What’s a cricket commentator doing as a judge on a comedy talent hunt?
Life takes funny twists and turns. You never know where you will land up. One day I was talking bats and balls, and now I’m listening to the funnies.
What do you think is the difference between comedy and humour?
Comedy is easier to come by. Humour is more precious and needs to be administered in doses.
What are the problems that plague the comedy genre in India?
The main problem is that there is a dearth of good writers. If the script is not funny, then the actor can hardly do anything to lift the show.
How would you react to a Sardar joke?
There are contestants on the show who’ve tried to imitate me. But imitation is not what we are looking for. The maximum marks will be given to originality. Besides, real people are those who can laugh at themselves. And I’ve done that constantly in the course of this show.
Which part of the country do you think the best comedians come from?
A majority of the funniest guys on the show have some from Hyderabad. Maybe it has something to do with the accent. The best humour comes from the villages because it has that rustic feel to it.
What has been the most common joke on the show?
The most common joke is of a drunkard and a woman standing under a bridge.
Drunkard: A train just ran over me.
Woman: Are you all right?
Drunkard: Luckily, I was standing under this bridge.