Krushna Abhishek on replacing Kapil Sharma as 'Comedy Nights' host

Krushna Abhishek is rehearsing his script for Comedy Nights Bachao with fellow comedian Sudesh Lehri The show follows the form of a roast bringing its guests down a peg or two The night we visit the sets Sonam Kapoor is around to promote her next movie Neerja along with the cast of Tere Bin Laden 2 mdash Manish Paul Riya Sen and Sikander KherKrushna Abhishek on the sets of Comedy Nights Bachao which shares the same space as Comedy Nights Live which until last month was the kingdom of Kapil Sharma who hosted Comedy Nights with Kapil for Colors PicSameer Markande Sudesh is dressed as a baba who is answering Krishnarsquos questions in an allknowing manner Baba Sikander Kher ke bare main kuch bolo says Krushna Nahin tu bata says Baba Pehle aap Pehlu Tuhellip koi toh batao kaun hai yeh Sikander Kher As we laugh inside Krushnarsquos crowded dressing room on the sets we know millions will also laugh when they see the show on televisionAlso read Kapil Sharmas show might be pulled off airKrushna Abhishek gets a fresh coat of makeup before shooting an episode of Comedy Nights Bachao Itrsquos rumoured that among the reasons for Kapil Sharmarsquos exit from Comedy Nights was also the popularity of Krushnarsquos show also on Colors PicsSameer MarkandeKrushna has been hosting Comedy Nights Bachao since September 2015 Last week he took over the crown from Colorsrsquo big ticket Kapil Sharma who left Comedy Nights with Kapil last month The show has now been retitled Comedy Nights Live CNLRumours are rife that Kapil was replaced as the channel thought he had gotten too big for his boots and was upset that Krushnarsquos Comedy Nights Bachao was doing as good or better than his showKrushna on the sets of Comedy Nights Bachao in PowaiIn media reports Colorsrsquo CEO Raj Nayak has gone on record saying that Kapil was renegotiating and asking for more money which we gave but the more important and worrying thing was that he violated his contract by hosting shows on competing channels and also that his managers started panicking when in terms of ratings Comedy Nights Bachao started doing well and better than Comedy Nights With Kapil in some episodes After it was reported that Kapil left in a huff and now is in negotiations with several different networks for a new show Krushna was asked to take over the empty slotKrushna Abhishek Itrsquos the same dhancha because people are used to that says CNL director Nikul Desai who also used to direct Comedy Circus mdash the talent show on Sony TV which launched Kapil Krushna Bharti Singh and Sudesh among others Comedy Nights is a brand and they want to continue that Krushna plays Pappu and his family and friends come to visit as thatrsquos the brief mdash lsquonaye kirayedaar aye hairsquo Of course there is a certain pressure as Kapil was awesome and the brand is so successful but I think over a period of time people will like our jokes Krushna is a full entertainer mdash he can dance act singhellip he is not a stand upcomic Hersquos a performerBharti SinghPeople are calling me up and saying that they want to be on my shows Salman has tweeted about me Shah Rukh has as well says 33yearold Krushna as he sits for a touchup just before going on stage for Bachao Dressed in black tracks and a Tshirt he seems bigger and broader in person And he doesnrsquot seem one to mince his words If anything he seems intent on telling it as it is If you ask me the greatest standup comic in the country is Kapil Sharma I am his fan We were the pillars of Comedy Circus He is popular for his oneliners and his audience interaction I am different from him because I am an actor mdash I take on guises I dance and I singNikul Desai CNL directorTherersquos truth to that Krushna has also done some 40 films in Bhojpuri and a few in Tamil Telugu and Bollywood Bol Bachchan Entertainment but his big break he says came with Nach Baliye in 2007 I had just started dating Kashmeera Shah and Star asked us to participate Once that finished Comedy Circus 2009 came calling he says adding that he has no clue where his comedy gene comes from It could be credited to growing up in a filmy family Krushna is actor Govindarsquos nephew mdash born in Borivali he grew up in Juhu next to Farah Khanrsquos house He says he grew up watching lsquoChi Chirsquo mama and knew that he always wanted to be an actorAlso read Krushna Abhishek determined to follow in Kapil Sharmas footstepsI was impressed by him but he hasnrsquot helped me in my career I used to wear his handmedowns So when I went somewhere people would say lsquooh thatrsquos the jacket Govinda wore in Ankhiyon Se Goli Maare he laughs I think my first acting assignment was as Jesus in a school play I entertained the girls all the time He sees these two shows as the next big challenge in his life Meri abhi haalat kharab hai he turns towards us and says seriously When Bachao started I had to prove myself and now Comedy Nights Live is on my head and I have to prove myself all over again I have to keep proving myself despite being a part of this industry for over a decade Thatrsquos the nature of this line of work Your next appearance decides your next move month year producerColleague Bharti who stars with him in both Bachao and CNL says Krushna is her strength If he is around I can do anything she laughs and then adds but seriously we havenrsquot replaced anyone We are just carving a space for ourselves with our brand of comedy If someone says no to hot pizza will you also say no it Kapil left so we are doing the showJD Majethia cochairman of the Indian Film and TV Producers Council says that unlike daily soap actors comedians have a lot of avenues to branch out into mdash they can host award shows and they do a lot of live shows He feels that when a channel has a hit show and a star leaves it doesnrsquot really affect the channel Shows go on And if a person is really talented they will find success on a different channel as well He feels that TV is losing its audience to the digital platforms and the best way to combat that is not to ape each other If one show is successful on one channel donrsquot make another one like it We need to up the quality of contentKrushna is aware that he too may be asked to leave if the show doesnrsquot do well But he seems to take it in his stride We are actors we are not gods Then he pauses for effect and smiles When Amar Upadhyay who played Mihir Virani the lead left Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi it still went on didnrsquot it Shows go on We will have to work very hard because Kapil is a star and I know that people love him He used to stand up for me at one time I think he got angry because I didnrsquot go on his show for two years But if you are a brand I am also making my brand My ego doesnrsquot allow me to come on your show and do a twominute appearanceWhen Krushna goes on set the live audience breaks into a thumping applause and he poses in full filmy style for the photographer Before he heads off to shoot the episode he tells us in all seriousness I am still working on myself I now have this big show on my shoulders I made Bachao work and now I will have to make this work Thatrsquos the way it is When Kapil starts a new show even he will be under pressure to make it workBut thatrsquos just the way it works in this world