Veteran actor and former comedy show judge Shekhar Suman has expressed deep disappointment over the current trajectory of stand-up comedy in India. In a recent interview, he observed that many contemporary comedians rely excessively on abusive language and vulgar humour rather than investing in strong writing and original content.
Comedy Has Lost Its Organic Charm
Having served as a judge on popular reality shows such as The Great Indian Laughter Challenge and Comedy Circus, Shekhar reflected on the evolution of comedy over the years. He noted that today's comedy feels forced compared to earlier times. “It is forced now; it was simple earlier. The comedians were also good, and had fresh thinking. Comedy has gone towards vulgarity now. It’s obscene. There are double meaning, double standards now,” he said in an interview with Bollywood Bubble. He attributed this shift to a lack of original thinking: “Till the time you don’t think, read or don’t create anything new, then you will only end up stealing jokes from here and there, presenting in a different way.”
Critique of Online Comedy Content
Shekhar further criticised the proliferation of profanity-heavy content on digital platforms. He stated that many creators wrongly assume abusive language automatically makes comedy entertaining. “If you go on YouTube for comedy, it is full of abuses; you can’t even listen to it. Some people think abusive language is cool and viewers enjoy it, that’s wrong,” he remarked. He contrasted this with classic television serials like Dekh Bhai Dekh and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, which he praised for their brilliant writing and scripting. “But now, that entire thinking and approach has vanished. Comedians are only focused on making people laugh with a cluster of jokes and punch lines from here and there, it’s an easy way out.”
On Young Comedians and Audience Support
When asked about young comedians he admires, Shekhar avoided naming individuals. He observed that audiences today support all kinds of performers. “Both bad and good people have an audience today. I wouldn’t like to talk about anyone specifically. People who are being seen have received love from viewers, and whoever is not being seen, might not have been liked by the audience,” he explained.
Memories of Raju Srivastava
Shekhar also revisited memories from the first season of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in 2005, where the late comedian Raju Srivastava finished as the second runner-up, while Sunil Pal won the competition. According to Shekhar, Raju remained deeply loved and remembered by audiences despite not winning the title. Recalling a conversation before the show, Shekhar said, “When the show was about to start, Raju Srivastava came to my house and asked if he should do Laughter Challenge after receiving the offer. ‘What if I come second?’ I said, ‘So what?’ But he was hesitant because he felt he was a senior in the industry and would feel insulted if he didn’t win. I advised him to participate and he did.”
The actor's candid remarks highlight a growing concern among industry veterans about the direction of stand-up comedy in India, urging a return to thoughtful, well-crafted humour over reliance on shock value and vulgarity.
