Showing posts with label Tanmay Bhat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tanmay Bhat. Show all posts
If I don’t shake up things and see what is there for me, I will get stuck-Sumukhi Suresh
8:02 AM
Sumukhi Suresh on the need to experiment beyond the comedy circuit with reality show ‘Chhoriyan Chali Gaon’
Letty Mariam Abraham (MID-DAY; August 12, 2025)
One would never expect stand-up comedian Sumukhi Suresh to sign up for a Hindi reality show. But she did. So, we caught up with her right before she left on this social experiment to know why. After The Royals, the comedian — who also wrote Pushpavalli (2017–2020) and CTRL (2024) — says she was keen to shake up her life. And Chhoriyan Chali Gaon made her “nervous.” In conversation with mid-day, Suresh talks about her daring decision, her plans to catch the heart of a gaon ka chhora, and her next script. Excerpts from the interview.
Your career trajectory is vastly different from your fellow comedians. How did you settle from stand-up to a Hindi reality show?
I’m doing television. Can you believe it? I’m genuinely very excited because it has been so long since I did something new and [something that makes me] nervous. Literally everyone I know has been surprised by my decision. Just a day [before coming on board], I was going through full-blown panic, thinking, what am I doing with my life? While everyone feels I am doing so many things, I don’t register it.
So how long did it take for you to say yes to this?
I said yes instantly. Because honestly, it is time. If I don’t shake up things and see what is there for me, I will get stuck. As stand-up comedians, we are so comfortable bombing and also doing well in our crowd that I don’t know — how can I even reach the next level? A lot of good comedians have done their fair share of things. Like Vir [Das] has done movies, stand-up, then there is Zakir [Khan], who has done his own TV show. Be it Tanmay [Bhat] or [Gursimran] Khamba, they’ve all explored. So, I believe it is time to see what is out there for me to understand what kind of artiste I am.
How do you decide that this is your next move?
This scared me the most. Look at all the contestants, everyone is so comfortable in their skin here and my skin is the only different one here. So, I thought of trying it. Even if I fail, it’s fine. But I want to make sure that I do it well and see if my personality can be something that is interesting to watch.
So are you prepared to give up the comforts of the city and bear the heat?
So yes, I know the bathroom woes are going to be raw, and I am scared. I haven’t carried toilet paper like others — guess I will take someone’s help. I don’t think too much. I will manage with the Indian washroom or whatever there is. I have been doing lots of squats in the gym because I didn’t know anything about the show. All I know is that it is going to be physically gruelling. I have been working out, but nothing like the femme fatales like Krishna [Shroff] and Erika [Packard]. Plus, they all know acting. In front of them, I am like a two on 10, but I’ll at least look good. As for the heat, I am from Nagpur, so it’s fine. All my skincare is sorted. I am carrying my clothes, and most importantly, my coffee. That’s the one thing I am attached to and want. This is going to be intense and insane. If I don’t lean into it completely, then I am not doing it for the right reason. It is going to be like the boot camp that refreshes me. Maybe, I’ll come back as a brand new person.
What was the reaction of your circle? Will Tanmay have a special podcast on it?
Everyone’s really startled. But to be fair, some of them have said they will see it and [are sure] it will be entertaining. The comics have been wishing me luck and adding, ‘This is going to be terrible.’ I feel like Tanmay will avoid this. He avoids triggers.
Any plans to capture the heart of a gaon ka chhora?
I already have plans. As everybody knows, I’m as Hoemonal [her stand-up show] as a fox. And I’m not an elitist at all.
What’s next for you?
Well, I’m done with my Hoemonal tour in India. I’ve closed my India tour, but I’m doing shows in the UK and then the US. I’ve written two interesting movies. One is a revenge comedy, the other is a frothy family comedy. I’ve also written dialogues for a movie that he’s [Vikramaditya Motwane] directed already. It’s too good and fun — it is a lust comedy.
India's Got Latent row: Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina face second summons
10:25 AM
Maharashtra cyber police register FIR against YouTube reality show India’s Got Latent over ‘vulgar and obscene’ content
Faizan Khan (MID-DAY; February 12, 2025)
The Maharashtra Cyber Police have registered an FIR against the jury, producers and the person who uploaded the controversial episode of Samay Raina’s show ‘India’s Got Latent’ on YouTube. The FIR comes after allegations that the show promoted obscenity and contained sexually explicit, vulgar discussions. In addition, the Maharashtra Cyber unit has written to YouTube demanding the deletion of all videos related to the show. Maharashtra State Cyber Cell Special IG Yashashvi Yadav has confirmed these developments on the crass joke row.
All the shows uploaded on YouTube by the organisers have been thoroughly scrutinised from the first episode to the last, and FIRs have been registered against everyone who has participated as a judge,” Yadav said while speaking with mid-day. While reviewing Samay Raina’s YouTube channel—the brain behind “India’s Got Latent”—it was noted that all episodes of the show are hosted on his channel. The first episode was uploaded seven months ago, and the latest episode went live just two weeks ago. Currently, the channel features around 12 episodes; however, some, including the controversial one featuring Ranveer Allahbadia, have been removed from YouTube.
On his X account, Kanchan Gupta, senior advisor at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said, “India’s Got Latent episode on YouTube featuring obscene and perverse comments by Ranveer Allahbadia has been blocked following Government of India orders.”
Over the past seven to eight months, the panel of judges on the show has included personalities such as Tanmay Bhatt, Badshah, Poonam Pandey, Urofi Javed, Bharti Singh, Harsh Limbachiya, Tony Kakkar, Rakhi Sawant, Deepak Kalal, Kunal Kamra, among others.
Special Inquiry Team
The Mumbai Police which was also conducting an enquiry have constituted a three-member Special Inquiry Team (SET) to further probe the crass joke row. Each officer has been assigned specific tasks to ensure a comprehensive investigation. The inquiry was triggered following a complaint submitted to the Mumbai police commissioner and the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, naming YouTuber and podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, comedian Samay Raina, influencer Apoorva Makhija, and the show’s organizers. Sources have said that since the cyber cell has already registered an FIR the Mumbai police may stop their enquiry as Maharashtra cyber will probe the matter further.
On Tuesday, a Mumbai police team visited the Habitat venue—where the disputed episode was filmed—to gather evidence including CCTV footage. However, sources revealed that a black curtain was used during the shoot, limiting surveillance coverage. Moreover, the show is recorded by external videographers who leave with the camera equipment and recorded content immediately after the shoot, complicating evidence retrieval. The investigation is being conducted under BNSS Section 173(3)(1) (information in cognizable cases) which mandates that the probe be completed within 14 days before further legal action is taken.
Additional developments
Further complicating the case, the Guwahati Police have sought assistance from their Mumbai counterparts in their own inquiry into the controversy. On Monday, the Assam chief minister stated that an FIR had also been registered against Ashish Chanchlani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Makhija, Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina, and others for promoting obscenity and engaging in sexually explicit discussions during the show. The Guwahati Crime Branch has invoked Sections 79, 95, 294, and 296 of BNS 2023, read in conjunction with Section 67 of the IT Act, 2000; Section 4/7 of the Cinematograph Act, 1952; and Section 4/6 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.
Additionally, a team from Versova Police Station visited Ranveer Allahbadia’s residence in Versova as part of the investigation. Police sources have confirmed that both Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay Raina have been contacted and requested to appear before the investigating officer to present their side of the story.
Women’s commission
The Maharashtra Women’s Commission has formally written to the Mumbai police commissioner. The commission is urging the registration of a case against Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahbadia, Apoorva, and their associates, and is requesting that decisive action be taken to ban the show. The letter, submitted by Maharashtra Women’s Commission Chairperson Roopali Chakankar, alleges that the programme featured insensitive remarks towards women, which demeaned and humiliated them, and has called for the imposition of a ban on the show.
What the FIR says
An FIR has been registered under Sections 79, 196, 296, 299, and 3(5) of the BNS and Section 67 of the IT Act against Ranveer Allahabadia, Ashish Chanchlani, Apoorva Makhija (alias Rebel Kid), as well as against the judges of India’s Got Latent, the show’s producer, and the individual who uploaded it on YouTube. Notably, the FIR does not directly name Samay Raina.
The complainant and his complaint
The complainant is 38-year-old director of a private firm from Santacruz. In his complaint, he has stated: I was watching a YouTube episode of Samay Raina on my mobile phone, While Ranveer Allahabadia, Ashish Chanchalani, Apurva Makhija aka Rebel Kid and others were sitting on the stage as judges, Allahabadia asked the contestants an obscene question. And, after filming the said episode, Raina uploaded it to his own channel. Also, marriage is a religious rite and by insulting religion and religious beliefs, they have acted with intelligence and an evil intention of oppressing religious sentiments.
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Those called for questioning include Siddhant Chaturvedi, Uorfi Javed, Rakhi Sawant, Deepak Kalal, Raftaar and Tanmay Bhat
Faizan Khan (MID-DAY; February 13, 2025)
The intensifying probe into the India’s Got Latent controversy has led Maharashtra Cyber and Mumbai Police to begin issuing summons and recording statements of jury members who have appeared in various episodes of the show. According to the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, summons have been issued to several individuals, including Siddhant Chaturvedi, Uorfi Javed, Rakhi Sawant, Deepak Kalal, Dilin Nair (Raftaar), and Tanmay Bhat. All of them have been called in to record their statements.
The investigation is primarily focused on an episode featuring Ranveer Allahabadia as a jury member, which has come under scrutiny amid the crass joke row.
Special IG of Maharashtra Cyber, Yashasvi Yadav, had earlier stated that all episodes of the show are under scrutiny.
Advocate Gunjan Mangla, representing Raina, appeared before Maharashtra Cyber. Raina’s lawyer informed the police that he is currently abroad and will return on March 17. Through his lawyer, Raina has requested time to appear before the investigating officer. His travel ticket and show schedule have also been submitted to them.
Maharashtra Cyber is reviewing all 18 episodes of the show to identify instances of inappropriate language used by jury members. Action will be taken against those found guilty in the crass joke row. Audience members who attended the show will have their statements recorded as witnesses. Participants who engaged in inappropriate language will also face action. Additionally, Maharashtra Cyber has written to YouTube, requesting the removal of episodes containing offensive content.
In their statements, Apoorva Makheeja and Ashish Chanchlani clarified that the show is not scripted. Judges and participants are encouraged to speak freely, but they do not receive any payment. However, judges are allowed to share the show’s content on their social media platforms. The audience must purchase tickets to attend, and the revenue generated from ticket sales is used as the prize money for the show’s winner.
Samay Raina on X: “Everything happening has been too much for me to handle. I have removed all India’s Got Latent videos from my channel. My only objective was to make people laugh and have a good time. I will fully cooperate with all agencies to ensure their inquiries are conducted fairly.”
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Cops ask podcaster to appear today after he failed to show up on Thursday
Faizan Khan (MID-DAY; February 14, 2025)
The investigation into alleged irregularities in the talent show ‘India’s Got Latent’ has intensified, with both Khar police and the Maharashtra Cyber Cell summoning key individuals linked to the show.
The Khar police has issued a second summons to Ranveer Allahbadia, asking him to appear for questioning. He was initially called to record his statement at 3 pm on Thursday but failed to appear. Following this, police sent a fresh notice directing him to cooperate with the probe and appear today.
Statements from judges
So far, Khar police have recorded statements from seven individuals associated with the show—including Ashish Chanchlani and Apoorva Makheja, Balraj Singh Ghai’s father (owner of The Habitat Studio), Tushar Pujari (chief programmer/production manager) and three other studio employees.
The Maharashtra Cyber Cell has registered an FIR and is reviewing all episodes of India’s Got Latent. Former judge Raghu Ram recently visited the Cyber Police office and recorded his statement. Several others from the show’s judging panel have also been summoned for questioning.
More offenders under harsh glare of #MeToo
8:23 AM
MUMBAI MIRROR (October 9, 2018)
Over 10 days after actress Tanushree Dutta emerged from a selfimposed exile to revive sexual harassment accusations against her Horn OK Pleassss co-star Nana Patekar, the #MeToo wave has taken root in the Hindi film industry.
Sexual assault allegations have also returned to haunt Queen director Vikas Bahl and his associates. Over a year after Mirror broke the story (April 2017) about the filmmaker harassing a crew member in Goa. The survivor has spoken up about the ordeal again. Following the renewed backlash against Bahl and his friends, Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Madhu Mantena, who cofounded the production house Phantom Films’ and are being pulled up for not doing anything to protect the survivor at the time, the quartet has dissolved the company.
In the wake of newer testimonies, most prominent of the lot being from Bahl’s Queen heroine Kangana Ranaut’, who revealed that she too had been subjected to the filmmaker’s predatory behaviour, a major digital platform has reportedly dropped Bahl as the director of an upcoming show. Hrithik Roshan, the lead of his directorial Super 30, released a statement urging the film’s producers to take a ‘hard stand’ against the director. “It is impossible for me to work with any person if he/she is guilty of such grave misconduct.
I am away and have access to sporadic information. I have requested the producers of ‘Super 30’ to take stock of the apparent facts and take a hard stand if need be. This is not to be hushed or brushed under the carpet. All proven offenders must be punished, and all exploited people must be empowered and given strength to speak up,” Hrithik tweeted on Monday.
On Monday, actor-filmmaker Rajat Kapoor took to Twitter to apologise for his actions after a journalist accused him of “lewd” and unprofessional behaviour while a former assistant director revealed that he had harassed her to “shoot a film in an empty apartment” 10 years ago. After another journalist revealed that Kailash Kher had kept his “hand on my thigh,” the singer was quoted as saying that he was disappointed. “Those who know me will know how much I respect humanity, especially women, even more for the ones who work in media since their work is difficult,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, skeletons continue to tumble out on the comedy scene after Twitter user Mahima Kukreja called out comedian and YouTuber Utsav Chakraborty for harassing several women in the last few years. Aravind Subramanian, Jeeveshu Ahluwalia and Kanan Gill have joined the list of offenders as revealed by anonymous accounts by Twitter users. The comedy collective AIB put out a statement on Monday, revealing that its founder and CEO Tanmay Bhat, who has been accused of inaction even after being apprised of Utsav’s behaviour, has “stepped away” from the comedy collective.
“We have been closely monitoring the sequence of events on social media around the allegations against AIB and against our co-founder and CEO Tanmay Bhat. We cannot overlook Tanmay’s role and in light of this he will be stepping away from his association with AIB until further notice,” read a statement from Vidhi Jotwani, AIB’s Head of Human Resources.
Gursimran Khamba, an AIB cofounder who has been accused of sexual misconduct by a former female friend, has also stepped down from his position at the company after issuing a separate statement in which he apologised for his “bad behaviour,” adding, “But I categorically deny any violation of consent”.
We wanted to show that it takes courage to uphold the truth-Nandita Das on Manto promotional video
8:15 AM
Nandita Das on creating promo videos with influencers whose free speech was curtailed
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 14, 2018)
It is no coincidence that director Nandita Das has timed the trailer release of Manto - the biopic on celebrated writer Saadat Hasan Manto who was the flagbearer of freedom of speech - for Independence Day. In keeping with the film's theme, the makers launched a series of videos yesterday featuring several influencers whose free speech has been challenged in the past.
The series features stand-up comic Tanmay Bhat whose AIB roast in 2015 had landed him in legal trouble, Malishka Mendonsa who was sent a notice by the BMC after she poked fun at the civic body's ill-preparedness during monsoon last year, rapper Divine and social media influencer Saloni Chopra, among others.
Das says that the video, which sees the youngsters with tape on their mouth, will emphasise the frustration one feels to have their freedom of speech curtailed. "It was Viacom18's [producer] idea to rope in influencers. Manto is for anyone who believes that truth matters, and seeks courage to uphold it."
Divine in the video, Saloni Chopra and Tanmay Bhat
Kangana Ranaut features in AIB video that tackles gender bias in Bollywood
8:07 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 5, 2017)
Kangana Ranaut and Tanmay Bhat are possibly two of the most politically incorrect people around. When the duo gets together to battle sexism, one can be assured that it will be an unfiltered and unadulterated account. The two recently teamed up for a promotional video for Ranaut’s upcoming film, Simran.
Sources from the set reveal that it’s an uproarious original song, based on a hit ditty, which sees the actor take on sexism in Bollywood. Directed by Bhat, the video stars comedian Varun Thakur.
One to champion gender equality, Ranaut was glad to collaborate with All India Bakchod (AIB) on the subject. Bhat said, “Kangana is a natural at comedy. The best comic actors are always those who are able to take a script and elevate it.”
When asked whether their act will ruffle feathers, he asserted, “Offense is taken, never given. So who gets offended how and when shouldn’t concern the artistes.”
Ranaut remained unavailable for comment.
Swift action against AIB stuns victims of serious cyber crimes who’ve been struggling to lodge complaints
7:58 AM
Gargi Verma & Nazia Sayed (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 15, 2017)
The Cyber Crime Wing of the Mumbai Police on Friday registered a defamation case against All India Bakchod (AIB), less than 24 hours after the group tweeted what the cops are calling an “obscene” picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Mumbai Police took a suo motu cognisance of a tweet to its official handle objecting to the PM being ‘mocked’, and promptly booked stand-up comedian Tanmay Bhat of the AIB for “defamation and publishing/transmitting obscene material in electronic form”.
Noting the alacrity shown by the Cyber Crime Wing in acting against AIB, this newspaper takes the opportunity to draw the Mumbai Police’s attention to the five victims of serious cyber crimes, who are either struggling to get the police to attend or act on their complaints.
Here’s hoping the Mumbai Police spokesperson, DCP Rashmi Karandikar, fast-tracks their complaints too.
‘Threatened with rape, morphed pics posted online’: Amena, Nagpada
THE CASE: Amena writes a blog on fashion. On April 12, she found her twitter handle was flooded with abuses and obscene messages from a particular handle. She said the abuses got worse, she was body-shamed, threatened with rape, and told her morphed pictures will be posted online. “I approached the police on April 12, but was subjected to a lecture on morals,” she said. “The cops told me I was ‘outspoken’, and was made to run between two police stations and the Cyber Crime Wing at the BKC. The complaint was finally registered on April 19,” Amena said.
Status: Three months down the line, no arrests made.
‘Lost Rs 19,900, cops refuse to file complaint’: Sagar Shah, Ghatkopar
THE CASE: Shah, 19, received a call on his mobile phone on January 5. The caller claimed to be an officer with the Greater Bombay Co-operative Bank, and told Shah his debit card would no longer be valid, and demanded details of the card. While Shah refused to divulge the details, he received an SMS saying Rs 19,900 were debited from his account in favour of One97 Communication.
Status: Shah has been repeatedly approaching the Cyber Crime Wing, but the cops haven’t even registered a case.
Prashant Dedhia, Powai
The complaint: On April 11, businessman Prashant Dedhia received several SMSes showing money from his account had been debited. He lost a total of Rs 19,000, and by the time he reached the police station, he had identified the phone number that was used to siphon off money from his bank account. “The cops just had to trace the SIM card, which was active for three days after I was cheated. However, the Cyber Crime Wing told me it can’t register a case as my account details could have been leaked due to my mistake. How ridiculous is that. The cops finally registered a case after five days because the media took it up,” he said.
Status: No arrests made, nor has Dedhia recovered his money.
Vaibhav Kangutkar, Chembur
The complaint: Kangutkar, a media professional, lost Rs 56,000 more than seven months ago, when he found that someone had used his debit card details at an electronics store. “The incident happened on January 1, and I was made to run from pillar to post by the cops. I have no hope of recovering that money,” he said.
Status: No complaint registered
Rizwan Siddiquee, Versova
The complaint: Well-known lawyer Rizwan Siddiquee tried filing a complaint with the Cyber Crime Wing in December 2016 against small-time actor Kamaal R Khan for posting derogatory comments on an actress. “Law being my profession, I am well-versed with the sections, but the Cyber Crime Wing refused to register the complaint citing some reason or the other. Finally, I had to approach the National Commission for Women to get a first information report registered,” he said.
Status: No arrest made.
Johny Lever helped me find my calling-Tanmay Bhat
8:23 AM
Bhat’s first open mic at blueFrog (2011)
Kusumita Das (MID-DAY; January 1, 2017)
Being a chubby kid often meant working harder to not be bullied, or be made fun of. I was always the class clown, and I enjoyed being the one that was liked by all — teachers and students alike. I remember taking part in school debates and realising I enjoyed being on stage a lot. But, I think it all took a definite turn for me, when I first discovered Johny Lever, through one of his stand-up cassettes. I must have been 11 or 12 years at that time. I was so taken in by it all, that I started taping my voice over his lines. I learnt his entire routine by heart and would replicate it word to word. Obsessively. We used to travel around in a family car often, that’s where I would make everyone listen to the jokes, on tape. Then, one Republic Day, there was a building function going on and I asked the organisers to allow me five minutes’ time on stage. I was on. For the next 20 minutes I released all the Johny Lever jokes in me and killed it. You could say, that was my first successful outing.
Through Johnny Lever, I discovered a host of comedians; Jimmy Moses (Johny’s brother) was one them. Much later in life, I saw Rohan Joshi’s G-talk status update one day, that said, “Just did stand-up for the first time in life — ticked off my bucket list”. I couldn’t resist and I hit him up. I was writing for television at that time, but I really wanted to try out a stand-up gig on a big stage. The next week, I was performing at an open mic organised by Vir Das at Blue Frog. I slayed again. Thereon, it was addictive.
I was extremely nervous the first time, as a child, and even now, it’s the same. I think a lot of comics have one thing in common — the need for validation. Although, I also believe that to re-invent yourself, you need to let go of that need (for validation) and do something that scares you from time to time.
I'm the common link between AIB and TVF-Vipul Goyal
1:55 PM
After making the nation roar with laughter with Barely Speaking With Arnub, Vipul Goyal is back as the protagonist in a new web-series
Kusumita Das (MID-DAY; December 18, 2016)
As we step into the Andheri East office of The Viral Fever on a Tuesday evening, through the glass doors we see around 40 people huddled in the hall. A narration session is on, we are told. The setting is not what one expects — typically held behind closed doors with only the core group. "But, that's how we do things at TVF. More feedback, more fine-tuning. And feedback here has got nothing to do with one's position of power," says Vipul Goyal, comedian-actor and a core founding member of the comedy collective.'
Goyal, 33, has just made his debut as an actor in TVF's latest web-series Humorously Yours, the second episode of which airs today. He plays a struggling comedian on the show and is stoked by the reviews so far. "Every Indian child dreams of being an actor or a cricketer at least once in their life. I have only done standup and comedy writing for four years, this is my break as an actor," says the IIT Mumbai graduate, who self-admittedly, was the first to be laid off from his job, during the 2008 recession. Not that it surprised him. "I used to spend all my time in office reading transcripts of F.R.I.E.N.D.S., to teach myself the craft of comedy writing," he recalls with a smile.
With engineering out of the way, he decided to try his hand at theatre. "I had some stage experience from my IIT days, so I thought why not try my luck in theatre. But, that didn't work out. I knew, though, that I had a thing for comedy, because the plays I used to do, were funny plays. I met Arunabh Kumar (presently, TVF CEO) who used to make short films at the time and I would act in them. I had also begun my standup career by then. The AIB boys — Tanmay [Bhatt], Ashish [Shakya], Rohan [Joshi], [Gursimran] Khamba — along with me, were the first batch of comedians to perform at The Comedy Store, back in 2010," Goyal says. His association with Arunabh finally led to TVF being formed two years later, and he completely shifted his attention to the new venture. "I have been heading its Live section since then," says Goyal who was the head writer of the hugely popular sketch Barely Speaking with Arnub.
There were a few initial stumbling blocks in his transition as an actor, facing the camera for the first time, but he soon eased into his new role. He says the fact that it is such a close-knit community helps. The second episode of the show features AIB headliner Tanmay Bhat in a pivotal role. One would imagine it's a casting coup, given that he's the face of a rival comedy collective. "On the contrary, it's not. All the comedians you see on the show, who have their own setups, were on board after a single phone call. We are collectively fighting the same battle — against average mainstream television content. And that's all that matters. Also, this show being about the life of a comedian, it is essential to show the comedy universe. How does one do that without showing the big names!" Goyal says. He also reveals his connection with AIB. "I'm the common link between AIB and TVF. I knew Tanmay long before the existence of our collectives. The TVF guys were my friends even before we were doing comedy."
The idea behind Humorously Yours, he says, was to create something that takes a peek into the life of a comedian. "People think we crack jokes all the time. And even when we express a view, intending for it to be completely normal, we are told, 'nahi, yeh funny nahi tha'. I wear glasses and people say things like, 'he looks so serious, how will he make people laugh'. Sometimes, they show you a joke on WhatsApp and ask you to say it on stage, because 'yeh funny rahega'. The story borrows from such experiences. I've had great feedback so far. In fact, I spend my days going through the comments over and over again. Do I want to do acting full-time? That depends on how the overall season fares. Right now, I'm enjoying this adulation phase," Goyal says beaming.
Richa Chadha, Vicky Kaushal take on sexism through new AIB video that releases today
7:48 AM
MID-DAY (December 12, 2016)
In what can be considered an extension to the debate around objectification of women in Bollywood, specifically through item numbers and derogatory lyrics, feminists took to social media earlier this year to fix ‘sexist’ songs. For example, Tu Haan Kar Ya Na Kar, Tu Hai Meri Kiran from Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Darr (1993) was tweaked to Tu Haan Kar Ya Na Kar, Teri Marzi Kiran.
Taking inspiration from that campaign, Indian comic group All India Bakchod has roped in Masaan co-stars Richa Chadha and Vicky Kaushal to feature in a satire video that takes on sexist lyrics. Says Richa, “We are working and thriving in the Hindi film industry and that gives us a right to question a few things, especially in today’s day and age. It’s like arguing with your parents about their long-held feudal or racist beliefs. In this case, we attempt to question misogyny.”
The video, directed by AIB’s Tanmay Bhat, will be a compilation of six parodies, including of songs like Laal Dupatte Waali from Aankhen (1993) and Varun Dhawan-starrer Main Tera Hero’s title track. “Bollywood filmmakers underestimate the impact their movies have in shaping our culture. When such songs become a part of our daily lives, they legitimize a certain behavioral pattern. That needs to stop. We have grown up humming these songs. Now, when we look back, we realise what they actually implied. So, we thought it would be nice to address this realisation,” says Bhat.
The video, which releases on YouTube today, has been choreographed by Shahzeb Sheikh, who had worked on AIB’s party song with Irrfan.
Tanmay Bhat brings back Bollywood hits with Vicky Kaushal, Richa Chadha and a twist
7:55 AM
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 18, 2016)
Vicky Kaushal and Richa
Chadha have teamed up for a music video by comedy collective AIB (All
India Backchod) that parodies old and new Bollywood chartusters.
Directed by Tanmay Bhat, the video features Richa and Vicky impersonating screen jodis, ranging from Shammi Kapoor-Rajshree to
Govinda-Ritu Shivpuri and Aamir Khan-Madhuri Dixit in popular tracks like
“Tumse Achcha Kaun Hai“ from Janwar, Aankhen's “Lal Duppate Wali“ and
“Khambe Jaisi Khadi Hai“ from Dil. Shooting kicked off last Thursday at a
suburban studio and wrapped up in around five days.Richa confirmed the news, saying, “I thought it would be fun to collaborate with Vicky again. The idea is to have fun so the audience enjoys the video too.“
Vicky and Tanmay have been best friends since school and have been toying with the idea of a collaboration for a while. “The video will introduce a new side of me to the audience as there's a lot of dance and colour. Richa and I had just one scene together in Masaan, this time we've shot a lot more,“ he added.
Don’t put Tanmay Bhat and me in the same category-Sugandha Mishra
7:42 AM
Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; June 6, 2016)
Thanks to Tanmay Bhat’s video mocking Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar that has created a furore, another video that had Sugandha Mishra impersonating the singing legend a year ago, is back in the news. Sugandha had mimicked the songstress at an awards function, which initially landed her in a controversy, but later Lata herself sent her a message appreciating her and expressed a wish to meet her.Ask Sugandha what she thinks about Tanmay’s video and she says, “It is in bad taste, there’s nothing funny or humorous in it. It is offending. In fact, the reason I am talking about it is to tell people not to put what he has done and what I did isn’t in the same category. Mimicry is a fine art and a creative expression. What Tanmay has done doesn’t fall in any category. He and the AIB often claim that their humour is of American standard, but they are entertaining the Indian audience, right? Lataji is internationally known and I don’t think even the audience in US will find this funny. Swapping faces and making personal comments is not humour. I have always tried to raise laughter in a creative way.”
She adds that when she mimicked Lata, it was about how music has changed and how the songs should be. “Ninety per cent of the people loved it, and 10 per cent of them felt bad that I mimicked her. They felt Didi ka nahi karna chahiye tha,” recalls Sugandha.
So, does she feel they should stay away from legends or renowned personalities when it comes to mimicry? “Aisa koi rule nahi hai that you can’t mimic this person, aur hona bhi nahi chahiye. That way you are killing the art. But yes, there should be a limit. The challenge of a true artiste is to keep within the limitations and make people laugh. Otherwise even kids can do that,” she states.
Yet, when Sugandha did the impersonation, she had to face the backlash from some singers and composers. “I was shocked. The same people who had laughed at the event, next day gave quotes about how I had insulted Didi. When I read it, I got goosebumps. But the good thing that came out of the controversy was Lataji herself saw the video and appreciated me. In fact, I have heard from several singers that Didi herself is a good mimic and loves comedy. But about Tanmay, she has said that she doesn’t know who he is neither is she interested in knowing him,” she signs off.
Lata Mangeshkar FINALLY breaks silence on Tanmay Bhat's video
9:02 AM
Subhash K Jha (DNA; June 4, 2016)
The barrage of angry responses to the Tanmay Bhat’s SnapChat video on Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar has left her unaffected.
No, she hasn’t watched the video because it doesn’t bother her. “Nothing affects me. I’ve been through so much, I’ve faced so many hurdles in life. At an age when other girls play with dolls I was out of the house trying to find work as a singer. I learnt from a young age that work is the only thing that matters,” says Lata.
The affront through the video mattered to her only because it bothered her admirers and well-wishers. “Log bahot pareshan ho gaye. Mujhe yeh bura laga. I don’t like the idea of people getting hassled because of me. I want to assure all my well-wishers that these (spoofs, etc) are very small matters. There are far greater issues in life. We must not give undue importance to those who thrive on maligning people. I am sure they have their reasons for doing what they do.”
What touched the songstress was the upsurge of the nation’s love for her after the spoof. Everyone including Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar called to express their solidarity with her.
“It’s the love of the people that has kept me going for so long,” she concludes.
I am aware of my position in the industry-Alia Bhatt
8:10 AM
In her characteristic forthcoming style, Alia Bhatt talks about balancing mainstream with experimental cinema and making mistakes
Anirban Das (MID-DAY; June 3, 2016)
Alia Bhatt is shooting for a promo track for her upcoming film, Udta Punjab at a suburban restrobar when we meet her on a Thursday afternoon. Seated atop a dressing table of her vanity van, the actress is mulling over what to wear for the shoot. Excerpts from the interview:
A number of Bollywood actresses avoid essaying de-glam roles. Did you also think about it before considering your character in Udta Punjab?
I make choices based on my instincts. I do consult a few people before signing a film, but with this one I was pretty sure that I would be able to showcase my potential as an actor. So this de-glam character wasn’t an issue.
Is it destiny or a conscious effort to do both experimental and mainstream cinema?
If I had said no to a film like Udta Punjab after Shaandaar, filmmakers would have thought that I have closed doors for experimental movies. But the fact that I am excited about such films tells them that I am open to them. Of course there is destiny at play, but at the same time, I am conscious about films I want to be part of.
Shaandaar failed at the box office. And currently, if a film doesn’t do well, the brand value of the actors gets affected even if they have performed well. Is that one of the reasons why you maintain a balance between mainstream and experimental cinema?
I am doing mainstream cinema because I love doing such films. I am doing them because I want to, not because I have to.
Over the years, you must have rejected film offers. How difficult is it to say no to filmmakers in this phase of your career?
Firstly, I get upset when I like a script but can’t do it due to date constraints. Secondly, there’s nothing wrong in saying no to films. But you need to know how to go about it. In the past, I have made mistakes and regret not being sensitive while saying no to a film, but I know better now. It takes a while to say no because there is somebody who believes in the film more than you do.
Has it become more difficult for you to pick films because your brand value is at stake?
Of course, it has become harder now. Initially, I could afford to do things my own way since I was new to the industry. But now, makers show a lot more trust in me and with trust comes responsibility. However, I don’t overthink. I am aware of my position in the industry.
What’s your take on the Tanmay Bhat controversy?
It has been spoken about a lot, more than it needed to be spoken about. There are far more important issues that should be given importance.
Coming back to your upcoming film, the film is facing trouble with Censor Board...
I think people will only gain from watching this film. It is educational and also gives a perspective on how life should be lived. I will be really upset if the Board does not clear the final product for the audience.
Shorgul producers axe a song penned by Tanmay Bhat due to Snapchat video controversy
8:08 AM
Gaurav Dubey (MID-DAY; June 3, 2016)
Looks like Tanmay Bhat’s woes are far from abating. After receiving severe backlash for insulting Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar in a Snapchat video recently, a song that he had penned for the upcoming film, Shorgul, has also been dropped. The political drama stars Jimmy Sheirgill and Ashutosh Rana.
Says a source, “Tanmay had ghost written a song called Pehle Aap, sung by Daler Mehndi for the film. But after his recent controversy, producers want to end their association with the comedian and have dropped the song from the film.”
A source close to the project adds, “The producers do not want any trouble as far as the film is concerned. Also, they do feel that what Tanmay did was uncalled for and things like these shouldn’t be encouraged.”
Co-producer Aman Singh confirms the news and says, “Shorgul intends to present a humanitarian
perspective to communal riots that affect the common man the most, irrespective of his caste, creed or religion. However, in light of recent happenings and the prevailing sentiment amongst people, we decided to let go off Tanmay’s song.”
Tanmay did not respond to our text message.
Lata Mangeshkar's sisters Asha Bhosle & Meena Khadikar react to Tanmay Bhat's controversial video
8:09 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; June 1, 2016)
Stand-up comedian Tanmay
Bhat sparked outrage after he recently posted a Snapchat video online,
taking digs at Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar. What irked many
were his comments about the legendary singer.Bollywood personalities like Anupam Kher, Riteish Deshmukh, Paresh Rawal and Subhash Ghai amongst others condemned the video. The comedian, on the other hand, refused to apologise for his comments. We tried to reach Lata Mangeshkar for her statement, but she was unavailable. Her younger sisters Asha Bhosle and Meena Khadikar expressed their displeasure about the video.
Ashaji told BT, “I have not seen the video nor do I
intend to. My grandson Chin2 informed me about it as I don't even watch
television. I don't want to say anything except for we are talking about
a woman (Lata didi), who has worked for 70-80 years of her life,
spreading joy and happiness through her music. I now want to wait and
watch how many people will stand by us. Most people have a knack of
debating about it for a couple of days and forgetting about it. Aaplya
deshat, Bharat Ratnancha kiti aadar aahe hey baghaycha aahe (I want to
see
what respect and honour do the Bharat Ratnas get in our country). The
government has bestowed this honour upon them. They must make a note of
this.“While many believe that the video is insensitive, it does not tantamount to a criminal offence. Talking to The Times of India, (edition dated May 31) crime council Mahesh Jethmalani said, “It is very indecent and in extremely poor taste. But it doesn't merit a criminal case.“
People on social media are of the opinion that while everyone has
the right to freedom of speech, comedy should be used to entertain and
not to abuse. Meenaji added, “We don't know who this man is nor
have we discussed this issue with Lata didi. Even news channels should
follow some discretion and avoid replaying that video on TV as our phone
hasn't stopped ringing since the past two days. She is 86 years old.
Her health is sensitive
and this is the last thing she needs to know.“
She further says,
“Reacting to the video is giving it undue importance. We avoid talking
about these things as it can be misinterpreted and may evoke some other
unnecessary controversy. The government should take action against this
and people should speak up if they love us. Sachin has achieved so much
in his life at such a young age. He has immense respect for didi and
vice versa. These are Bharat Ratna awardees. Tyanchya vishayi kahitari
ghanerda bolaycha (Talking rubbish about them) in the name of comedy is
disgusting. We have nothing against humour, provided it's in good taste.
Several comedians have mimicked Lata didi in the past. Johny Lever
mimics Asha but they are funny. None of that made us angry. This is
repulsive. There's absolute disregard for her age or achievements.“We tried contacting Sachin Tendulkar's team for his statement but he remained unavailable for comment. Vinod Kambli, who has also been mentioned in the video, tweeted, “I felt deeply hurt when that man made fun of Lata Mangeshkar. She is like a mother to us and he made fun of SRT 2 (Sachin Tendulkar too). I've spoken to my lawyer about filing a defamation case. That guy used filthy language about me also (sic).“
WHEN INDIAN COMEDIANS FACED LEGAL ACTION
Kiku Sharda: In December last year TV actor Kiku Sharda mimicked Dera
Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan at an event, which
created an uproar amongst the godman's followers. He was arrested a
followers. He was arrested a few days later by the Haryana Police under
section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code (outraging religious feelings of
any class by insulting its religion or religious belief) and sent to
judicial custody for 14 days. Kiku apologised for his act on social
media, saying “Doston, the act on TV was not to hurt anyone's feelings.
My apologies to Gurmeet Ram Rahimji and his followers...“ 
AIB Roast: Comedy group All India Bakchod (AIB) hosted a roast comedy
show in December 2014, which starred stand-up comedians along with
Bollywood personali
ties Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor and Karan Johar, who was the roast
master. When the event's video was posted online, the roast came under
the scanner for its offensive language and for taking digs at public
personalities. FIRs were filed against 14 people. AIB also had to offer
an apology to the archdiocese and the Christian community for some of
their jokes.
That chap Tanmay Bhat doesn’t know what Lata Mangeskhar means to us-Javed Akhtar
8:05 AM
Subhash K Jha (DNA; June 1, 2016)
Poet-lyricist-thinker Javed Akhtar, who is a die-hard Lata Mangeshkar fan is appalled by the video mocking the singing legend and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.“This chap (Tanmay Bhat) has the mind of a cockroach. Humour is something we all appreciate. But what is funny about ridiculing Lataji? The video is cheap and unworthy of getting any attention. The chap had not bargained for the backlash. Since he had gotten away with so much crassness in the past, he thought he would get away this time. But there are celebrities. And then there is Lata Mangeshkar. You can’t get away with ridiculing her,” says Akhtar who called up the Nightingale on Monday.
“She asked me what’s in this video that has offended her well-wishers so much. I advised her not to look at it. And she mercifully agreed. I can’t bear to think what she would have thought at the grotesque parody,” the writer can barely contain his disgust.
He wonders at the much-vaunted talk in our country about freedom of expression. “That freedom comes with a lot of responsibility. You can’t go out on the street and strip naked to express freedom of expression. You can criticise Lataji’s flawless songs and singing if you are so crazily inclined, you can comment on Sachin’s batting. But you can’t make obscene comments on their age and looks. That is not funny by any yardstick.”
Javed feels the roaster got roasted because he miscalculated his joke. "This guy — I don’t want to give him publicity by taking his name — doesn’t know what Lataji means to us. He thought he would get away with it. But everyone I’ve spoken to since the past two days has expressed only dismay and disgust.” His final words on the blasphemous video. “It has destroyed that stand-up comedian’s career and also provided proof of the pathetic standards of humour in our country.”
Shatrughan Sinha wants ‘strictest action’ to be taken against Tanmay Bhat
11:53 AM
Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 31, 2016)
Bollywood has erupted against self-styled stand-up
comedian Tanmay Bhat of All India Backchod (AIB) for putting out an
insult video that shows him use FaceSwap to depict Lata Mangeshkar and
Sachin Tendulkar debate over Virat Kohli. Shatrughan Sinha isn’t amused.A livid Sinha says, “They’ve insulted the greatest singer of the country. To make such a cheap video featuring her is bad enough. To add Sachin to the mix, adds insult to injury.”
He recommends that the strictest action be taken against Bhat and AIB. “They have to be dealt with severely so that other people are not encouraged to insult the heroes and icons of the nation. These people already have a slew of cases pending against them for their so-called Roast with Karan Johar. Zaraa inki himmat dekho! From their vulgar antics on stage, they’ve moved on to insulting two of our country’s greatest heroes.”
He adds, “I’ll recommend fast-track criminal cases against him. What he’s done is a humiliation for the entire nation. I hang my head in shame at the kind of mudslinging being perpetrated in the name of humour.”
Sinha also strongly recommends censorship on the internet. “Don’t get me wrong. I am all for freedom of expression. But freedom to express should not be confused with the freedom to insult anyone; least of all, icons like Lataji and Sachin. Censorship is important in our country where freedom of expression is grossly misused.”
He concludes. “I recommend the strongest criminal action against Tanmay for insulting two Bharat Ratnas.”
Tanmay Bhat’s video on Sachin Tendulkar-Lata Mangeshkar gets heavily criticized
8:49 AM
Stand-up comic Tanmay Bhat’s statement about his controversial video on singing legend Lata Mangeshkar is just not funny
MID-DAY (May 30, 2016)
Yesterday evening, stand- up comic Tanmay Bhat, who sparked outrage with his Sachin v/s Lata Civil War video, tweeted about having issued a statement over the controversy on one of his social media accounts. But, it turned out to be a lame attempt at making jokes.
Bollywood has been up in arms against the video in which he pits the film industry’s nightingale Lata Mangeshkar against cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. In that, Tanmay says Mangeshkar’s face looks like someone has kept her under water for eight days. He has also gone to the extent of addressing Mangeshkar directly while saying that Jon Snow (a Game Of Thrones character) died and so should she.
As his joke backfired and he found himself at the receiving end of the Twitterati, including Bollywood celebs, he tweeted yesterday evening that he has posted a statement (not apology) on one of his other social media accounts, which he seems to be publicising. However, when we traced the account, it had a series of three pictures of Tanmay, with the captions reading: “Gotcha”, “But thanks for the follow” and “Now you know what your clickbaity headlines feel like”. Seriously, Tanmay?
Bollywood folk slammed the All India Bakchod member for taking humour a little too far. Anupam Kher tweeted: “I am 9 times winner of #BestComicActor. Have a great sense of humor. But This’s NOT humor. #Disgusting & Disrespectful”. Riteish Deshmukh posted: “ I am absolutely shocked. Disrespect is not cool and neither is it funny” while Celina Jaitley stated: “Absolutely.. Shocked• appalled!! Not amused @mangeshkarlata ji needs to be apologised to .. NOW!!”
Looks like Tanmay’s civil war video has landed him in a civil war. Ouch!
Arjun-Ranveer-Karan weren't our first option, they were our only option-All India Bakchod
9:31 AM
A rowdy, live stand-up act that signed up filmstars for voluntary ridicule, is proof that Bollywood's newly famous are redefining stardom
MUMBAI MIRROR (February 1, 2015)
The definition of a Roast, for those who are aren't adept in the kitchen, changed when the funny men at All India Bakchod released their AIB Knockout online earlier this week. Roast (v): to cook film stars by direct exposure to deeply offensive insults, especially in front of thousands.
The Roast is a tradition that dates back to 1949, where comics invite guests of honour, who are ridiculed publicly. The goal — to have a good laugh.
Last December, the comedy collective founded by Tanmay Bhat and Gursimran Khamba, went down in comic history for hosting the first Roast of its kind in India at Worli's NSCI grounds before an audience of 4,000. Their meat of choice — Bollywood's new breed of actors; Arjun Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and Roastmaster, director Karan Johar.
The three celebrities, along with film critic Rajeev Masand, and Roadies producer Raghu Ram joined standup comics Abish Mathew, Aditi Mittal, Tanmay, Gursimran, Rohan Joshi and Ashish Shakya to form the panel of Roasters. What ensued was a slew of insult comedy that spared no one, on stage or off it. Deepika Padukone's (she was in the audience) choice in men; Arjun's academic failure; Karan's sexuality and Ranveer's reputation with the ladies were all up for taking. The result — close to three lakh hits in two days.
Tanmay credits the "overwhelming appreciation" to the stars. "Bollywood's young actors and directors share the sensibility of India's youth; they are good at taking a joke," he says.
The idea to host a Roast happened by chance. "In August, we were discussing the possibility of making a video with Ranveer. I met him at a dance studio where he was practising, and we got talking about the Roast format. He said he was in if we ever did it." That proceeds from the NSCI show, minus venue rental and production cost, went to charity, made it easier," says Vijay Nair, CEO of Only Much Louder (OML), a live music and entertainment conglomerate that handled production. "We weren't just taking their pants off for fun. It was for a good cause," smiles Tanmay.
It was Ranveer who suggested AIB approach Arjun, who agreed instantly. "We wanted Karan Johar to be the Roastmaster because he would lend legitimacy. Besides, he is known for his wit and sarcasm," he continues. Once Johar was on board, the date was set.
What the creative team didn't know was who would turn up in the audience.
Actors Deepika Padukone, Sonakshi Sinha, Anurag Kashyap, Sanjay Kapoor and Alia Bhatt booked a seat each for Rs 4,000. "Stars invited their colleagues and friends, but we had no idea who would turn up," says Tanmay, who calls the gang "just four middle-class kids with no connections". "The three stars weren't our first option, they were our only option".
But, over the last two days since the Roast ambushed the Internet, it isn't being celebrated for its stellar content, but for the ease with which stars are lending themselves to be the butt of jokes.
Bollywood enthusiasts will recall an awards function in 2010, hosted by Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan, where Shah Rukh cracked a joke about actor Neil Nitin Mukesh's triple-barrelled name. It backfired, when Neil snapped (his singer-father Nitin Mukesh was beside him), asking him to "shut up".
In 2013, veteran actor Manoj Kumar filed a criminal case against Shah Rukh and Farah Khan, director of Om Shanti Om (2007), in which the superstar had mimicked Kumar. Khan, who together with brother Sajid Khan, had a made a career of parodying old-school Bollywood, had apologised to the veteran. That sort of move, explains Tanmay, "is to avoid going to jail". AIB couldn't follow the no-holds barred approach of a conventional Roast. "As comedians, we had to find the line. In a conventional Roast, it doesn't exist," he says.
And so, they had to stick to script. The team of six comics wrote all 300 jokes that made it to the show. After thinking of 60 jokes a day for more than a fortnight, they had a bank of 1,000. Following which, it was the question of sifting to stay with the best.
The grammar of a joke means they needed to allow for all permutations and combinations — for instance, jokes that were about Karan, a rebuttal from him, transitions that could mean taking a joke forward later, etc. After the material was ready, it was sent out to the stars for vetting, unlike in a traditional Roast where no one has a clue of what's coming at them. Jokes that a star wasn't comfortable about were deleted; these included those that a star believed would upset someone else in the fraternity. "For the online video, another round of editing was put in place because some stars didn't want all of it going out," explains Tanmay. This included jokes that played on ruling politicians and party.
Of the Roastees, Karan, says Tanmay, encouraged AIB to go all out. "We were surprised when he later said his mother and maasi were going to be in the audience. He was a great sport."
The point of a Roast, he says, is consent. It is not the same as picking on someone on Twitter.
After vetting, the players could prep themselves on delivering humour with comic timing. This made things simpler for Rajeev, for instance, who was nervous about his bit. "I wanted to explore humour, let people see a side of me they usually don't on TV. I knew what they would be going for; being fat, being paid for reviews, etc. I wanted to see how good I was at giving it back to them," he says, adding, "But nothing prepares you for what happens on stage."
What industry observers are asking is if the young stars have, in effect, defanged their critics and hecklers.
The trend was set, say some, by the Alia Bhatt Genius of the Year video which was a game-changer. After becoming the butt of jokes when she wasn't able to name India's President on the rapid fire round in Karan Johar's chat show, in August last year, she collaborated with AIB to silence Internet bullies with a video that showed her taking IQ classes. With self-deprecating humour as tool, the 21-year-old, six-film-old actor, silenced her detractors. It's also likely that no one will joke about Arjun's battle with weight and nepotism after this. "That was a shrewd move," says Rajeev.
Filmmaker and critic, Raja Sen, says, with this, the demystifying of stardom is complete. Other than Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, almost every star is on social media. They are accessible, available to fans, killing the established practice of a star talking to a select few. "There used to be so many holy cows in the industry. This show managed to do away with quite a few. Even if it was scripted and they were all role-playing, this kind of role-playing was important," he says.
But, offering themselves to the mercy of a punch line isn't everyone's choice. When one of the guests met Priyanka Chopra after the Roast, curious if she would have participated, her answer was, no. "Why would I subject myself to this?" she asked. Those who know Shah Rukh and Saif say that the two are game at laughing at others, but they wouldn't enjoy it if the joke was on them. Rajeev agrees that the old guard would rather steer clear.
It's definitely not hurting business, though. "Bollywood has helped open up the scene to a wider audience and more people have discovered the Indian English comedy genre," believes Nair.
While the Roast went off smoothly, to a standing ovation, in fact, the challenge for the AIB team came after.
"A Roast is filthy, offensive, hilarious. The point isn't just to shock but also make people laugh. I expected more backlash, but fans have taken it well, except a few. But then, taking offence is our national sport," says Tanmay.
Audience reaction can be difficult to judge. "For instance, I think Mr Bachchan may have a spectacular sense of humour but the audience might be offended. It's a weird culture where supporters go crazy, saying, 'how dare you!'"
How does one top a show like this? "Mr Bachchan would be a spectacular Roastmaster," is all Tanmay will say.
Many Indian stand-up comics are better than Russell Peters-I Am Offended director Jaideep Verma
9:12 AM
With his documentary on stand- up comedy in India, I Am Offended, director Jaideep Verma hopes to break stereotypes and capture an exciting, new scene in India in its nascent stage
Deepali Dhingra (MID-DAY; February 1, 2015)
Before he started work on India’s first documentary on stand-up comedy, I Am Offended, Jaideep Verma had never watched a stand-up comedy show. But for the 47-year-old director — who earlier made documentaries such as Baawra Mann, based on Sudhir Mishra’s life and Leaving Home, based on music band Indian ocean and even a film titled Hulla in 2008 — humour has always been paramount.
Verma was
piqued by stand-up comedy when he heard about stand-up comics Andy
Zaltzman in London and Varun Grover in Mumbai, who happen to be his good
friends. “While shooting a show for Andy in Mumbai in December
2012, I discovered Gursimran Khamba, Tanmay Bhat and Aditi Mittal and
liked their work. So I decided to explore the scene further,” he says.Over the course of one year, between 2012 and 2013, Verma worked on the 102-minute documentary that presents Indian stand-up comedy in the overall context of humour and the culture of offence. Featuring prominent stand-up comics such as Johny Lever, Vir Das, Raju Srivastav, Varun Grover, Gursimran Khamba, Ashish Shakya, Rohan Joshi and legendary literary humourist PL Deshpande among others, the director says he hopes to capture an exciting, new stand-up scene in its nascent stage in India, one that challenges the status quo in many ways.
Through the course of the shoot, Verma made a few discoveries of his own. “These stand-up comics are extremely bright, even when it sometimes does not show in their performance. Sometimes, they make choices after second-guessing the audience or because they get too self-conscious and that falls flat. But they are quick-witted enough to turn it all around." In an anecdote that standup comic Varun Grover shared with him in the film, he mentions a corporate show where things turned ugly because the company’s management was second-guessing the audience there. “Comics learn to treat corporate shows as stints where they experiment with their ‘safer’ material,” he says.
The documentary releases on February 5 on the YouTube channel, Being Indian original, as part of its launch.
Verma hopes to break a few stereotypes — including one that most stand-ups here are clones of Russell Peters. “Many artistes are far superior to Peters. I hope it comes across in the film,” he says. As for the title of the film, he says that Indians have the propensity to take offence. “But when they’re not looking over their shoulder to see who might be getting offended, they enjoy that same humour, which is strange,” he smiles.
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