The Kapil Sharma Showhas been given a month's extension by channel heads, reports mid-day. The contract of the show with Sony Entertainment Television was scheduled to expire in two weeks from now.
The embattled show is hosted by comedian Kapil Sharma, who is accused of assaulting his former co-star Sunil Grover on a flight from Australia to Mumbai. "The skit-cum-chat show's contract with Sony Entertainment Television expires in less than two weeks, but in a rather generous gesture, the channel has decided to offer a month's extension," mid-day quoted a source as saying.
There was uncertainty over whether or not the comedy series would continue and in what form after Mr Sharma was reported to have abused Mr Grover and threatened to end his career. Sunil Grover and other co-stars Ali Asgar, Chandan Prabhakar and Sugandha Mishra have all quit The Kapil Sharma Show, ratings for which have reportedly taken a beating.
While Raju has joined the team of The Kapil Sharma Show in what may be a permanent slot, he has been at pains to say that he is not a replacement of Sunil.
“I met Sunil recently. He was shooting for Indian Idol right next to where we were shooting for our show. He told me, ‘Raju Bhai, you know me since so long. It’s not like I’m arrogant ya mujhe koi popularity ka nasha hua hai. But mere saath bahut galat hua hai. I’ll not come back on the show. Agar Kapil sudhar jaye, phir bhi main vapis nai aaunga,” Raju Srivastava told .
Kapil Sharma, who turned 36 on Sunday and reportedly received no birthday wishes from his former co-stars, was allegedly drunk on a plane out of Melbourne and was reportedly infuriated when his cast mates began eating without him. He allegedly abused Sunil Grover and hit him with a shoe when the actor intervened. None of this, reported by anonymous eyewitnesses, has been corroborated by the actors.
Raju Srivastava, speaking to media earlier, had said, “I have been trying hard to sort out things between them but as per the current situation, Sunil seems to be very angry. Whenever I have texted him in these days, his replies have been such, ‘Paaji I am travelling. I will tell you everything when we will meet.’
Ali and Chandan also agree with Sunil as they say that Kapil has changed now. He is not how he used to be earlier. There’s no update on their return as well.” Raju has also revealed that Kapil is confident that Sunil will return, “When I asked Kapil about it last week, he said, ‘We will sit and talk and things will sort out. Do-do peg maareinge, sab sahi hojayega,’ he joked with me.”
Kapil Sharma wrote a Facebook post that appeared to gloss over the alleged assault and followed it with a Twitter apology. It was coldly received by Sunil Grover, who responded with a Twitter post warning Mr Sharma against 'acting like God.'
Last week, Sunil Grover, 39, addressed a note to his fans in which he confessed he feels "a little lost" and "wants to surrender himself to good work, good people."
