Johnny Lever Slams Modern Stand-Up Comedy for Vulgarity and Copying Hollywood

Veteran comedian Johnny Lever, who has generally avoided controversy throughout his career, has now openly expressed his anger and disappointment at the current state of stand-up comedy in India. In a recent podcast with Kunika Sadanand, Johnny Lever delivered a strong rebuke to today’s comedians, accusing them of relying on double meaning jokes and blindly following Hollywood trends.

Lever stated, “If we had done the kind of comedy seen today, these comedians wouldn’t even have the guts to stand in front of us.” He pointed out the rampant use of double entendre and adult humor, saying it has become far too common now. “Today’s comedians only follow Hollywood movies. Most actors now only watch English films and try to copy the same content.”

He further lamented, “People now use abusive language openly because of the influence of Hollywood films. It’s common to use foul language or crack dirty jokes in the West. Now, even our actors and comedians are copying that, and it’s become a habit. People think it’s okay to just take whatever comes from Hollywood, without worrying about the consequences. That’s the main reason why double meaning jokes are everywhere.”

Johnny Lever reflected on his own training, saying, “We were always taught never to do such things. If I used double meaning jokes, today’s comedians would not be able to stand alongside me. But I have never done that.”

He emphasized that making people laugh with clean content is much harder. “It takes time, but if someone has true talent, they will prove it by making people laugh with simple, good humor. If they are really talented, I challenge them to say something clean and still make people laugh. That’s the real test,” Lever challenged.

Lever clarified that he isn’t calling the new generation of comedians “bad,” and he acknowledges that audiences do enjoy their content. “But my audience is a family audience. I am answerable to them,” he added.

As an example, Johnny spoke about his own daughter, who also performs solo comedy shows. “She never crosses boundaries or resorts to vulgarity. She follows in the footsteps of her parents,” he said.

With a career spanning over 300 films since his debut in 1982, Johnny Lever is credited with introducing a new form of comedy to Bollywood. Over the decades, many actors and comedians have come and gone, but Johnny remains one of India’s biggest and most respected comedians.

Do you agree with Johnny Lever’s views? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Stay tuned to Bollywood Pe Charcha for more updates.