After hosting the popular talk show (The Shotgun Show), you are back to small screen as a judge in a laughter show.
I had a lot of offers in the past but nothing has interested me too much. I have seen The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in the past and I really like the concept of the show. There is a lot of talent in India that needs to be explored and this show serves as a platform for all those people. I’m very happy to be associated with the show and along with Navjot Singh Sidhu, I’m hoping to present to Indian audience something unique and different this time. Due to date problems and my other social and political commitments, I could not do the show last year. So when Star One insisted that I become the judge this year, I could not say no.

How do you think judging is different from hosting?
When hosting, you are judging yourself constantly but while judging you have to judge others. This time with our favourite, friendly and lively Sidhu. And what marks you give to the contestants can make a vast difference to their career. So, they are entirely different from each other. But both the roles are extremely challenging.

With general elections approaching, do you think the shows popular format is going to give you a pan-Indian reach and also enable you to connect with the youth who haven’t seen your films?
Indeed, it is a fact that the third time I have not gone to the Rajya Sabha and first time I hope to fight Lok Sabha General Elections from Patna. In between, I’m utilising this time to do this creative show. I’m fortunate enough to have my popularity, image, desirability and reach not only across India but some other parts of the world also especially among younger generation. So, I don’t think it should be linked with elections. I am a people’s actor, doing a show which in true sense is common man’s show.