Superstar Salman Khan, who is producing The Kapil Sharma Show, has asked Navjot Singh Sidhu to step down from the show after his comments in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, a leading website reports. But the final decision is on hold. Sources told the website that Sony Entertainment Channel, on which The Kapil Sharma Show airs, was unsure of the stand that it should take on Sidhu after his comments but it was Salman, who immediately called him after the controversy and announced his decision.
The Kapil Sharma Show has been garnering good TRPs and sources suggest that Salman isn’t willing to take the risk by allowing Sidhu to continue with fans protesting violently against the politician and his appearance on the show.
[caption id="attachment_214378" align="aligncenter" width="750"] Kapil Sharma and Navjot Singh Sidhu[/caption]
"When this entire controversy happened, the channel was still not sure on what decision to make. It was the producer of the show, Salman Khan’s immediate decision to ask Sidhu to step down from the show. Obviously, as a producer, Salman did not want to take a chance especially when so much money has been involved in its production. The show is doing well in terms of TRP and Salman doesn’t want to lose it just for the sake of one person. And so, he decided to take a call immediately,” a source was quoted as saying by the website.
Another source, however, told the website that while Sidhu will not be shooting a few episodes at the moment, the final decision on his exit from the show is on hold since Salman wants the “matter to cool down.”
[caption id="attachment_206741" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Salman Khan photographed in Mumbai[/caption]
In the meantime, reports of Archana Puran Singh replacing Sidhu on the show have surfaced but asked about it, she told a leading daily that nothing has been finalized yet. “I don’t know if I am replacing Sidhu permanently. I had shot for two episodes because he was busy with his political commitments. In the past too, many times when Sidhu had other commitments, I had stepped in for him on the show,” Archana told the daily.
Navjot Singh Sidhu was reportedly sacked from The Kapil Sharma Show following his remarks that “nations cannot be held responsible for the dastardly acts of terrorists” and that the dialogue with Islamabad should continue. He was censured for his comments severely.
As many as 49 CRPF troopers lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 in which their convoy was attacked. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for it.