MUMBAI — English comedian-author Russell Brand shall perform in three cities across India, for the first time, in the last week of June. According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, Brand has been invited to be part of the upcoming Comedy Central Chuckle Festival, which was last held in 2013.
Viacom 18, which organises the festival, confirmed the news. ""We believe in the power of comedy and witnessed great success at the first edition of the Chuckle Festival," said Jaideep Singh, business head, to Mirror. "We are delighted to return with a bang and this time we have a heavyweight from the world of comedy to lead the show Russell Brand."
The climate to which the English comedian-actor-activist shall (hopefully) arrive isn't the most favourable for his risqué brand of humour as well as live stand-up comedy. A few months ago, the AIB Knockout — a 'roast' featuring All India Bakchod and actors Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor — caused a lot of controversy, was taken down, and is still under a legal cloud; in March, veteran comedian Jerry Seinfeld's much publicised shows in Mumbai were cancelled over logistical issues.
According to the report, an unnamed source touted to be "close to the development" said that the organisers were taking "all precautions" to avoid a repeat of the Seinfeld fiasco.
While this is the first time Brand will be performing in India, the 39-year-old star of films like 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' and 'Get Him To The Greek' had, three years ago, wed pop star Katy Perry in a lavish ceremony at Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
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