Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna, most known for playing Bhishma Pitamah in the television series Mahabharat, has explained why he chose not to participate in Kapil Sharma’s well-liked comedy program. Khanna disclosed that the show’s producers never contacted him and would have declined the invitation if they had because he had concerns about the show’s content, deeming it “obscene.”
About Kapil Sharma, Khanna stated, “I don’t know what his problem was, but he never contacted me,” in an interview with Siddharth Kannan for his podcast. It may be humiliation and ego. I am aware of this since it has been discussed in great detail. Khanna explained why he chose not to participate in Kapil Sharma’s well-liked comedy program. Khanna claims that his coworker Gufi Paintal had told him that the Ramayan cast would be on the show and that he had believed the Mahabharat cast would also be invited. Khanna, however, had already begun to have concerns about the show’s substance because he believed it depended too much on “below the belt jokes” and “ashlilta (obscenity).” “Even though people laugh, mujhe koi shalinta nahi dikhti” (I don’t see any decency in it), he told Paintal.
When Khanna viewed a promotional video for the event with Ramayan actor Arun Govil answering a crude question, his worries were only heightened. “I explained that I had seen a promo, not the entire episode, with Arun Govil in it, and Kapil Sharma was asking them a humorous question, isko pakad ke maine bohot sunaya,” he revealed. As the audience yelled, “Dekho dekho dekho, Ram bhi VIP underwear pehenta hai” (see, even Lord Ram is wearing VIP brand underwear), the query was, “Arun ji, you are taking a bath.” Arun Govil only sat there grinning. Main chadh jaata (I would lose it) if I were there. You are posing this query to someone with such a big reputation. You ask him such a poor question, usko aisa ghatiya sawaal puchte hai.
The joke horrified Khanna, who thought asking someone of Govil’s calibre such a question was improper. Khanna also mentioned how he finds the humour in the program unsettling since he believes it frequently uses double entendres and crude jokes. “I think that program contains profanity. I witness underhanded jokes and conversations with hidden meanings. I don’t see any dignity in that, even when people laugh,” he remarked.
Khanna also related how Kapil Sharma previously disregarded him during an awards ceremony. I met Kapil for the first time when we were both seated next to one other at an awards ceremony. I had won the Best Supporting Actor award. He also appeared there; perhaps he was filming in Film City. In our industry now, we ask one another, “Kaise hai aap sir” (how are you, sir), even if we haven’t worked together. It’s a gesture. Although I had met Amitabh Bachchan four times and asked him how he was doing, he said, “Acchha hoon main” (I am okay). I have never worked with him. He’s a famous guy. Forget my seniority; Kapil sat beside me for fifteen minutes without saying “hello.” I don’t want him to say hello, but I think you’re rude.
Using a quote from fellow Mahabharat cast member Gajendra Singh Chauhan, who participated in the show sans Kapil Sharma, Khanna also poked fun at Sharma’s comedic approach and said he was happy not to be on it. “Bhishma Pitamah ke bina Mahabharat kahaan hoti hai? Because without Bhishma Pitamah, Mahabharat cannot be complete.” Everyone went, including Duryodhana, Krishna, and Arjun. They required individuals with a sense of humour, so Yudhistira went someplace and said, “Mukesh ji ko toh bulaya hi nahi tha (Mukesh ji was not invited).” I said, “Oye, when these cricketers come, are they asked if they have a sense of humour?” They receive VIP treatment, as though their appearance on his show was a favour.
