Akshay Kumar has stated that making people laugh has become significantly more challenging in the age of social media, where audiences are constantly exposed to memes, reels, and stand-up comedy acts. The actor, who is preparing for the release of his upcoming comedy film Welcome To The Jungle, shared his thoughts in an interview with PTI.
Comedy in the Digital Age
“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,” Akshay said. The 58-year-old actor noted that movies are no longer the primary source of entertainment for people. “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.”
About 'Welcome To The Jungle'
Welcome To The Jungle is the latest installment in the Welcome franchise, following the 2007 hit Welcome and its 2015 sequel Welcome Back. 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 movie features an ensemble cast of over 30 actors, including Suneil Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Arshad Warsi, and Lara Dutta. It is directed by Ahmed Khan and produced by Star Studio18, Base Industries Group, Cape of Good Films, and Seeta Films.
Self-Deprecating Humor
The recently released trailer includes several self-deprecating moments, and Akshay expressed his enjoyment of being the center of the joke. “I think making fun of yourself is much better than making fun of somebody else. If I make fun of another person, there’s not much joy in it. But if I joke about myself, that’s far healthier. For example, there’s a scene where Jackie’s character says, ‘Maine aapko kahin dekha hai.’ And Suniel replies, ‘Aap flop filmein bhi dekhte hain?’ When the director and writer narrated that line to me, I immediately said, ‘It’s lovely. Do it.’ Why should I have a problem with it? Haven’t I given flop films? Everyone has. There’s nothing wrong in accepting it. That’s why the joke worked so well.”
Preparing for a Bhojpuri Star Role
Akshay plays a faded star from Bhojpuri cinema in the film. He said he thoroughly enjoyed preparing for the role. “I really enjoyed preparing for it. Before shooting the song, I watched around 30 to 40 Bhojpuri songs. I watched songs featuring Ravi Kishan ji, Pawan ji and many others. I wanted to understand their style, their rhythm and the way they perform. What I realised was that Bhojpuri performers bring tremendous energy to their work. There’s a sense of freedom in the way they perform. You can’t have any inhibitions while doing it. That energy has to flow naturally. I learned a lot by observing them.”
Franchise Films: Risk or Safe Bet?
When asked if franchise films are a safe bet, Akshay said everything depends on the quality of the movie. “It’s neither a risk nor a safe bet. If the film is good, it’s a good thing. If the film is not good, then being a franchise doesn’t matter. Recently, my film ‘Bhooth Bangla’ was released. It wasn’t a franchise. God was kind and people liked it. Ultimately, it all depends on the film itself. People do remember the earlier films and there is a lot of recall value attached to them. But a film will only run if it is good,” he said.
