Fans of The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 3 quickly noticed a familiar face missing from the new season. Actor and comedian Rajiv Thakur, who appeared in earlier seasons, is absent from the current lineup that features Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, and Sunil Grover. In a candid interview with Pinkvilla, Rajiv finally addressed the reason behind his absence and shared exciting updates on his return to stand-up comedy.
“Nobody Takes a Break from a Big Show,” says Rajiv
Rajiv jokingly remarked, “Itne bade show se koi rest nahi leta, obviously aapko nikala gaya hoga,” before clarifying that his exit wasn’t dramatic. Instead, it boiled down to scheduling conflicts and lack of space in the tightly packed format.
He explained, “Maybe some dates didn’t match. They were calling me in between episodes, but I had other commitments. Once I commit, I like to stick to it. Also, they have strict time constraints—only 55 minutes per episode. With Kiku, Krushna, and the guest already taking up time, there’s little space left.”
A New Comedy Phase Inspired by Samay Raina
Rajiv revealed that he recently returned to stand-up comedy, encouraged by comedian Samay Raina, who motivated him to post a set online. The video received strong praise, reigniting Rajiv’s passion for the format.
Gen Z Aur 90s Waale Tour Begins
Riding the wave of his renewed stand-up journey, Rajiv announced an India tour for his comedy special Gen Z Aur 90s Waale.
The tour begins at Guftagu Comedy Club in Gurgaon on August 8, followed by Delhi on August 9. He will later perform in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow, and end the tour in Kanpur on September 28.
The Great Indian Kapil Show Welcomes New Faces
Season 3 of the show launched in June, welcoming back Navjot Singh Sidhu alongside Archana Puran Singh. A new interactive format invites fans on stage to showcase their talents. The season opened with Salman Khan, and the next episode will feature Parineeti Chopra and her husband, Raghav Chadha.
While Rajiv is missing from this season, he remains an audience favorite and his fans now have the chance to catch him live on stage, where his comic timing continues to shine.