, sans entourage or security.
“Shah Rukh’s boy Subhash — he is no more — used to live in the slum where I also used to live on rent. SRK used to visit his house once every four to six months. If it was his kid’s birthday or if there was another occasion,” Pal told Bollywood Bubble, adding, “He would come after 12 or 1 in the night, when it was dark. He would come silently, stay for 10-15 minutes and leave.”
Pal, who has never shared screen space with Khan even though the two appeared in cameos in Krazzy 4 (2008), went on to recall a memorable meeting with the actor in Singapore.
“I had gone for a tour to Singapore. A show was being held in a stadium there and I remember, after the event, Shah Rukh introduced every artiste, including me, to the audience. (Choreographer) Ganesh Hegde, who was also present, told me to come to the green room and perform in front of SRK. He entered the room with a drink and cigarette in his hand, and I started mimicking his popular dialogues in front of him,” he shared.
Bollywood personalities and colleagues more the demise of Raju Srivastava
8:24 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; September 22, 2022)
Actor-comedian Raju Srivastava passed away on Wednesday due to a cardiac arrest, after battling for life for the past one-and-a-half months. The actor was admitted to AIIMS in Delhi after he suffered a cardiac arrest in August while he was working out at a gym. He was on a ventilator since then.
His wife Shikha Srivastava, who was inconsolable, said, “I am not able to talk right now. What can I say now? He fought very hard, I was really hoping and praying that he would come out of this. But, that did not happen. All I can say is that he was a true fighter.”
Raju Srivastava’s nephew, Kushal Srivastava, and family friend Dr Aneel Murarka had been visiting him at AIIMS regularly. Kushal said, “He passed away due to a second cardiac arrest. We were confident till Tuesday that he would recover because he he had battling it for so long.”
Dr Aneel Morarka added, “Raju bhai and I were friends since college days and I have known him for more than 37 years. Both of us struggled and we never knew that we would reach till here. Raju bhai lived a life we are proud of and I pray that he finds peace.”
Srivastava started his career with small roles in films, like Maine Pyar Kiya, Baazigar, Bombay to Goa and Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya. He became a household name after participating in the comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. He was also a part of Bigg Boss 3.
HE WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF COUNTLESS PEOPLE: NARENDRA MODI
Raju Srivastava brightened our lives with laughter, humour and positivity. He leaves us too soon but he will continue to live in the hearts of countless people thanks to his rich work over the years. His demise is saddening. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.
HE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ELEVATING THE LEVEL OF COMEDY IN INDIA: KRUSHNA ABHISHEK
It’s really sad. I had known Raju bhai for a long time. My first film as an assistant director featured him as an actor. Amongst other responsibilities, my job was to get him from his vanity van to the set. So, I worked and interacted with him right from my days of struggle. With him around, it was always a laugh riot. Our last meeting was a few days before he suffered a heart attack. I had gone to meet someone on the set of The Kapil Sharma Show for my agreement. He was performing for another comedy show then. I watched him perform backstage and I remember telling those around me ki Raju bhai ki energy dekho kitni kamaal hai. Later, I met him on stage, too. Comedy ki ek golden era unhone dekhi hai and he has been instrumental in elevating the level of comedy in India.
THANKFUL THAT RAJU JI WAS IN MY LIFE: KAILASH KHER
Raju ji was a dear friend, I can say he was family. I have been in touch with them for the past two months, and I was sure he would recover and come back to us. Par yeh ho na saka. Both of us started our careers together. He made his own path and reached great heights without any support. He was also one of those actor-comedians who did all kinds of odd jobs in his early struggling days to make it big in life. I am thankful to God that Raju ji was in my life. Every year we hosted an event where we used to promote new talent, and Raju ji became a part of it as he also believed that new talent needs to be encouraged.
HE WAS VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT HIS HEALTH: SUGANDHA MISHRA
We worked on many shows together and I will remember him as a person who would always have a smile on his face, no matter what the circumstances. In 2016, we both went on a world tour for our shows, and at that time, I got a chance to know him on a personal level. He was humble, simple and a nice person. I saw that he was very particular about his health and fitness. While I used to sleep in the mornings, he would wake up early and go for a swim and to the gym in the hotel. It’s extremely saddening to know that Raju ji is no more. I always felt that he would recover.
YOU WILL BE MISSED MY BROTHER: RAJPAL YADAV
I have no words to describe this loss. You have left us all too soon. You will be missed my brother. I just can’t believe this.
WILL MISS YOU RAJU BHAI: KIKU SHARDA
Unbelievable!! Huge loss for the country, a very fine artist, a great human being and a beautiful soul. Will miss you Raju bhai.
— With inputs from Neha Maheshwri and Hasti Doshi
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Peers recall fond memories of ‘Laughter King’, late actor-comedian Raju Srivastava
Syeda Eba Fatima (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 22, 2022)
- Born as Satya Prakash Srivastava on December 25 1963 in Kanpur, Raju Srivastava was inclined towards mimicry ever since he was a child.
- Having struggled to make ends meet when he first came to Mumbai, Srivastava drove an auto, did cricket commentary, small comedy acts and even took up parts in films.
- In 2005, he was crowned The King of Comedy and was named second runner-up in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. Gajodhar Bhaiya, a funny character that he created, is still etched in fans’ minds.
- He and his wife, Shikha, appeared on the dance reality show Nach Baliye in 2013. Srivastava was also active in politics and an integral part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
- In 2019, he was appointed the chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Film Development Council and actively worked to set up a film city in UP.
He would infuse life into inanimate objects: Ahsaan Qureshi
Raju bhaiya and I have had a relationship of over 17 years. We’ve been through a lot together. What I admire about him is how he would infuse life into inanimate objects, like a sofa or a fan, etc. His comedy was clean, never vulgar. These are the things which will keep him alive among us.
We were on very cordial terms, and we’d often visit each other’s houses. Whenever he prepared a new skit, he would perform it for me and ask if the punches are landing.
Raju bhaiya gareebon ki madad karte the. The moment he would get to know that a comedian is struggling or hasn’t been able to pay rent for months, he would immediately help, because he himself had struggled at one point.
Amitabh Bachchan ji ka jab Coolie ke set pe accident hua tha, poore desh ne unke liye dua ki thi. I saw the same happen with Raju, who himself had come to Mumbai as a young Amitabh, dancing and talking like him. The entire country prayed for his recovery. The last time we met, I told him we should make another film like Bombay to Goa, which had all of us comedians. He agreed, and we also decided to shoot in Uttar Pradesh. Unfortunately, this dream of his remains unfulfilled.
Hum juniors ko sambhala hai unhone: Sunil Pal
How do I process this kind of news? I am extremely sad, it is a big loss for the world of comedy. Aisa lag raha hai ki koi abhi aayega aur kahega yeh jhoothi khabar hai ki Raju bhaiya nahin rahe. He always had a smile on his face. Now, he is quiet.
Raju was connected to every Indian household in some way, right from our Laughter Challenge days. I never imagined a day like this would ever come.
I was connected to him constantly. We worked together, did shows, films, etc. His life was such an inspiration. I remember looking up to him in my early days. He used to help us a lot, support us in every possible way. Hum juniors ko sambhala hai unhone.
I tried to go and see him when he was admitted in the Delhi hospital, but bhabhi ji (Srivastava’s wife) would tell us the security there is very tight, so it was better if everyone stayed where they are.
As told to Rishabh Suri
Raju Srivastava is a fighter and will come back to be amongst all of us, says wife Shikha Srivastava
8:31 AM
While reports quoted hospital sources as saying the actor-comedian was ‘critical and had suffered brain damage’, his wife Shikha Srivastava says ‘doctors are doing their best’
PTI | With inputs from Hasti Doshi (BOMBAY TIMES; August 20, 2022)
Raju Srivastava is a “fighter and will come back to be amongst all of us”, the popular actor-comedian’s wife Shikha Srivastava said on Thursday. The 58-year-old was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi after he suffered a heart attack on August 10. He underwent an angioplasty the same day and has been on a ventilator since then.
Shikha said her husband is “stable” and the doctors are treating him well. She requested the media and fans to not spread rumours. “It affects our morale. We do not want negative energy, we need positivity. Please pray for his speedy recovery and he will be back soon. Doctors are giving their best and Raju ji is supporting them, he is fighting,” she added.
Sunil Pal, who is a close friend of Raju and has been in touch with his family, spoke to us about his health condition on Thursday, saying, “I spoke to Raju’s nephew Kushal and I have got to know that Raju’s brain is not functioning. Doctors are trying their best.”
A news agency quoted sources saying that Srivastava had suffered brain damage. “He continues to be on life support and his health condition is critical. He has suffered brain damage. He has not yet gained consciousness,” a source told the agency.
There were no further updates at the time of going to press.
Comedian Sunil Pal lashes out at All India Bakchod
7:56 AM
Subhash K Jha (DNA; September 9, 2017)
Sunil Pal is on a warpath against stand up comics. He disparagingly calls them ‘YouTube comedians’ and considers it the denigration of comedy. His main target is the group of outspoken AIB people, who he feels would be the main beneficiary of the closure of The Kapil Sharma Show.
Says Sunil emotionally, “For what Kapil did to stand-up comedy and comedy as a genre in India, I am a fan. Not a word of vulgarity could escape Kapil’s lips. He made entire families come together for laughter. And now because his show is in trouble, guess who is the happiest? The YouTube comedians who will now bring their filth to Indian television.”
Sunil Pal was horrified when he received a call inviting him for The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. “I was told that members of the All India Bakchod would be the judges on the show, and would I be interested in performing. Then they asked me about my experience. Can you imagine? They don’t know that I’ve been doing stand-up comedy for decades now! Do I want to be a part of shows on television being taken over by YouTube comedians whose names families can’t say, let alone watch together?”
Sunil lashes out at AIB’s infamous roast (AIB Knockout) where Karan Johar, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor and a host of top Bollywood names had participated. “Their antics on stage that evening would never be forgotten. They ‘roasted’ stand-up comedy that evening. I’ve nothing against homosexuals or any other community of people. But when you go on stage and indulge in cheap lines and action you bring down the name of your community.”
Lashing out at Karan Johar, Sunil says, “Why doesn’t he promote good clean comedy instead of associating with YouTube comedians like AIB who represent maybe 10 per cent of the youth who talk in English and do their comic act in English, so they represent the so-called elite.”
Not that Sunil has any problem with English-speaking elitist comedy. “But why do they have to indulge in so much vulgarity? Do your comedy in English by all means. But why can’t you keep it clean like Charlie Chaplin or Mr Bean?”
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