‘Comedy is more challenging in age of memes and reels,’ feels Akshay Kumar, praises stand-up comics
Akshay Kumar has opened up about how doing comedy is getting tougher in an age where audiences do not only look at films for entertainment
Actor Akshay Kumar may be known for his impeccable comic timing, but the Bollywood star says comedy has become more difficult in the digital age, where memes and Instagram Reels are entertaining people on a daily basis. The actor also appreciated stand-up comedians for how they make people laugh.

‘Comedy has become more challenging’
Akshay, who is gearing up for the release of his comedy, Welcome to the Jungle, opened up about how tough comedy is in today's times. “It has become much more challenging. Today, there are reels, memes and comedy content everywhere. But comedy is like a huge river; it never dries up. There are so many forms of comedy, there's physical comedy, situational comedy, slapstick comedy, dark humour,” the actor told PTI in an interview.
The actor also opened up about how different avenues of comedy have opened up in the last few years in India, including stand-up. “There are countless ways of making people laugh. If you open Instagram, you'll find endless memes and funny videos. People consume comedy every day. There are so many comedy shows and talented stand-up comedians creating fresh material. But making people laugh remains one of the most difficult things to do. People often underestimate comedy. I have tremendous respect for stand-up comedians. Standing alone in front of an audience and making people laugh is incredibly difficult,” Akshay added.
Akshay Kumar in Welcome to the Jungle
Akshay is now waiting for the release of Welcome to the Jungle, which hits the screens this Friday. The film revolves around a group of gangsters, criminals and quirky characters whose paths cross in a border-area jungle. What begins as a film-shoot-like operation turns into a series of absurd misadventures involving crime, confusion and action-packed situations.
The film sees Akshay leading a cast of over 30 actors, including Suneil Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Arshad Warsi, Lara Dutta, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, and many more.
The film is the third instalment in the Welcome franchise, which started in 2007 with Akshay's hit of the same name. The film also starred Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Katrina Kaif and the late Feroz Khan. It was followed by Welcome Back in 2015.
Welcome To The Jungle is directed by Ahmed Khan and produced by Star Studio18, Base Industries Group, Cape of Good Films and Seeta Films.
ABOUT THE AUTHORAbhimanyu MathurAbhimanyu Mathur is Deputy Editor, Entertainment at Hindustan Times. With almost 15 years of experience in writing about everything from films and TV shows to cricket matches and elections, he inhales and exhales pop culture and news. Currently, he watches movies and TV shows and talks to celebrities for a living, while occasionally writing about them as well. A journalism graduate of Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, Abhimanyu began his career with Hindustan Times at the age of 20, swapping classrooms for newsrooms at an early age. He began his journey in the early days of digital journalism, later switching to the madness of print journalism. Work has led him to far off places like Japan and Jordan, as well as to the interiors of Haryana and the Indo-Pak border. He dabbled in city reporting in places like Meerut, Gurgaon, and Delhi, covered the Olympics and Cricket World Cups, before finding his calling in entertainment and lifestyle during the pandemic. A Rotten Tomatoes Certified Film Critic, he is equally at home covering stories on ground as he is interviewing celebrities and studios, and sometimes prefers to shepherd teams in delivering traffic through the day. Even as his role has evolved from reporter to supervisor over the years, his first love remains writing (and of late, talking on camera). With a good understanding of cinema and its trends, and a keen eye for detail, he continues to spark conversations around showbiz for readers around the world.Read More
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