As he prepared for the release of Welcome to the Jungle, Akshay Kumar Revealing the ever-evolving nature of comedy and why making audiences laugh has become more difficult in the age of social media. While Akshay was primarily known for action films at the beginning of his career, he slowly moved away from it and moved towards comedy. The actor is widely accepted in the genre and continues to be loved for his films like “Hera Pheri”, “Garam Masala”, “Bhagam Bhaag”, etc. which have become iconic among the audiences over time. However, the actor feels that comedy is much more difficult now than before.The actor, who recently starred in “Bhooth Bangla”, feels that the vast amount of comedy content available online has raised the bar for filmmakers and performers. Akshay said that while humor remains a powerful form of entertainment, today’s audience is constantly exposed to jokes, memes and funny videos on multiple platforms.“It has become more challenging. Today, movies, memes and comedy content are everywhere. But comedy is like a big river that never dries up. Comedy comes in many forms, there is physical comedy, sitcom, slapstick comedy, black humour,” he told PTI in an interview.The 58-year-old actor pointed out that movies are no longer the only source of laughter for audiences, with digital platforms providing an endless supply of humorous content.“There are countless ways to make people laugh. If you open Instagram, you’ll find endless memes and funny videos. People watch comedy every day. There are so many comedy shows and talented stand-up comedians creating fresh material. But making people laugh is still one of the hardest things. People often underestimate comedy. I have a lot of respect for stand-up comedians. It’s very difficult to stand in front of an audience alone and make people laugh.“Welcome to the Jungle is the latest installment in the popular Welcome to the Jungle series, following a chaotic mix of gangsters, criminals and eccentric characters whose lives intertwine in the jungle near the Borderlands. What starts out as a movie-shooting operation quickly evolves into a series of bizarre situations involving crime, mayhem and action.The film stars Akshay Kumar and also stars Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Raveena TandonArshad Warsi, Lara Dutta and several other actors.One aspect of the trailer that grabs viewers’ attention is its self-deprecating humor. Akshay revealed that he doesn’t mind being the butt of others’ jokes, in fact, he enjoys it.“I think making fun of myself is much better than making fun of other people. If I make fun of another person, it’s not fun. But if I make fun of myself, it’s much healthier. For example, there’s a scene where Jackie’s character says, ‘Maine aapko kahin dekha hai.’ Sunil replies, ‘Aap flop filmein bhi dekhte hain?”Recalling his reaction when he heard the line, Akshay added, “When the director and writer narrated this line to me, I immediately said, ‘This is cute. Just do it. Why do I have a problem? Didn’t I make a failed film? Everyone has it. There is nothing wrong with accepting it. That’s why this joke works so well. “The actor also spoke about playing a former Bhojpuri film star in the film and how much he enjoyed preparing for the role. To get into character, he spent time studying the performances of some of the biggest names in the industry.“I really enjoyed preparing for this song. I watched around 30 to 40 Bhojpuri songs before shooting for this song. I watched the songs of Ravi Kishan ji, Pawan ji and many others. ““I wanted to understand their style, rhythm and way of performing. I realized that Bhojpuri performers bring a huge amount of energy to their work. There is a sense of freedom in the way they perform. You cannot have any inhibition while performing. This energy has to flow naturally. I learned a lot by observing them.”Considering the growing trend of franchise films in Bollywood, Akshay dismissed the idea that sequels or established brands automatically guarantee box-office success.“It’s neither a risk nor a safe bet. If the film is good, it’s a good thing. If the film is bad, it doesn’t matter if it’s a franchise. Recently, my film Bhooth Bangla came out. It’s not a franchise. God is merciful and people like it. Ultimately, it all depends on the film itself.”The Welcome series started with the 2007 comedy blockbuster starring Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar, Anil KapoorParesh Rawal, katrina kaif and the late Feroze Khan. Welcome Back followed in 2015. Now, the franchise is back with an even bigger cast and scope with Welcome to the Jungle , which hits theaters this Friday.
