I’m not done yet. please bear with me, pray for me

Kapil says he has checked into an ayurveda clinic for “complete detoxification”, and that he will soon be back in the public eye

Several theories and reports about actorcomedian Kapil Sharma’s “illness” have been doing the rounds ever since his alleged mid-flight spat with actor Sunil Grover in March this year. Reports also suggested that Kapil made Bollywood stars wait for hours on the sets of his TV show, The Kapil Sharma Show (temporarily off-air) and sometimes, even cancelled. Although his friends and wellwishers have denied several allegations on Kapil, the 36-year-old has mostly stayed mum. Here, he opens up:

Kapil, what has happened to you? Where are you?

Nothing serious. Main thoda phisal gaya tha. Abb sambhal gaya hoon (I had slipped but I’ve regained composure now). Health issues hain. I’ve checked into an ayurveda clinic for detoxification. They are saying I have to stay here for 40 days. But I won’t be able to stay that long. I have a film coming up in November.

The film can wait. Health is more important. What happened to you?

Nothing that rest and natural healing can’t cure. It was bound to happen. I wasn’t taking care of myself. I had begun to neglect my health because of overworking. I was travelling back and forth, shooting two back-to-back episodes of my show, then shooting for my film, Firangi. I was not eating or sleeping on time.

But shouldn’t the people close to you have warned you about it?

Perhaps I was not listening to people. Perhaps I was too busy looking into my professional commitments. Now that I’m here I feel rejuvenated.

A lot was written about your health and tantrums... that stars were turned away because you refused to shoot with them?

Do you think I’m so stupid as to turn away big stars like SRK n and Ajay Devgn? They all knew my problem, how I was suffering. They were all very caring. None of them minded. Only a section of the media made me sound like an arrogant monster who was using his health as an excuse to turn away stars just to satisfy my ego.

Have you been in touch with the stars who couldn’t shoot because of your health?

Arjun Rampal had to go without recording. But he came back because he knew what I was going through. When Anil Kapoorji came... he saw my condition, he refused to shoot and told me to take it easy.

Why didn’t you clarify your position?

Main aapko sach bataaon? Main bahot emotional kissim ka insaan hoon (To tell you the truth, I’m an emotional guy). When I see things are not going the way they should be, I just clam up. I’ve never bothered to market myself. I never had a PR. Maybe that’s why some sections of the media took it on themselves to write whatever they wanted. Most of them were untrue.

What about the incident on the flight back from Australia where you allegedly abused Sunil Grover and other members of the team?

(Falls silent) I admit there was a problem. And I’ve paid a heavy price for it. But what was reported was grossly exaggerated and almost entirely fabricated. It was said that I asked that food be served to me first on the flight and that I got angry and I threw a shoe at Sunil. You’ve known me for some years. Do you think I am capable of such behaviour?

If it wasn’t true why didn’t you come forward to clarify?

Like I told you, when I am misunderstood I clam up. But now I realise it was a mistake to not put forward the truth. A section of the media took advantage of my silence. Painted me as an arrogant brat. All these stories of were started in a section of the digital media.

But people from your own team were leaking out details?

Main kya bolun? Maybe I should be more careful about the people I trust.

Have you tried getting Sunil back on the show?

Yes, I have. But I think he has other commitments now, like live performances, etc. But he knows the show is as much his as mine and open to him anytime he wants.

What is your message to your fans?

I am not done yet. My show is far from over. We will be coming back stronger than ever as soon as I’ve recovered. Please bear with me. Please pray for me.

My show (The Kapil Sharma Show) is far from over. We’ll be coming back stronger than ever as soon as I have recovered KAPIL SHARMA, ACTOR-COMEDIAN