Mumbai, November 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Comedian Navin Prabhakar has spoken about representing Indian comedy on international platforms, saying he feels proud to see desi humour connect with audiences across the world.
Recalling his overseas performances, Navin said even foreign audiences have begun embracing popular Indian catchphrases such as ‘Pehchaan Kaun’.
Talking about his upcoming international show, he told IANS, “Expect the whole of Bollywood in one evening, from Amitabh Bachchan to Govinda, Akshay Kumar to Shah Rukh Khan, along with a Marathi tadka, Gujarati garba and Punjabi food punches. This is not just a show; it feels like a desi wedding where everyone will dance, sing and laugh together. On an international stage, the desi heart will beat the loudest.”
He said performing in India and abroad brings different experiences. “Absolutely. Back home, people laugh because they already recognise me. Abroad, people laugh because they get to know me. There, every laugh carries a little nostalgia, actually a memory of home. Our job is simply to turn that memory into laughter. That is the only difference,” he added.
For Navin, taking Indian comedy overseas is a matter of pride rather than pressure. “I never walk on stage alone; I carry the whole of India with me. When even a foreign audience starts saying ‘Pehchaan Kaun’, they may not even know what it means, but they laugh along with their desi friends. It feels like I have hoisted the flag of comedy high,” he said.
He also believes comedians can push creative boundaries without crossing personal or cultural limits. “A comedian’s job is not to break boundaries; it is to join hearts. I make people laugh without limits while staying within limits. Even within the Lakshman Rekha, you can make the whole Ramayan laugh; you just need a clean intention,” he explained.
Navin said he makes some adjustments to connect with audiences from different cultural backgrounds while retaining the originality of his act. “Yes, I have adjusted the mimicry masala a little, but the taste is still completely desi. The punch is in Hindi, the emotion is universal Bollywood, and the laughter dhamaka comes with a Gujarati flavour. Whether you understand the language or not, everyone understands laughter. That is my universal language.”
Reflecting on changes in comedy, he said, “Earlier, comedy was only about making people laugh. Now, comedy is about winning hearts. Times have changed, and some people convincingly use abuses and gyaan in the name of comedy. No doubt jokes have changed, but one thing has not changed: people still want clean, decent, family comedy. I give them exactly that, just in a new style.”
Navin is scheduled to perform live in Doha, Qatar, from November 19 onwards. Known for his mimicry and ‘Pehchaan Kaun’ act, he rose to fame with his portrayal of Julie, the bar girl, on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge in 2005. He later hosted the television show Hello Kaun? Pehchaan Kaun!
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