24 September,2026 05:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Aakruti Bagla
Jamie Lever (Pic/Special Arrangements)
Jamie Lever is gearing up for a busy phase, with her comedy tour, Matka King season 2 and an upcoming film with Yashvardhan Ahuja. In an exclusive chat with mid-day, the comedian-actor opened up about performing with father Johnny Lever, her early struggles, dealing with trolls, and dating rumours.
Jamie is set to take her comedy act across India with a nationwide tour beginning in November, followed by international shows in Dubai. Talking about whether she gets nervous before her shows, Jamie said, "Every show is like a one-day match. So, your previous achievements and your previous successes don't matter because everywhere, the audience is different. But so far, I have never left any of my audiences disappointed."
She recently performed with her dad, Johnny Lever, in Kolkata. Jamie said Johnny is "the master of his craft" and brings years of experience to the stage. "He really knows what the audience likes. But I just take it up as a challenge and also as a big honour to be on the same stage as Johnny Lever. I truly feel lucky and honoured to be in his shows," she shared.
Jamie added that while she is proud of her surname and being Johnny Lever's daughter, she has always wanted to earn respect on her own merit. "My dad said to me, âYou just have to prove yourself. If you are in this industry, prove that you deserve to be here,'" she said.
Despite being a star kid, Jamie Lever says her journey in the industry has been far from easy. She started out in 2012, expecting success to come sooner, but had to wait for opportunities. "I had to give a lot of auditions. I have had to meet with casting directors and make a lot of calls," she stated.
Jamie added that while people in the industry were warm towards her and welcomed her because of her father, Johnny Lever, that did not automatically translate into work. "It's not like you imagine, that a star kid will get work and they don't have to work hard. It was not like that. It's been a slow journey," she remarked.
Talking about dealing with trolls and negative comments about her looks, Jamie said, "As a celebrity and somebody who is in the public eye, you get to hear on social media every other day. Somebody will make remarks on your colour, your nose, your body, or your appearance. In the beginning, it was a little painful. I used to get a little affected and feel bad because, as a child also, I have faced a lot of insecurity and struggled with my body image. To accept that I am a curvy girl has taken me a lot of time. You have to look past and focus on the positive things."
Jamie Lever is set to star with Govinda's son Yashvardhan Ahuja in Ektaa Kapoor's upcoming film. The duo's collaboration sparked dating rumours, which Jamie addressed. Calling Yash her younger brother, Jamie expressed her disappointment over the rumours, pointing out that her father and Govinda have delivered several hits together and that their families are family friends.
She rued, "The problem started when my dad began getting calls, and it got a little out of hand. I had to give a statement saying that this was fake news. I feel you shouldn't put out news like this about someone's personal life. I don't want to bother my parents with stuff like this. Please be respectful of my privacy. It became uncomfortable and bitter towards the end."
Jamie is also gearing up for Matka King season 2, and she expressed excitement as well as gratitude for the love her character received.
