Do you know why Navjot Singh Sidhu was ousted from Kapil Sharma's show?

Navjot Singh Sidhu during his appearance in The Kapil Sharma Show.

Navjot Singh Sidhu is set to make a return to Kapil Sharma's show after a five-year hiatus. A recently released promo of The Great Indian Kapil Show revealed that Sidhu will appear as a guest alongside his wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, and cricket star Harbhajan Singh with his wife, Geeta Basra. This has sparked curiosity and excitement among fans. However, many are wondering why Sidhu left the show in the first place. The answer lies in the controversy surrounding his comments about the Pulwama attack in 2019.

On February 14, 2019, a terror attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 40 CRPF soldiers. Sidhu, who was a prominent figure on The Kapil Sharma Show at the time, condemned the attack. However, his subsequent comments caused a public uproar. Sidhu stated, "It (the terror attack) is a cowardly and dastardly act and I condemn it firmly. Violence is always condemnable and those who did it must be punished." He then added, "For a handful of people, can you blame the entire nation and can you blame an individual?" This statement was perceived as insensitive, leading to widespread calls for his removal from the show.

Amid the backlash, reports emerged that Sidhu had been fired from The Kapil Sharma Show and replaced by Archana Puran Singh. Although the show's producers and the broadcasting channel did not officially comment on the decision, sources indicated that the controversy surrounding Sidhu's remarks led to his exit. An insider told The Indian Express, "His remarks have not been taken kindly by most. Also, the channel and the show were getting dragged into the unwanted controversy. This is when the team amicably decided that Navjot make a distance from the show. The team has already shot a couple of episodes with Archana."

Also read: Navjot Singh Sidhu is back on The Great Indian Kapil Show after five years, Archana Puran Singh says, "Kapil, tell Sardar sahab to get off my seat"

Sidhu himself was caught off guard by the news of his termination. In a video posted on X, he expressed his surprise and clarified that he had not been formally notified about his removal. He mentioned that he had missed a few shoots due to his commitments to the Vidhan Sabha and was unaware of any permanent termination from the show. Sidhu firmly stated, "If it is regarding my statement, I will stick to what I have been saying yesterday, today, and ever tomorrow."

Eventually, Archana Puran Singh became a regular part of the show, replacing Sidhu. Her presence has since become integral to the show's dynamic. However, Sidhu's upcoming appearance on The Great Indian Kapil Show has reignited interest in his relationship with the show. The new promo humorously suggests a makeover for Archana that makes her resemble Sidhu. It is later clarified that it is indeed Sidhu making a guest appearance, not a permanent return.