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Sunil Grover clears the air on his talked about exit from a TV show
Allegation No: 1
You were the big draw of Comedy Nights with Kapil but your demand for a hike didn't go down well the channel.
My contract was getting over and that's why I started negotiations with the channel and what followed left a bad taste because I was simply asking for I hike I deserved. Initially it was a straight 'No', later they told me to 'work on freelance basis' and finally agreed to my terms. This process went on for a month during which they introduced new characters that they hoped would be as popular. Unfortunately, they did not succeed and I had had enough. But now they don't want me to take the character to another show. If your wife leaves you, don't you have the right to remarry? But I wasn't a wife, only a 'no strings attached prostitute' who was given a stipulated time to carry out a job.
Allegations No: 2
Buzz is, Kapil Sharma has created all the characters in the show
I refuse to believe this because he didn't tell me so. But let me clarify that I created Guthi. I had used the name Guthi in Comedy Circus earlier. I was hired to play multiple characters in Comedy Nights With Kapil when suddenly one day the creative team decided I should play Guthi.
Allegation No: 3
Reportedly, Kapil and you didn't hit it off.
No, there was no problem between us. Sometimes, people around you try to create misunderstandings.
Allegation No: 4
Guthi's popularity apparently made Kapil insecure.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the show is named after Kapil. He is the monitor of the class. There were days when we didn't speak to each other, but that was because we were preoccupied. Let me leave with dignity. I didn't even announce my withdrawal. In fact, I did seven episodes even after my contract ended. The show gave me the biggest platform to showcase my acting potential. But today, I can say that I saved the broadcasters by voluntarily opting out. Guthi could take on different forms as a result of which the character grew bigger by the time. A time may have come when they would have felt impelled to clip my wings.
Allegation No: 5
You plan to take Guthi to a rival channel.
I've been getting a lot of offers since I opted out. This is the best phase of my career, why shouldn't I cash in on it? I reserve the right to take my art and skills further. Salim-Javed gave Amitabh Bachchan the name Vijay, I gave myself the name Guthi. If Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan could play Vijay and Rahul in so many movies, why can't I play Guthi again? The channel has issued a public notice that underlines the fact that I cannot adapt Guthi's character in a new show. That is equivalent to compelling me to stop working. But I won't stop. I am here to act. I might never have played Guthi again had things been sorted out amicably. But I don't like someone forcibly stopping me. Now, I want to retain the rights to the name. But if they get another actor playing Guthi on Comedy Nights With Kapil, I will not oppose because this show gave me a platform that changed my life. This controversy has only made me bigger.
Viacom18 says: We have sole, exclusive, absolute and unlimited ownership rights on all the intellectual property rights of the artiste associated with the programme including the rights in the format of the programme, the character of Guthi and/or mannerisms characteristics of Guthi.
Allegation No: 1
You were the big draw of Comedy Nights with Kapil but your demand for a hike didn't go down well the channel.
My contract was getting over and that's why I started negotiations with the channel and what followed left a bad taste because I was simply asking for I hike I deserved. Initially it was a straight 'No', later they told me to 'work on freelance basis' and finally agreed to my terms. This process went on for a month during which they introduced new characters that they hoped would be as popular. Unfortunately, they did not succeed and I had had enough. But now they don't want me to take the character to another show. If your wife leaves you, don't you have the right to remarry? But I wasn't a wife, only a 'no strings attached prostitute' who was given a stipulated time to carry out a job.
Allegations No: 2
Buzz is, Kapil Sharma has created all the characters in the show
I refuse to believe this because he didn't tell me so. But let me clarify that I created Guthi. I had used the name Guthi in Comedy Circus earlier. I was hired to play multiple characters in Comedy Nights With Kapil when suddenly one day the creative team decided I should play Guthi.
Allegation No: 3
Reportedly, Kapil and you didn't hit it off.
No, there was no problem between us. Sometimes, people around you try to create misunderstandings.
Allegation No: 4
Guthi's popularity apparently made Kapil insecure.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the show is named after Kapil. He is the monitor of the class. There were days when we didn't speak to each other, but that was because we were preoccupied. Let me leave with dignity. I didn't even announce my withdrawal. In fact, I did seven episodes even after my contract ended. The show gave me the biggest platform to showcase my acting potential. But today, I can say that I saved the broadcasters by voluntarily opting out. Guthi could take on different forms as a result of which the character grew bigger by the time. A time may have come when they would have felt impelled to clip my wings.
Allegation No: 5
You plan to take Guthi to a rival channel.
I've been getting a lot of offers since I opted out. This is the best phase of my career, why shouldn't I cash in on it? I reserve the right to take my art and skills further. Salim-Javed gave Amitabh Bachchan the name Vijay, I gave myself the name Guthi. If Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan could play Vijay and Rahul in so many movies, why can't I play Guthi again? The channel has issued a public notice that underlines the fact that I cannot adapt Guthi's character in a new show. That is equivalent to compelling me to stop working. But I won't stop. I am here to act. I might never have played Guthi again had things been sorted out amicably. But I don't like someone forcibly stopping me. Now, I want to retain the rights to the name. But if they get another actor playing Guthi on Comedy Nights With Kapil, I will not oppose because this show gave me a platform that changed my life. This controversy has only made me bigger.
Viacom18 says: We have sole, exclusive, absolute and unlimited ownership rights on all the intellectual property rights of the artiste associated with the programme including the rights in the format of the programme, the character of Guthi and/or mannerisms characteristics of Guthi.
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