Actor and television host Shekhar Suman has addressed speculation surrounding his YouTube satire show ‘Shekhar Tonite’, saying it is a misconception that the programme targets the BJP-led government at the Centre. In an interview recently, he maintained that his commentary is directed at shortcomings in the system rather than any particular political party. He also said he does not believe Prime Minister Narendra Modi or his government would feel threatened by the show.Suman explained that his approach to political satire has remained consistent over the years, irrespective of which party is in power. Comparing the government to a class monitor, he said in an interview with The Lallantop, “If the class monitor lapses, the students would panic and hold him accountable, right? It doesn’t matter who the monitor is,” stressing that those in positions of authority must be held accountable for their actions.He cited his earlier television show ‘Movers & Shakers’, which first aired in 1997 when the BJP was in power at the Centre and returned in 2012 under the Congress-led government, as an example of his longstanding approach to satire.Emphasising that his comedy has never been about targeting a particular leader or party, Suman said, “Like we used to take digs at PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee earlier, we’d take digs at PM Manmohan Singh. We don’t comment on any person or any government, but on the system at large. If you’ve elected someone to lead the system, if they go astray, you point it out to them. That’s why it’s not anti-anyone, but pro-people. We’re just representing people and amplifying their voice. We’ll do that tomorrow as well when someone else would be in power,” he said.Suman added that he holds both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in high regard, but believes that criticism is justified when something goes wrong. “But when something wrong happens, it becomes legitimate to speak against that,” he said.Addressing concerns about social media videos critical of Modi allegedly being taken down, Suman acknowledged that such instances do occur but argued that the larger issue lies with the system. “It happens. It is happening. You can’t hold any person accountable for this, but the system is going wrong somewhere. Those who are leading are just faces. But there should be accountability.”The actor also denied receiving any calls from the BJP-led government asking him to tone down his commentary or discontinue the show. Instead, he claimed that several politicians had contacted him to express their appreciation for the programme.“I don’t think PM Modi is so weak that his government would call me up for such a small show. He’s a very powerful being. There are a lot of other things happening around the globe which warrant his attention far more. There are other sorrows in the world besides Shekhar Tonite,” he said, invoking a line from Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s poem ‘Mujhse Pehli Si Mohabbat Mere Mehboob Na Maang’.Suman recalled that when the first episode of ‘Shekhar Tonite’ premiered on YouTube, many viewers predicted that a second episode would never see the light of day. He questioned why anyone would assume the show would be stopped, pointing out that Modi himself had spoken about welcoming criticism.“Why? Who’d stop it? PM Modi? He himself has said it multiple times that he likes to be critiqued. So, we took a cue from there. I’m presuming he has a sense of humour, and he wouldn’t take it so seriously. It’s part of democracy, and part of my profession. What we’re saying is in the framework of entertainment and satire. So, there’s no reason for the government to get worried. My show isn’t that important,” he said.He further revealed that his initial reaction to receiving calls from BJP politicians was one of apprehension, as he wondered whether the conversations might involve complaints about the show. However, he said the interactions turned out to be positive, with some politicians even visiting his home.“But that wasn’t the case. Some politicians even visited my home. They’re all honest and sincere people. A lot of people spread this misinformation that it’s an environment of fear, and no one can say anything against anyone. Why can’t they? People are raising their voice,” he said.Through his remarks, Suman reiterated that he views satire as a way to question those in power and represent public concerns, rather than as an attack on any individual or political party.
