Big stars or sex guarantee film's success: Sunil Pal

Not so happy with lukewarm response to comedies, comedian Sunil Pal regrets that films that boast big names or have a fair dose of adult content get success at the box office.

In 2010, Sunil wrote and directed "Bhavnao Ko Samjho", a comedy featuring 51 stand-up comedians. Although it was panned by the critics and failed to entice box office, the film secured a place in the Guinness World Records for having a record 51 stand-up comedians in a single movie.

"Films with either a big star cast or those that have sex in them are successful these days. Nobody wants to see what's in between them," Sunil told IANS.

"Even our film had comedy and creativity, but it didn't sell because there is nobody to promote the film," he rued.

Sunil won "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge" in 2005 and then featured in films like "Bombay To Goa" (2007), "Hum Tum", "Phir Hera Pheri" and "Apna Sapna Money Money".
"The Great Indian..." was one of the first stand-up comedy show in the country, and Sunil praises it for paving the way for other such shows.

"The show has given way to so many other comedy shows. It has actually given a good platform to stand-up comedians in the country," said the actor who created the comedy character "Ratan Noora". 

He is ready to tickle the funny bones of the TV viewers with his role in "Mrs Pammi Pyarelal", about cross dressing.

Going on air Monday, "Mrs Pammi Pyarelal" will see Sunil as Tilasmi Baba, also called "Noodle Baba". He earned the nickname because of his curly and frizzy hair.
Talking about his character, Sunil said that "Noodle Baba is of this age", ab added: "I have donned the characters of Baba Ramdev and Nirmal Baba on screen, but this will be something different from all of them."