In the wake of Akshay Kumar’s The Great Indian Laughter Challenge falling TRPs, the showrunners have replaced mentors Mallika Dua, Hussain Dalal and Zakir Khan by filmmaker Sajid Khan and actor Shreyas Talpade. Yes, you heard it right! Sajid Khan and Shreyas Talpade will join Akshay at the judge’s panel.

The last few seasons were a big draw. But, this season didn't kick off on a great note. The makers arrived at the decision after seeing the dismal TRPs (TV rating), a source close to the project informed a leading tabloid.

Filmmaker Sajid Khan of Housefull series and Heyy Babyy fame, turned out as a popular choice as a judge while Shreyas was finalised after he appeared on the sets of the show for the promotion of  his forthcoming film Golmaal Again directed by Rohit Shetty, which also stars Ajay Devgn, Parineeti Chopra, Tabu, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Kunal Khemu, Prakash Raj and Neil Nitin Mukesh.

Shreyas was signed on the dotted line Saturday and Sajid finished the paperwork Sunday, the source added. The change in judge panel will come into effect from October end. While Mallika Dua, Zakir Khan and Hussain Dalal will be a part of the Diwali weekend specials, episodes shot with Sajid Khan and Shreyas Talpade will go on air from October 28.

“We would like to thank mentors Zakir Khan, Mallika Dua and Hussain Dalal for giving us our final contestants. We now move from mentors to judges Sajid Khan and Shreyas Talpade,” producer Ashvini Yardi told the tabloid.

The Great Indian Laughter Challenge was first aired on September 30.