Johnny Lever Criticises Modern Actors, Comedians for Copying Hollywood and Using Vulgar Jokes: ‘Inki Aukaat Nahi’

Johnny Lever Criticises Modern Comedians for Copying Hollywood, Using Vulgar Jokes: ‘Inki Aukaat Nahi’

Veteran comedian and Bollywood actor Johnny Lever, known for his iconic roles in Golmaal, Baazigar, Raja Hindustani, and Housefull, has taken a sharp dig at today’s generation of actors and stand-up comedians. In a candid conversation with Kunickaa Sadanand on her YouTube channel, Johnny voiced his concerns about the declining quality of comedy and the rising trend of vulgar, double-meaning jokes in modern entertainment.

‘Double Meaning Jokes Have Become a Habit’

Johnny didn’t hold back when asked about how comedy has changed over the years. He said, “Today’s generation of comedians has grown too comfortable with foul language and adult content, heavily influenced by Hollywood. In the West, this kind of humour is common, but now our performers are copying it blindly. They watch English content and think, ‘Chal jayega, kya farq padta hai.’ That’s why double-meaning jokes are everywhere now.”

‘Let’s See Them Try Clean Comedy’

Lever, who is known for his clean, family-friendly humour, openly challenged modern stand-up comedians to deliver laughs without resorting to adult jokes. “Most of today’s content is loaded with double meanings. But we were trained never to go down that path. If we did, these guys wouldn’t be able to stand next to us—inki aukaat nahi hogi saamne khade rehne ki. But we never chose vulgarity. If they truly have talent, I challenge them—do clean comedy and still make people laugh. That’s the real skill.”

He added that while he respects that the audience enjoys modern content, he feels a responsibility to cater to families. “I have a family audience. I have to answer to them.”

A Comedy Icon

Johnny Lever is widely credited with revolutionising Bollywood’s comic landscape, with legendary performances in films like Dulhe Raja, Baadshah, and Golmaal 3. His impeccable timing and expressive humour have set benchmarks for generations.

Recently seen in Housefull 5, a box office hit that earned ₹300 crore globally, Johnny is now gearing up for Welcome To The Jungle, alongside an ensemble cast including Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Arshad Warsi, and others. Directed by Ahmed Khan, the comedy entertainer is slated for release in December.