Actor Ali Asgar praises 'role model' Zakir Khan amid Latent 2, Pranit More row
Actor Ali Asgar has praised Zakir Khan as a role model amid discussions around India's Got Latent Season 2 and the Pranit More controversy. He also urged comedians to steer clear of offensive humour and focus on relatable, family-friendly content.
Amid the ongoing conversations around India's Got Latent Season 2 and comedian Pranit More's viral biryani joke controversy, actor-comedian Ali Asgar has praised Zakir Khan as a "role model" for aspiring comics. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Asgar praised Khan's grounded personality and relatable humour while cautioning comedians against relying on offensive or "below-the-belt" jokes for laughs and urging them to think carefully before speaking.
The 59-year-old actor-comedian said, "Everyone should stay within their limits. My only request is that, for a few laughs or a few likes, people should avoid saying things that are inappropriate or scandalous. If you feel something you are about to say could cause trouble later, try to control it."
Emphasising the need to think before speaking, Asgar said comedians must be prepared to face the consequences of their words.
"Don't speak first and think later; think first and then speak. Whatever you say, people will hold on to it, and you will have to face the consequences. Creating comedy is not easy. You are all talented and have such a large following. Try doing more family-oriented content as well. People are already used to watching and listening to you, and your shows are successful. If you do a few such shows, the trend itself may begin to change," he said.
The actor also pointed to comedian Zakir Khan as an example for aspiring comics to follow.
"Just look at Zakir (Khan). Mashaallah, see how far he has come. Follow him. Look at the journey he has had—he is a role model. I have never met him personally, but from watching him and listening to him, he seems like someone who remains grounded. His comedy feels relatable to everyone," Asgar said.
Speaking about the growing trend of shock humour, Asgar said relying on abusive language and personal attacks may offer easy laughs but can have long-term consequences.
"Using abusive language or going below the belt is very easy. But why do something that hurts others? That is definitely wrong. Once in a while, it may happen, but don't build your entire career around it, otherwise it will eventually create problems for you. Keep your foundation clear - whatever you do, do it in a neat and clean manner. Don't do something just because someone else is doing it. They may have gotten away with it, but that doesn't mean you will too," he said.
Asgar, however, clarified that despite often being associated with comedy, he sees himself primarily as an actor. He also recalled being deeply inspired by legendary actor-comedian Mehmood.
"People often associate me with stand-up comedy, but I am not a stand-up comedian; I am an actor. The person I followed was Mehmood sahab. I was obsessed with him. I had a collection of all his films. Even in between shoots, I would watch films like Gumnaam and many others. I am such a huge fan of his. In the film industry, people often say you need that 'bug' or passion for cinema. I developed that by watching Mehmood sahab's films and closely observing him," the actor added.
All about the controversies
The controversy involving Pranit More began after a clip from one of his performances went viral on social media. During the interaction, audience member Himanshu Jangra spoke about spending around Rs 370 on biryani during a date and later suggested that paying for a meal entitled him to intimacy.
The remarks drew criticism online, with several social media users calling the mindset problematic and accusing it of reducing relationships to a transaction.
Meanwhile, the India's Got Latent controversy began after YouTuber-podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia made a remark during an episode of the show that drew sharp criticism online.
During an interaction with a contestant, he posed a controversial question that many social media users deemed offensive and inappropriate, sparking widespread outrage.
Ali Asgar, best known for playing Kamal Agarwal in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Daadi in The Kapil Sharma Show, is currently busy with Paritosh Painter's comedy play Tom & Jerry. The actor stars alongside Aasif Sheikh and Shilpa Shinde in the comedy of errors, which revolves around a series of hilarious misunderstandings and situational humour.
Amid the ongoing conversations around India's Got Latent Season 2 and comedian Pranit More's viral biryani joke controversy, actor-comedian Ali Asgar has praised Zakir Khan as a "role model" for aspiring comics. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Asgar praised Khan's grounded personality and relatable humour while cautioning comedians against relying on offensive or "below-the-belt" jokes for laughs and urging them to think carefully before speaking.
The 59-year-old actor-comedian said, "Everyone should stay within their limits. My only request is that, for a few laughs or a few likes, people should avoid saying things that are inappropriate or scandalous. If you feel something you are about to say could cause trouble later, try to control it."
Emphasising the need to think before speaking, Asgar said comedians must be prepared to face the consequences of their words.
"Don't speak first and think later; think first and then speak. Whatever you say, people will hold on to it, and you will have to face the consequences. Creating comedy is not easy. You are all talented and have such a large following. Try doing more family-oriented content as well. People are already used to watching and listening to you, and your shows are successful. If you do a few such shows, the trend itself may begin to change," he said.
The actor also pointed to comedian Zakir Khan as an example for aspiring comics to follow.
"Just look at Zakir (Khan). Mashaallah, see how far he has come. Follow him. Look at the journey he has had—he is a role model. I have never met him personally, but from watching him and listening to him, he seems like someone who remains grounded. His comedy feels relatable to everyone," Asgar said.
Speaking about the growing trend of shock humour, Asgar said relying on abusive language and personal attacks may offer easy laughs but can have long-term consequences.
"Using abusive language or going below the belt is very easy. But why do something that hurts others? That is definitely wrong. Once in a while, it may happen, but don't build your entire career around it, otherwise it will eventually create problems for you. Keep your foundation clear - whatever you do, do it in a neat and clean manner. Don't do something just because someone else is doing it. They may have gotten away with it, but that doesn't mean you will too," he said.
Asgar, however, clarified that despite often being associated with comedy, he sees himself primarily as an actor. He also recalled being deeply inspired by legendary actor-comedian Mehmood.
"People often associate me with stand-up comedy, but I am not a stand-up comedian; I am an actor. The person I followed was Mehmood sahab. I was obsessed with him. I had a collection of all his films. Even in between shoots, I would watch films like Gumnaam and many others. I am such a huge fan of his. In the film industry, people often say you need that 'bug' or passion for cinema. I developed that by watching Mehmood sahab's films and closely observing him," the actor added.
All about the controversies
The controversy involving Pranit More began after a clip from one of his performances went viral on social media. During the interaction, audience member Himanshu Jangra spoke about spending around Rs 370 on biryani during a date and later suggested that paying for a meal entitled him to intimacy.
The remarks drew criticism online, with several social media users calling the mindset problematic and accusing it of reducing relationships to a transaction.
Meanwhile, the India's Got Latent controversy began after YouTuber-podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia made a remark during an episode of the show that drew sharp criticism online.
During an interaction with a contestant, he posed a controversial question that many social media users deemed offensive and inappropriate, sparking widespread outrage.
Ali Asgar, best known for playing Kamal Agarwal in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii and Daadi in The Kapil Sharma Show, is currently busy with Paritosh Painter's comedy play Tom & Jerry. The actor stars alongside Aasif Sheikh and Shilpa Shinde in the comedy of errors, which revolves around a series of hilarious misunderstandings and situational humour.
