Sanjay Mishra On Cancelled Great Indian Laughter Challenge Gig

New Delhi: Actor Sanjay Mishra says the comedians should not be told what or what not to perform, when asked about the cancelling of stand-up comic Shyam Rangeela gig in The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. Shyam Rangeela, who mimics Indian politicians, alleged that the showrunners had asked him to keep references to Prime Minister Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi out of his skit, reports news agency PTI. "Yesterday, I was told about Shyam Rangeela. I haven't seen it nor do I know what happened. But you mimic a person who has influenced you. Nobody (in India) would mimic a person from Nigeria. We should not be told what to do. We are being told since our childhood about things that we should do and should not do," said Sanjay Mishra told PTI.

Shyam Rangeela's mimicry of PM Modi was not aired by the channel. The problem is that we have to impose restrictions. In our country the moral science is weak. But these problems should be dealt by us. Why should it come from the government? We will decide whether something is wrong or not. It should not be decided by a certain section," Mr Mishra added.

The Great Indian Laughter Challenge is also featuring in headlines after super judge Akshay Kumar told Mallika Dua: "Mallika Ji aap bell bajao main aapko bajaata hun" and which snowballed into a controversy. The clip was shared by Ms Dua's father, noted journalist Vinod Dua on Facebook to rebuke Akshay's comment and which was later removed from social media.

(With inputs from PTI)