Kidnapping of comedians has gone unreported: Ahsaan Qureshi

Popular stand-up comedian Ahsaan Qureshi has raised concerns about the alarming trend of comedian kidnappings in India, which, according to him, have been happening for some time but have largely gone unnoticed.

Referring to the recent abduction of comedian Sunil Pal on December 2, Qureshi stated, “Kidnapping has been happening for a while. In the past, when such incidents occurred, the victims would pay a ransom and be released. In fact, no complaints were being filed, which only encouraged the culprits.”

He further explained, “The kidnappers thought it was an easy way to make money, so the scam continued. But when Sunil Pal’s wife, who is an advocate, advised him to file a complaint, it brought attention to the issue. Actor Mushtaq Khan also spoke out later. So far, ten artists have come forward to share their experiences of being kidnapped and losing money.”

Qureshi emphasised that this disturbing trend must stop. “How can you steal the smiles of those who make you laugh?” he asked.

Talking about his journey, Qureshi said that comedy is a god-gifted talent for him. “I’ve been doing this since childhood. I would say anything, and people would laugh. That made me realise it was an interesting genre to explore and make people laugh,” he shared.

He also revealed that, at one point, he had considered a career in sports. “I used to play hockey and football. But then I realised it wouldn’t provide food for my family, and I needed to earn money,” said Qureshi, whose father was a wrestler. “I wanted to do something where I could make money and also make people laugh, so I chose comedy.”

Discussing his journey on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, Qureshi recalled how the show’s director, Pankaj Saraswat, believed in their talent.

“Pankaj took our clippings and showed them to TV producers. They initially doubted that anyone would watch comedians with ‘ugly’ faces, since most TV shows at the time featured glamorous actors. But Pankaj Ji had a vision, and the show was launched,” he said. Qureshi was a runner-up on the show.

He also spoke about comedian Kapil Sharma, the winner of Season 3 of the show. “Kapil is a hero and a star. He’s everyone’s favourite and remains a grounded person,” Qureshi praised.

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Reflecting on his own career, Qureshi shared, “I’ve been doing comedy shows for 20 years. People continue to love us. We’ve earned the love of three generations since our TV journey began.” He added, “Making someone laugh is a sacred job. If you get the chance to do it, you should.”

He expressed happiness at seeing people from various fields, such as engineering and medicine, joining the stand-up comedy scene. “Now, doctors, engineers, and professionals from other fields are switching to comedy and even starting their own YouTube channels,” he said.

Qureshi also credited films like 3 Idiots for inspiring many parents to support their children’s career choices. “These films have encouraged parents to allow their children to pursue their passions. ‘Don’t force your kids into anything—let them do what they want,’” he remarked. “That’s why we’re seeing so many fresh faces entering stand-up comedy.”

Qureshi spoke fondly of Delhi’s vibrant audience. “Delhi has an interesting audience that truly values the art. I love performing here because the people always appreciate your work,” he said.