'Crack Jokes At My Expense': When Shah Rukh Khan Asked Maniesh Paul To Make Fun Of Him

Maniesh Paul recalled how Shah Rukh Khan made him feel comfortable at an event by encouraging him to crack jokes at the superstar's expense.

Maniesh Paul is one of the most loved hosts in the country, having worked alongside some of Bollywood's biggest superstars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Karan Johar. Now, in a recent chat, Paul has opened up about his experience of working with Bollywood's biggest stars and how their generosity and distinctive hosting styles have helped him.

In an interview with Zoom TV, Maniesh Paul first spoke about Karan Johar and how he never got offended by the jokes he has made about the filmmaker. "Karan sir is the most wonderful co-host I have worked with. Shah Rukh Khan sir and Salman sir are such big stars, and they have the generosity to make everyone feel comfortable. They are such big names and brands that they could easily be conscious of the fact that Maniesh might end up speaking more than them. But they never do that," Maniesh began.

The actor further continued, "I make fun of Karan sir a lot, and we have so much fun together. Touchwood, people love it, and Karan sir has never taken offence to anything I have said. I have joked around with him a lot, and it is a blessing that I know when to stop. I don't cross the line," he said.

He then went on to recall the time he hosted an event with Shah Rukh Khan and how the superstar made sure that Maniesh also got to crack jokes. "I remember hosting several Mumbai Police shows with him. I was new at the time and was very nervous. He called me into his vanity van. When I went in, he was very warm and welcoming. He looked at the script and noticed that all the lines and jokes had been given to him. He asked, 'You have given all the lines and jokes to me, so what is he doing standing there?'" he recalled, further continuing, "He said, 'He hasn't come here just to stand around.' Then he told me, 'Maniesh, crack a couple of jokes at my expense.'"

Maniesh also praised Salman Khan's hosting style on Bigg Boss. While lauding the actor's recent comments criticising the paparazzi, he said, "It was brilliant, very much needed, and thank God he did that. I think he was the only one who could say it, and people would listen to him, as they are now. When Bhai says something, that is it."