As he gears up for the release of ‘Welcome To The Jungle’, Akshay Kumar has opened up about the evolving nature of comedy and why making audiences laugh has become more difficult in the age of social media. While Akshay was largely known for action when he started his career, he slowly broke from it and turned to comedy. The actor was widely accepted in the genre and continues to be loved for his movies like ‘Hera Pheri’, ‘Garam Masala’, ‘Bhagam Bhaag’ among others which became iconic with time among the audience. However, the actor feels that today comedy is much more difficult than it was. The actor, who recently starred in ‘Bhooth Bangla’, believes that the abundance of comedy content available online has raised the bar for filmmakers and performers alike. Akshay said that while humour remains a powerful form of entertainment, audiences today are constantly exposed to jokes, memes and funny videos across multiple platforms.“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,” he said in an interview with PTI.The 58-year-old actor noted that films are no longer the only source of laughter for viewers, with digital platforms offering an endless supply of humorous content.“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.“‘Welcome To The Jungle’, the latest installment in the popular ‘Welcome’ franchise, follows a chaotic mix of gangsters, criminals and eccentric individuals whose lives intersect in a jungle near a border region. What begins as an operation resembling a film shoot soon spirals into a string of bizarre situations involving crime, confusion and action.The film features a massive ensemble cast led by Akshay Kumar and includes Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Arshad Warsi, Lara Dutta and several other actors.One aspect of the trailer that caught viewers’ attention was its self-deprecating humour. Akshay revealed that he has no problem being the butt of the joke and, in fact, enjoys it.“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?’”Recalling his reaction when the line was pitched to him, Akshay added, “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.”The actor also spoke about portraying a former Bhojpuri film star in the movie, a role he thoroughly enjoyed preparing for. To get into character, he spent time studying the performances of some of the industry’s biggest names.“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.”Reflecting on the growing trend of franchise films in Bollywood, Akshay dismissed the idea that a sequel or established brand automatically guarantees success at the box office.“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.”The ‘Welcome’ franchise began with the 2007 comedy blockbuster starring Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Katrina Kaif and the late Feroz Khan. It was later followed by ‘Welcome Back’ in 2015. Now, with ‘Welcome To The Jungle’, the franchise returns with an even bigger cast and scale as it heads to theatres this Friday.
