From requesting to keep Archana Puran Singh to recalling his 13 years long journey with Kapil Sharma; Navjot Singh Sidhu details his return with The Great India Kapil Show

When I became the MP in 2004, Deepak Dhar came to me and shared a great project requesting me to be a part of it. I had never imagined this journey would continue for so long. If you remember the first season in 2005, it had Sunil Pal, Ahsaan Qureshi, Bhagwant Maan and Raju Srivastava. Deepak told me that they wanted to title it as 'Great Indian Comedy Challenge' and I suggested to keep it as 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge'.

Speaking to his viewers, Navjot Singh Sidhu recalled his time as a judge on the show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, which spawned talents such as Kapil Sharma, Rajiv Thakur and Bharti Singh. He stated, "Kapil Sharma gained stardom after appearing on the show Laughter Challenge. Later, he was exploited in Comedy Circus; he lacked a personal identity."

Navjot Singh recalled Kapil Sharma requesting him for The Kapil Sharma Show, he said, "After my Bigg Boss stint, Kapil Sharma came to me and said, ‘Paaji, I have a request. If you agree to be part of my show, they will give me an independent show.’ I was like who, ‘He said Raj Nayak sahab’. Raj Nayak was the head of Colors back then. He wanted me to be the judge of the show. He wanted me as he wanted to increase the channel’s TRP. We met over breakfast and I agreed to do it."

Navjot Singh Sidhu revealed he often actively came up with suggestions for Kapil and he was the one who got the legendary actor Dharmendra as their first guest on The Kapil Sharma Show, "I suggested Kapil Sharma to work on the show’s format and how he should present it. When I came, we didn’t have any guests. I suggested him to bring Dharmendra on the show, and he did. When he came and shared rare anecdotes from his life and journey as an actor, it took the show’s TRP to another level. I had to leave the show for political reasons. Ever since people missed me on the show and requested me to be back on the show."

Also See:From Kapil Sharma to Archana Puran Singh: A look at the whopping salary of The Great Indian Kapil Show 3 star cast​

Navjot Singh Sidhu revealed that he requested for having Archana Puran Singh in the show despite his return, he said, "When it came to Archana Puran Singh, I just said one thing, ‘I am a devotee of Goddess Durga, how can I be the reason for her losing her job?’ I requested the makers to keep and her and now we will both appear on the show together. We are finally back together. All of us, Sunil Grover, Krushna Abhishek, we are all part of the same engine."