Exclusive | 100 episodes of CNWK was not anticipated: Kapil Sharma

He can be easily touted as the latest superstar of Indian television today with humour, wittiness and impeccable comic timing with a successful non-fiction show in his kitty. Kapil Sharma began his television career as a stand-up comedian on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 3. Post winning the show, Kapil participated and hosted many shows through the years, and today stands as a proud producer and host of Comedy Nights with Kapil (CNWK). The comedy based non-fiction show has just crossed the 100 episode mark and we believe, there is nothing to hold them back.

Adgully caught up with Kapil Sharma to know more about his personal thoughts on the same, his plans and more…

Comedy Nights with Kapil show premiered on Colors TV on June 22, 2013, as bi –weekly show which features celebrity guest(s) who usually appear to promote their latest films.
Sharma says that it was since his childhood that ‘comedy’ or ‘humor’ as genres always attracted. “I like to see people happy. My father himself was a joyous person. I do things whole-heartedly and I think making people happy is what I love to do”, he said.

He said that even during his school and college days, he loved the stage – as an actor, along with his abilities as a master of ceremonies, a host, and on top of all, a unique stand-up comedian.

Expressing his feeling on his maiden show achieving his feat, Sharma said, “I personally can’t believe that we’ve completed 100 episodes. I’ve never expected that certain thing which I/we just say on the show becomes a part of entertainment and people enjoy it will become a reality. When I design  the set of this show a year back, the channel officials came to me and said this in English that – “What is this and how you’ll do something like this? We started off with CNWK with contract of 26 episodes but after the first episode was shot, the channel liked it and asked us to make 36 episodes. Later, when the first episode went live it received high ratings and it was decided that show will run for 50 episodes. But with time the show kept on gaining high ratings and running successfully and today we’ve completed 100 episodes”.

Comedy Nights With Kapil celebrated 100 episodes along with Navjot Singh Sidhu, joined by the Singham Returns cast comprising of Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor, casts (Ali Asgar as Dolly Dadi, Sumona Chakravarti as Manju Sharma, Upasana Singh as Pinky Bua, Kiku Sharda as Palak/Pankhudi/Laccha, Naseem Vicky as Ramu and Sunil Grover as Kapil’s father in law/Gutthi).

Off all the things he does on television right from comedy, acting, to singing and hosting Sharma states that since he has done theatre in the , he likes acting and comedy, while singing is his passion. “I feel an artist should explore everything that he can do best”, he added.

While CNWK has seen the rises of popularity, it has received its fair share of controversies as well. While a few months back when Sunil Grover aka Gutthi left the show, the issue was spoken and written about everywhere. However, with his return, Sharma says, “His fan who missed him during his absences, now have reasons to rejoice. “While Sunil is my favourite, I am happy that he is back on the show. Now, the show will have the same old charm with his presence. All the characters of my show right from Dadi to Raju, all are talented in their own terms”.

Speaking about picking up industry tricks and traits, Sharma said, “I think everything needs practice, first I used to face fear of standing on the stage and that bit of nervousness is still there. Every actor has that butterfly feeling when they are amongst their fans and I feel fear helps us to give our best”.

Speaking about his future plans, “I have got offers for films but I couldn’t anything because of my show as it is my priority. If we see there are actors in India who have done around 250 films but people know those actors very well from their face but not by their name. But Comedy Nights with Kapil has given me that name. I want to work in films to learn and do something different and play some different characters. But nothing is concrete as yet”.

While Sharma was set to make his film debut with Yashraj Film's ‘Bank Chor’, of which he opted out, he will now be a part of Anees Bazmee’s upcoming untitled film.

Rumors were that CNWK was to go off air this September and this sentiment was echoed by the host himself as he tweeted about it as well a few months back. “I had taken this decision that we’ll take a break in September, but everyone opposed to it. Audience and channel stayed affirm that they don’t want the show to go off air. So, we may take the show to a weekly format from a bi-weekly one soon”, he concluded. 

[By Ranjana Gupta| Twitter: @RGrightsreserve]