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Navjot Singh Sidhu asks, ‘Who cared for Kapil Sharma when he was in Punjab?’: ‘People told me he was over’

Navjot Singh Sidhu recently spoke about comedian Kapil Sharma in an interview and shared how a single opportunity can change someone's life forever.

Navjot Singh Sidhu says nobody cared for Kapil Sharma when he was in Punjab. (Photo: Navjot Singh Sidhu/Kapil Sharma/Instagram)

Kapil Sharma remains one of the most inspiring stories of an outsider coming to Mumbai and emerging as India’s most well known comedian. Kapil, who was born in a small town in Punjab, moved to Mumbai with a dream to become a singer. However, as destiny had it, he entered the reality television show, The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in 2007 and emerged as its winner. By 2013, he had his own show, Comedy Nights with Kapil and he continues to have his show on the streaming giant, Netflix, The Great Indian Kapil Show.

In a recent interview, Navjot Singh Sidhu, who was a part of his comedy show for about six years, recently shared how a simple opportunity turns an individual’s career trajectory overnight. In an interview with The Grain Talk Show, the cricketer-turned-politician cited the example of Kapil and said, “Who cared for Kapil Sharma when he was in Punjab? But, when The Great Indian Laughter Challenge handed him an opportunity, he has become a sensation.”

Calling him a genius, Navjot Singh Sidhu further recalled the time when Kapil Sharma had embroiled himself in several controversies, skipped shows, had several stars return from the sets of his comedy show and even had a fight with his co-star Sunil Grover, breaking their ties for over six years.

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He said, “When Kapil was going through a tough time, people told me, he was over. I said, there is no one like Kapil Sharma. You will have to replace him with something better, otherwise you will keep missing him. You do not have a genius like him. He is very spontaneous.”

Navjot Singh Sidhu was the first permanent guest of Kapil Sharma’s show since 2013. However, in 2019, the cricketer-turned-politician had to quit the show after his controversial statement on the 2019 Pulwama attack.

The Congress leader said, “Nations cannot be held responsible for the dastardly acts of terrorists. The terrorists do not have deen, mazhab (sect and religion). There are good, the bad and the ugly. Every institution has them. Every nation has them. The ugly need to be punished. But individuals cannot be blamed for the dastardly act.”

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The cricketer-turned-politician is all set to make a comeback on The Great Indian Kapil Show after over five years as its guest. He will be accompanied by his wife Navjot Kaur Singh, as well as former cricketer Harbhajan Singh. The episode will stream on Netflix on Saturday.

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Speaking at a public rally in Varanasi’s Banauli village, PM Narendra Modi underscored that India is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy amid growing international uncertainty. (Express File Photo by Anil Sharma)

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