15 July,2026 10:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kiku Sharda. Pics via Instagram and X
For years, The Great Indian Kapil Show has kept audiences laughing with its quick wit and seemingly effortless humour. While the comedy often feels spontaneous, comedian Kiku Sharda has now revealed that every episode goes through an extensive writing process before it reaches viewers.
Speaking on Prakhar Gupta's podcast, Kiku shared that preparations begin nearly two to three weeks before a celebrity guest arrives on the show. According to him, a dedicated team of writers starts brainstorming as soon as they know which stars will be appearing.
"They discuss who's coming, which film they're promoting, what conversations can be created and what topics can be explored," Kiku said, adding that the performers are usually occupied with ongoing shoots and only join the process later.
Once the initial ideas are ready, the writers and cast come together for what Kiku Sharda described as a lively "jamming session." Sitting around a large table, everyone throws in ideas, no matter how bizarre they sound.
"A lot of the ideas are completely silly or illogical, but it's from that chaos that a script eventually emerges," he said, adding that these brainstorming sessions are his favourite part of working on the show.
Kiku also revealed that the team doesn't follow conventional rehearsals. Instead, they conduct script readings with the writers before Kapil Sharma joins in. Once they reach the set, the cast performs the script on stage once to fine-tune movements, dialogue delivery and camera positioning before filming begins.
Despite the detailed planning, Kiku said the celebrity guests are kept completely unaware of the sketches and jokes prepared for them. This often leads to unpredictable moments that force the comedians to think on their feet.
Explaining the show's balance between preparation and spontaneity, Kiku estimated that around 70 per cent of the show follows a script, while the remaining 30 per cent is improvised depending on how the guests react.
He recalled that Salman Khan is one of the most unpredictable guests to perform with. "You never know what's going to make him laugh," Kiku said. Sometimes carefully planned jokes receive little response, while an unexpected remark can leave the superstar in fits of laughter.
His insights offer fans a rare glimpse into the meticulous planning behind one of India's most popular comedy shows, proving that while improvisation plays an important role, the laughs are built on weeks of collaborative writing and preparation.
