Playing God on small screen

The former cricketer will enact the role of God in Ekta Kapoor's teleserial Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka.

Navjot Singh Sidhu does not believe in full stops. If he could, he would just go on punctuating his conversation with commas, never letting a sentence come to an end.

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So, when you interview him, it is difficult to get a word in edgewise. We met up with one half (Shekhar Suman being the other half) of the judging duo of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge on the sets at Karjat.

What is missing in the contestants (the episode we saw being shot had the most sub-standard jokes we ever heard on national television) for the second edition of the Laughter Challenge vis-à-vis the first one?

Patience is bitter, but the fruits are sweet. It’s like first love. You always remember it and so it’s the same with Laughter Challenge.

You may think the contestants were not funny compared to the earlier lot but today’s episode we shot was just one of those days. We have had some magical episodes shot early on this time. Aur phir Sachin Tendulkar roz roz to century nahin banata.

Most of the jokes were sexist and below the belt.
As I said, the episode you saw was one of those days when everything is not going well, but I think patience is shock-absorbing and the show is a revolution in itself when it comes to making people laugh.

You have to enjoy the spontaneity. I do think in the future episodes and shows we may have to screen some of the contestants. Aur phir kichad mein hi to kamal khilta hai.

Much has been said about the cold war between you and Shekhar Suman Shekhar is an institution and I have always maintained that. We both are good in our jobs and we do have the same wave length, that’s why we were put together by the channel to judge this kind of a show.

Naturally, we can’t agree or disagree with each other all the time. There have been instances when we both have maintained our individual stance and fought till the end. I strongly feel, debate is masculine while conversation is feminine.

Ultimately, we are here to give that little push to the show and the contestants who are left with the difficult task of making people laugh.

You always have a ready and witty answer.
I was not always like that. As a child, I was extremely shy and if I was ever chosen for a school debate, I would remain absent for the next three days.

And when you are on TV, I have seen the bravest of them squeak, even in their walk, so it’s all about holding your nerves confidently. And ever since I started meditating, life has changed and improved my self-belief.

You are playing God in Ekta Kapoor’s Kya Hoga Nimmo Ka. Are you open to more acting offers?

God is perfect. And to play God, a man of limitations like me was chosen. If your heart and mind are in the same direction, your feet can’t falter. There are huge offers and it all depends on what your heart and mind say.

Finally, it’s not about the success you make out of something but how you enjoy the whole process.