The Great Indian Kapil Show 12th episode first impression: Kapil Sharma serves concert instead of comedy

After delivering a surprisingly fun episode with the nation’s top athletes last week, Kapil Sharma returned on Saturday with India’s most-loved Hip Hop gang – Badshah, DIVINE, and Karan Aujla. This marked the second-to-last episode of Kapil Sharma’s new show on Netflix, and the comedian seemed to be slowing down just before the finish line. The show opened with an overcooked yet underwhelming sketch featuring Kapil Sharma as Pinky, a customs officer with a soft spot for pretty ladies. It was clear that Kapil and his writers were pulling out all the stops, adding new actors and a fancy set, but the result was more fizz than funny. Despite Kapil’s best efforts and a few well-timed jokes, the sketch set a dreary tone for an episode that only spiralled further downhill. While we’re used to seeing Kapil and his writers lean on the guest interviews to keep things lively—often relying on Bollywood celebrities sharing juicy anecdotes—this time, they shifted gears. The episode banked on the rapping talents of Badshah, DIVINE, and Karan Aujla, leaving the audience wondering when the comedy show turned into a concert. It felt more like a mini-launch for the trio’s new album “Ek Tha Raja” than a typical Kapil Sharma comedy episode. However, Kapil did manage to surprise and impress when he effortlessly joined his guests in a rap session, showing off his unexpected skills. One of the most memorable and wittiest sketches of this series featured Krushna Abhishek and Kiku Sharda as Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in the third episode, where their comic timing was spot-on. This time, when they returned in the same garb, expectations were high. Unfortunately, they delivered a mildly funny, repetitive, and fully bizarre skit. Despite the lackluster humour, they did manage to deliver a poignant message about politicians and their inherent nature to exploit the common man, earning them full marks for that. Speaking of bizarre, Sunil Grover took on the role of the clueless The Great Khali or Kya Khali, who harbours dreams of becoming a singer. Predictable humour overshadowed Sunil’s sketch as he cracked jokes about Khali’s towering physique, likening him to landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and Qutub Minar. The act culminated in a tired rap about lassi. Can I have a lassi and call it a night? Because I’ve had my fill of this. You can watch The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix.