CENSORING

Can't mimic Modi or Rahul, Indian comedian told

shyam-rangeela-facebook (File) Comedian Shyam Rangeela | Facebook

Comedian Shyam Rangeela, a contestant on a laughter show on Indian television, says he was asked to avoid mimicking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi—something he considers his forte.

"The Great Indian Laughter Challenge" is aired on Star Plus. Bollywood star Akshay Kumar is the Super Judge.

"I got a chance to be a part of this show because of my mimicry. But when I gave my first performance while mimicking Modiji and Rahul (Gandhi), I was informed to do some other act. Then I was informed that I can't do the Modi act and can mimic Rahul.

"So, I started making another script. But after a few days, I was again told not to mimic Rahul also. In the end, I performed the same script in my own voice—with just two days' rehearsals and got eliminated," Rangeela told IANS over phone.

The comedian is from Rajasthan. He says it was his "big dream" to be a part of such a big platform, but it turned out to be a "nightmare" as they didn't give him the freedom to perform what he was chosen for.

His performance mimicking Modi came into discussion when comedian Mallika Dua, a former judge of the show, raised concern regarding Akshay's remark at her, by sharing a video.

The video was reportedly a leaked portion of an episode shoot held around a month ago, and it was never aired by channel Star Plus.

It showcases Mallika's fellow judge Zakir Khan telling Akshay that they will also accompany him to 'ring a bell' as a mark of appreciation for Rangeela for the Modi act.

That's when Akshay says, "Mallikaji, 'Aap bell bajao, main aap ko bajata hun' (You ring the bell, I will bang you)."

Mallika and her journalist father Vinod Dua on Wednesday condemned the comments and asked Akshay to apologize.

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