Exclusive - Bharti Singh opens up on Laughter Chefs 2's success, memories of Sidharth Shukla, and wish to reunite with Kapil Sharma and Krushna for a stand-up show

Bharti Singh, who is known for her impeccable comedy skills, is currently seen hosting Laughter Chefs season 2. In an exclusive conversation, the comedy queen gets candid about her journey, both personal and professional. From celebrating the overwhelming success of Laughter Chefs 2 to emotionally recalling her memories with the late Sidharth Shukla, Bharti shares it all with honesty and heart. She also opens up about her deep love for stand-up comedy and expresses her heartfelt wish to reunite with Kapil Sharma and Krushna Abhishek for a full-fledged stand-up show, a format she dearly misses. (Photo: Instagram)

We came for 8 episodes and now we have finished two successful seasons. The moment we wrapped up the shooting of Laughter Chefs 2, the TRP of the show was just soaring high. I feel so happy and excited about the love we get because of this show. A lot of hard work goes behind making this show. You all have been to our sets and have seen how glamorous we look when we arrive to shoot for the show. But by the time we wrap up shooting for the day, we are so tired that nobody cares about their makeup, lipstick, Kajal, costume. Koi bhi seedha chal ke nahi jaate aisa lagta hai sabki bahot pitai hui hai. There are all masalas on our costumes, hands. We just look forward to going home as the show is so tiring and completely raw. (Photo: Instagram)

Today, the audience is very smart. They get to know if something is scripted. There are so many shows on television which are full of drama, misery, and emotions but our show only spreads laughter and smiles. There were fights as well to make dishes and steal good items. In fact, after eating Samarth and Abhishek’s food, I damaged one of my teeth and I will be visiting a dentist in a day or two. The show is extremely raw and unfiltered and that’s the reason people loved it so much. We are at number five position on TRP charts and as we say that we should leave something on a high note, jab taaliyaan baj rahi ho tab bolo thank you. (Photo: Instagram)

We are at number five position on TRP charts and as we say that we should end good things on a high note, jab taaliyaan baj rahi ho tab bolo thank you. We are ending the show with all the love and applause with a promise that we will return soon with season 3. I hope the makers will retain all of us for the new season. (Photo: Instagram)

I love Abhishek, Samarth, Karan, Elvish, they are like Gola to me. First I’d only one sone but now they all are like my son or younger brothers to me. They don’t even know how to knead the dough or what is to be mixed. They used to keep calling me didi during the shoot and by the end of the day, their voices used to echo my ears. Even after pack-up, I used to hear their voices at home. I formed a close bond with all of them. Like Elvish I met him for the first time, he would travel to Mumbai every week for the Laughter Chefs shoot. As soon as he landed in Mumbai, he would give me a call at morning 4-4:30 and ask about the breakfast menu. I used to make sure to carry breakfast for him on the sets. (Photo: Instagram)

Whenever he was in Mumbai for any shoot, he would call up and ask him what’s there for lunch and I would send him food out of love. I understand how it feels to stay away from your family in Mumbai for work. Main bhi kisi aur shehar se aakar iss shehar mein settle hui hoon. During that phase, I never called anyone and nobody helped me but I know how much outsiders miss ghar ka khana when they are away from home. So whenever he asked me “Didi aaj khane mein kya hai?” I used to just wake-up and cook for him. (Photo: Instagram)

I don't really miss it because I still get to perform during live shows and events—ones that aren’t televised. Those live performances allow me to satisfy my inner desire to do stand-up comedy. That’s where I truly get to express myself. Plus, I do a lot of stand-up at home too, especially while managing the household after work. Whether it’s cooking in the kitchen or just spending time with family. I troll Haarsh a lot. He's like a coconut—what you see in the vlogs is exactly how he is. Tough on the outside, but soft on the inside. (Photo: Instagram)

Honestly, I really miss doing stand-up with Krushna and Kapil. I truly feel there should be a show where all of us stand-up comedians come together again to perform, because now it's our time. It should be like a sprint-relay race which passes from one comedian to another. There should be pure stand-up, filled with fun and laughter. We all miss it deeply and when we do stand-up, it's something special. There's no script, just a situation, audience, and us. It's all impromptu, and that raw, real energy is what makes it magical. Especially, when I'm performing, I don't even realise that I had to perform only for 1 hour, main bus phail jaati hoon and coordinator saamne se ishaare karta hai, we have exceeded the time, wrap-up, but the energy that we get from the audience, makes us perform for them. (Photo: Instagram)

My first hosting stint was India’s Got Talent with Sidharth Shukla. That show will always be special to me. I still come across the old clips sometimes and yes, I was quite fat back then. I don’t really watch those clips now, but what I truly miss is Sidharth. I miss him deeply. When Sidharth passed away, I was pregnant, around my third or fourth month. You know how mothers always tell you not to go out or avoid certain things during that time. That morning, when I woke up and saw the news, I thought it was just a bad rumour. I went completely silent for 3-4 days. (Photo: Instagram)

No one disturbed me, not even Haarsh. He didn’t ask me anything, probably because I was pregnant and he didn’t want to upset me. I stayed quiet, it was so hard for me to accept that he was gone. Even now, when we say “he’s no more,” it doesn’t feel real. It still feels like he’s around. I never truly felt that he left. When you open Instagram, it’s like he’s still part of this world somehow. I believe that people we love never really leave us. They may stop being visible, but they stay with us, in memories, in presence, in feeling. And Sidharth, he will always be with us. (Photo: Instagram)