My antics don’t offend people, says Bharti Singh

Comedy Nights Bachao has undergone a major revamp. Mona Singh has taken over as host from Krushna Abhishek and Bharti Singh. Krushna and Bharti however, will continue to be part of the show given how popular they are with the audiences. In a candid chat, we talk to Bharti about the show, her love life and her take on Pakistani actors given the 48-hour ultimatum to leave India. Edited excerpts:

During your run as the host, you’ve gotten away with forceful pappis and a lot more on the show. How do you manage that I am not a model or daily soap actor — I am a fat woman. My weight works in my favour and I get away with almost everything. I have sat on the actors’ laps and smothered them with jhappis and pappis (hugs and kisses). I haven’t spared even the villains like Shakti Kapoor. My antics don’t offend people. I get away with flirting because of my weight. If a good-looking girl attempted this, it could look cheap. The actors too wouldn’t be as receptive. I easily told Shah Rukh Khan that since he has three kids, having two wives won’t hurt. I told him I am ready to marry him, and all he has to do is speak to his family. He took it sportingly had laughed over it.

Bollywood actors have expressed their reservations about appearing on Comedy Nights Bachao because of its below-the-belt humour. Is it tough getting guests week after week on the show It’s just that we start bombarding the actor with our jokes. They are briefed about the jokes, so why will the actors have a problem with it These actors know that they will be roasted on the show. They come prepared for it. In fact, every actor has told us that we could have roasted him or her a little more. People keep speculating about your love life. Your alleged kiss with Harsh Limbachiyaa made headlines. Are you dating him I am not the type who will do things to garner cheap publicity. Newspapers printed that story without even verifying facts with me. My family and I were hurt. I was travelling at that point, and when I came back I was aghast to see women from my building bitching about it. My mother asked me why I didn’t inform her about this development. If you are writing nasty stuff about me at least have the decency to confirm it with me. I roam around with my driver, so will people link me with him too I pull everyone’s leg on national television. So if I were dating someone, what makes them think that I won’t announce it to the world I am not eloping with someone. Why should I hide a relationship

Bharti, you have worked with Pakistani artist Shakeel Siddiqui for a long time. A political party has threatened Pakistani actors to leave the country within 48 hours. What’s your take on the whole controversy These actors are being made to pay for someone else’s misdoings. They come all the way here leaving their families behind so they could earn and feed their dear ones. People should think about it with a cool mind. I feel sorry for Shakeel bhai. We share a close relationship with him. He insists that we visit him. In fact, we were even planning to attend his daughter’s wedding in Pakistan. Now I doubt if we will be able to attend it.