Krushna Abhishek has replaced Kapil Sharma on Comedy Nights

The comedic offerings on Hindi television may be sparse and over-the-top but behind the scenes, there is intense competition. Comedians Kapil Sharma and Krushna Abhishek started out as rivals in 2008 on an improvisational humour show, where the former often outwitted all other participants. When Abhishek finished second in the contest on one occasion, he was admittedly incensed enough to bang his trophy on the floor. So it must have seemed like redemption when he recently replaced Sharma as host of the popular weekend series Comedy Nights.

Abhishek, who is the nephew of Hindi film star Govinda, broke into the scene in 2002 with unmemorable films such as Yeh Kaisi Mohabbat Hai and Hum Tum aur Mother. After a stint in Bhojpuri films, he came into the limelight with a small-screen opportunity. He had a long run on Comedy Circus, where duos would perform light-hearted skits, and this won him a spot on Nach Baliye, a celebrity couple dance show, in which he appeared with his wife, actress Kashmira Shah. Next came various stints hosting reality shows. Comedy Nights Live, earlier called Comedy Nights with Kapil, is easily his biggest break so far.

Launched in 2013, Comedy Nights with Kapil quickly became a phenomenon and made Sharma the hottest property on television. The hinterland comedian, known for his rapid and deadpan style, became a household name. Celebrities were keen to appear on the show, loosely modelled on the format of Kumars at No. 42, with elements of standup, sketch comedy and celebrity interviews. Aired on Colors, it was billed the top weekend show for several months. Soon, Sharma shifted his attention to films and the TV show went from two episodes to one per week. Its popularity dwindled and rumours about the show's imminent cancellation flew about for long before it happened in December.

According to reports, Sharma had often requested Abhishek to appear on the show while he was still hosting but the invitations were turned down because Abhishek felt his talent would not get adequate airtime. While he was unavailable for comment for this piece, the new host has maintained in various interviews that the two are friends. While Sharma liked to perform stand-up and sing, Abhishek dons the make-up and routinely appears in drag, an activity that was earlier limited to the support cast.

"Everyone, including actress Madhuri Dixit, looks like Om Puri in the photo that appears on their Aadhaar card." This quip, written or perhaps simply delivered by presenter Abhishek, was one of the rare, somewhat funny moments in the first episode of the revamped Comedy Nights. Less generous viewers could go without cracking a smile throughout the episode's run. It was filled with digs at Sharma who is not present to indulge in repartee. Other than the addition of new faces, however, not much has changed. The set, the abundance of insult comedy, and the format of the show are the same.

In terms of appeal and popularity Sharma leads and Abhishek follows. To that extent, this is a loss. Audiences will take a long while to settle down, says branding expert Harish Bijoor. His view seems to be echoed by the comment box on Colors' website, one of which asks Abhishek to "stop copying Kapil". Another says the show "is not possible without Kapil." Brand strategist Samit Sinha adds in cases like Koffee with Karan or The Oprah Winfrey Show, the show and the host become inextricably linked. "If you continue with the format and replace them, then the person taking over has to bring something extraordinary to the table."

Abhishek seems to be prepared for brickbats for his new gig. "I was expecting bad reviews," he said in a chat with entertainment blog MissMalini.com. "I am filling Kapil's shoes, so people will be angry. But memory is short. No actor is god."