Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar says while making people laugh has always been challenging, it has grown increasingly difficult in the era of social media when audiences consume comedy every day in the form of reels, memes, and stand-up acts.
After his recent appearance in “Bhooth Bangla”, the actor is now prepping for the release of multi-starrer comedy “Welcome To The Jungle”. The film is the latest addition to the popular “Welcome” comedy franchise and is scheduled to hit theatres worldwide this Friday.
"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 in an interview.
The 58-year-old actor said today movies are not the only source of entertainment for people.
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"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,” he said.
Akshay went on to add: “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."
His upcoming film "Welcome To The Jungle" 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.
It will see Akshay leading a cast that includes over 30 actors, including Suneil Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Arshad Warsi, Lara Dutta and many more.
The recently released trailer features several self-deprecating moments, and Akshay said he enjoys being the centre of the joke.
"I think making fun of yourself is much better than making fun of somebody else" Akshay said, adding that he had a lot of fun playing the role of a faded star from Bhojpuri cinema.
The "Welcome" franchise started with Akshay's 2007 hit of the same name that also featured Nana Patekar, Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, Katrina Kaif and the late Feroz Khan. It was followed by "Welcome Back" in 2015.
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