Kapil Sharma finally breaks his silence on his show ending and his health issues

By Subhash K. Jha -

September 8, 2017 - 3:10 PM IST

Kapil, what has happened to you, where are you?
Nothing serious, sir. Main thoda phisal gaya ttha. Abb sambhal gaya hoon (I slipped now I’ve regained composure). Health issues hain. I’ve checked into an Ayurveda clinic for complete detoxification. They’re saying I’ve to stay here for forty days. But I won’t be able to stay that long. I’ve a film coming up in November.

Kapil Sharma finally breaks his silence on his show ending and his health issues

Kapil, the film can wait. Health hai toh sab kuch hai. What happened to you?
Nothing that some physical and rest and natural healing can’t cure. Sir, this was bound to happen. I was not taking care of myself. I had begun to neglect my health because of overwork. I’d be travelling back and forth, shooting two back-to-back episodes of my show, and then shooting for my film Firangi. I was not eating or sleeping on time. My health was bound to suffer, and it did.

But shouldn’t the people close to you have warned you that you were overdoing it?
Perhaps I was not listening to people. Perhaps I was too busy looking into my professional commitments to stop and take a deep breath. Now that I am here I already feel rejuvenated.

Awful things were written about your health and your tantrums. It was said that stars were turned away because you refused to shoot with them?
Do you think I am so stupid as to turn away big stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn? They all knew what my problem was. They all saw how I was suffering. They were all very caring. None of them minded. Only a section of the media made me sound like this arrogant monster that was using his health as an excuse to turn away stars just to satisfy my ego.

Have you been in touch with the stars who couldn’t shoot because of your health?
All the stars have been very supportive. Arjun Rampal had to go without recording. But he came back because he knew what I was going through. When Anil Kapoorji came and I was not up to shooting, I decided I will stay on the set and just sit there quietly. But when he saw my condition he refused to shoot and told me to take it easy. The stars have been wonderful. Only a section of the media had a problem.

Why didn’t you clarify your position?
Main aapko sach bataaon? Main bahot emotional kissim ka insaan hoon. When I see that things are not going the way they should be I just clam up. I’ve never bothered with marketing myself. I never had a PR. Maybe that’s why some sections of the media took it on themselves to write whatever they wanted. I was shocked to hear about the things being written about me. Most of them were untrue.

What about the incident on the flight back from Australia where you allegedly abused Sunil Grover and other members of the team?
(Falls silent) I admit there was a problem. And I’ve paid a heavy price for it. But what was reported was grossly exaggerated and almost entirely fabricated. It was said that I asked that food be served to me first on the flight and that I got angry and I threw a shoe at Sunil. Sir, you’ve known me for some years. Do you think I am capable of such behaviour?

If it wasn’t true why didn’t you come forward to clarify?
Like I told you, when I am misunderstood I clam up. But now I realize it was a mistake to not put forward the truth. A section of the media took advantage of my silence. Painted me as an arrogant brat. All these stories of shoe-throwing and tantrums were started in a section of the digital media.

But people from your own team were leaking out details?
Main kya bolun? Maybe I should be more careful about the people I trust.

Would you say the airborne incident broke you emotionally?
It affected me deeply. I started drinking heavily. It was so unnecessary. And so painful to m. Sunil Grover, Chandan, Ali Asgar are all my friends. How could this happen?

Have you tried getting Sunil back on the show?
Yes, I have. But I think he has other commitments now, like live performances, etc. But he knows the show is as much his as mine and open to him any time he wants.

Has the Kapil Sharma Show been shut down for good?
No, we’ve taken a temporary break because my body and mind needed to repair and heal.

What is your message to your fans?
I am not done yet. My show is far from over. We will be coming back stronger than ever as soon I’ve recovered. Please bear with me. Please pray for me.