Sunil Pal on Sunil Grover dressing as a woman on Kapil Sharma’s show: ‘One shouldn’t do that, it made me uncomfortable’

Sunil Pal on Sunil Grover dressing as a woman on Kapil Sharma’s show: ‘One shouldn’t do that, it made me uncomfortable’

• Sunil Pal says Sunil Grover's cross-dressed roles made him uncomfortable
• Pal commends Johnny Lever and Kapil Sharma for adapting to modern comedy trends.
• Pal's remarks spark debate on comedy, comfort, and changing sensibilities

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Comedian Sunil Pal, known for his blunt opinions and often controversial takes, has once again sparked debate with his recent remarks about fellow comedian Sunil Grover.  In a candid conversation on Siddharth Kannan’s podcast, Sunil Pal recalled feeling physically ill while watching Grover perform in a cross-dressed role on The Kapil Sharma Show, saying the act made him deeply uncomfortable.

During the discussion, Sunil Pal was asked about comedians who have managed to stay relevant over the years and those who, in his view, faded away due to a lack of evolution. Reflecting on the changing nature of comedy, he said, “It has been 21 years. It is human tendency that we always want change. One has to accept change with time, otherwise you can get stuck in a specific circle and become limited.”

Pal went on to name comedians he felt struggled to reinvent themselves. “Both Naveen Prabhakar and Ahsaan Qureshi became a target of this. They didn’t change themselves, that’s what I feel,” he shared, adding that stagnation can quietly end careers in a fast-moving industry like comedy.

While Pal has been openly critical of certain trends, he also took a moment to acknowledge performers he admires. He called Johnny Lever a once-in-a-generation talent, saying, “In the last 40 years, the great Johny Lever is the only one who lived his era and inspired people to change. I am his devotee and fan.” He also credited Kapil Sharma for evolving with time and adapting to audience tastes.

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Interestingly, Pal did not deny Sunil Grover’s talent. In fact, he placed Grover among the few comedians who have managed to transform themselves over the years. “Besides him, I saw a strong force in Kapil Sharma. He also changed himself, and even Sunil Grover. In the last 20 years, there are hardly five people who I have seen changing,” he said, while criticising others for relying on “market jokes” and dated mimicry.

However, Pal’s tone shifted sharply when he spoke about Grover’s portrayal of female characters. Recalling a specific moment, he said, “Both of us have worked a lot together in the early days of our career. His acting as a woman made me uncomfortable. So much so that I once threw up while eating, just looking at him.”

Explaining his discomfort, Pal added, “Coming in a woman’s get up, it makes me feel icky. One shouldn’t do that, I feel so.” At the same time, he clarified that his personal unease did not cancel out his respect for Grover’s craft. “Otherwise, I am a fan of his work,” he said, before making a broader point about content choices in comedy. “People who do vulgarity and abuse are earning crores, and I also had this option earlier.”

For context, Sunil Grover rose to massive popularity through his cross-dressed characters such as Gutthi and Rinku Bhabhi on Comedy Nights with Kapil and later The Kapil Sharma Show. These characters became cultural touchstones and played a key role in shaping Indian television comedy over the past decade.

Sunil Pal’s remarks have predictably divided opinions, with some seeing them as a reflection of personal taste, while others view them as outdated and dismissive. What’s clear is that his comments have once again reopened conversations around comedy, comfort, and changing sensibilities in Indian entertainment.