10 Comedy Shows & Specials To Watch If You Love 'The Great Indian Kapil Show'
Comedy shows have a wonderful way of bringing families together, uplifting your mood, and creating communities through humour. If you’ve ever needed a light-hearted and entertaining comedy show to unwind after a long day, you’re not alone. On-stage chaos, over-the-top characters, and celebrity fun have made Kapil Sharma’s Netflix debut a household staple across the country.
The Great Indian Kapil Show was welcomed by audiences for two successful seasons—and now it’s back, with a newly launched Season 3. If you love people with big personalities, jokes with puns intended, and even thoughtful storytelling that lingers long after the laughs, these 10 comedy shows and stand-up specials should be next on your list. Not to mention, they’re available on a wide variety of platforms from the aforementioned Netflix to Amazon Prime Video.
Comedy Premium League (2021)
It’s a comedy showdown! If you like watching comedy with competition (but not so cutthroat that the comedy is fully lost), then Comedy Premium League will keep you hooked. With each episode donning a different format, similar to Comicstaan, the show rarely gets boring, though not every joke lands and some people may find the segments “too safe” and not edgy enough.
Where Comicstaan is geared at finding new talent, Comedy Premium League brings together comics who are already at the top of their game and pits them against each other. For fans who enjoy shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway?, this ensemble-driven comedy show will have you cheering for your favourite team.
LOL - Hasse Toh Phasse (2021)
LOL- Hasse Toh Phasse is a hidden gem with one rule: You laugh, you lose! With a simple, yet high-stakes concept, this show is perfect for fans of improv or dry humour. The show is surprisingly addictive and unpredictable, where the contestants dig deep using creative and bizarre ways to make the others laugh before succumbing to laughter themselves. (After all, there’s a cash prize of Rs. 25 lakhs on the line!)
Though being ‘competition oriented’ like Comedy Premium League, LOL - Hasse Toh Phasse is unlike the other shows on this list as it hinges on a more reality show-esque format. If you enjoyed watching the Japanese version Documental, this show adds a desi twist!
Comicstaan (2018)
Comicstaan is where up-and-coming stand-up stars are judged by the best in business. For people who enjoy a more in-depth experience beyond just the laughs, Comicstaan offers both a front-row seat and behind-the-scenes magic into how jokes are written and delivered.
No two weeks are the same, keeping things fresh just like how The Great Indian Kapil Show brings fresh segments and characters to entertain the audience. Like The Kapil Sharma Show, it brings in big names, but instead of being in the spotlight, they’re in the teacher’s chair, imparting wisdom. It’s also more grounded than the chaotic Madness Machayenge - India Ko Hasayenge, focusing on training and feedback rather than only shenanigans. Though the pacing can drag at times, there are some standout moments with solid advice, making this show not just entertaining, but also relatable.
Madness Machayenge - India Ko Hasayenge (2024)
When a show’s title translates to “Will Create Madness, Will Make India Laugh,” you better believe the audience expects it to follow through on that bold promise. Luckily, Madness Machayenge - India Ko Hasayenge does—delivering unpredictable, yet absurd fun in every episode.
This infectious show is ideal for those who love variety-style shows and fast-paced segments, though the humour can feel slightly juvenile at times. If you’re someone who laughed out loud at some of the more unhinged parts of The Great Indian Kapil Show, this loud and chaotic show is right up your alley!
One Mic Stand (2019)
If your ultimate dream was to see celebrities try their hand at comedy without a teleprompter, then you have stumbled across the right show! Where celebrities show up to be entertained on The Great Indian Kapil Show, One Mic Stand does the exact opposite, with the stars performing and taking center stage.
Sometimes a hit, sometimes a train wreck, you just don’t know how each episode is going to turn out. The strength of this show lies not only in the content, but in how it humanizes celebrities who are usually seen as “glam” or “glitzy,” offering a refreshing and funny twist.
Biswa Kalyan Rath: Biswa Mast Aadmi (2017)
Biswa Kalyan Rath, originally an IITian who sashayed into the world of comedy and never looked back, ventures into his personal life in Biswa Kalyan Rath: Biswa Mast Aadmi with that awkward charm that makes Biswa unmistakably Biswa.
If you have followed Biswa since his Pretentious Movie Reviews days and saw him mentoring in Comicstaan, this special gives him the center stage (literally!) and will feel like homecoming.
Unlike The Great Indian Kapil Show, Biswa Mast Aadmi is a one-man show where his aura and razor-sharp remarks manage to captivate audiences for an hour, proving that clever comedy succeeds when it’s equal parts insightful, fearless, and seriously funny.
Yours Sincerely, Kanan Gill (2020)
Kanan Gill wrote a letter to his future self when he was a 15-year-old chap, and we get the pleasure of seeing him revisit it and break it down for an hour of witty and self-deprecating (a part of his charm) humour. For anyone who has made a to-do list and left it incomplete at least once in their lives, this special is surprisingly cathartic.
Kanan’s comedy is more lowkey compared to The Great Indian Kapil Show, and that’s exactly what sets him apart. If you love comics who don’t take themselves too seriously and, at the same time, don’t throw a pity party, Yours Sincerely, Kanan Gill is an entertaining watch that feels both fresh and relatable at the same time.
Neeti Palta: Almost Sanskari
Neeti Palta proves that being Almost Sanskari is way more fun than following the script. Her fiercely honest stand-up special highlights traditions in her culture, gender norms, and the experience of being a modern Indian woman in a still-sometimes traditional society.
If you like social commentary with a side of comedy, all without sounding too preachy or pretentious in the same way comedian Sumukhi Suresh does in her special Don’t Tell Amma, then you will enjoy this special. For everyone who is tired of witnessing a comedy scene dominated by male comics, Palta brings a beautiful balance of sarcasm and substance to the audience, making it a “complete” crowd-pleaser.
Vir Das: Landing (2022)
Though Vir Das has made his mark in Hindi cinema, he still remains one of the topmost comedians in India. In Vir Das: Landing, Das goes against pure slapstick humour. His honest commentary on personal controversies and political matters offers a refreshing change for anyone who feels like they are “too Indian for the West, too Western for India.” Where Das uses comedy to talk about the issues at a global level, Palta hones in on everyday Indian life in Almost Sanskari.
If you’re looking for a light, turn-your-brain-off sort of comedy, then Sincerely Yours, Kanan Gill or LOL - Hasse Toh Phasse might be a better pick for you. However, if you’re someone who’s seeking more depth and nuance in the content they watch, then Landing is worth giving a shot!
The Kapil Sharma Show (2016)
Before The Great Indian Kapil Show, there was The Kapil Sharma Show drawing individuals and families alike to their televisions every weekend like clockwork. Though slightly rawer, The Kapil Sharma Show is the blueprint on which The Great Indian Kapil Show was built. This show is perfect for fans who love light-hearted comedy with rib-tickling skits and hilarious characters.
The chemistry between Kapil and his talented supporting cast (including Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Bharti Singh, etc) and the banter between Kapil and Navjot Singh Sidhu, and in later seasons, Archana Puran Singh, is what makes this show memorable. The unscripted one-liners and audience interactions also bring the best laughs. Over time, though, some of the sketches and jokes can feel a bit repetitive, with the humour sometimes leaning toward stereotypes. Nevertheless, The Kapil Sharma Show is the perfect ode to where it all started.
It’s a comedy showdown! If you like watching comedy with competition (but not so cutthroat that the comedy is fully lost), then Comedy Premium League will keep you hooked. With each episode donning a different format, similar to Comicstaan, the show rarely gets boring, though not every joke lands and some people may find the segments “too safe” and not edgy enough.
Where Comicstaan is geared at finding new talent, Comedy Premium League brings together comics who are already at the top of their game and pits them against each other. For fans who enjoy shows like Whose Line Is It Anyway?, this ensemble-driven comedy show will have you cheering for your favourite team.
LOL- Hasse Toh Phasse is a hidden gem with one rule: You laugh, you lose! With a simple, yet high-stakes concept, this show is perfect for fans of improv or dry humour. The show is surprisingly addictive and unpredictable, where the contestants dig deep using creative and bizarre ways to make the others laugh before succumbing to laughter themselves. (After all, there’s a cash prize of Rs. 25 lakhs on the line!)
Though being ‘competition oriented’ like Comedy Premium League, LOL - Hasse Toh Phasse is unlike the other shows on this list as it hinges on a more reality show-esque format. If you enjoyed watching the Japanese version Documental, this show adds a desi twist!
Comicstaan is where up-and-coming stand-up stars are judged by the best in business. For people who enjoy a more in-depth experience beyond just the laughs, Comicstaan offers both a front-row seat and behind-the-scenes magic into how jokes are written and delivered.
No two weeks are the same, keeping things fresh just like how The Great Indian Kapil Show brings fresh segments and characters to entertain the audience. Like The Kapil Sharma Show, it brings in big names, but instead of being in the spotlight, they’re in the teacher’s chair, imparting wisdom. It’s also more grounded than the chaotic Madness Machayenge - India Ko Hasayenge, focusing on training and feedback rather than only shenanigans. Though the pacing can drag at times, there are some standout moments with solid advice, making this show not just entertaining, but also relatable.
When a show’s title translates to “Will Create Madness, Will Make India Laugh,” you better believe the audience expects it to follow through on that bold promise. Luckily, Madness Machayenge - India Ko Hasayenge does—delivering unpredictable, yet absurd fun in every episode.
This infectious show is ideal for those who love variety-style shows and fast-paced segments, though the humour can feel slightly juvenile at times. If you’re someone who laughed out loud at some of the more unhinged parts of The Great Indian Kapil Show, this loud and chaotic show is right up your alley!
If your ultimate dream was to see celebrities try their hand at comedy without a teleprompter, then you have stumbled across the right show! Where celebrities show up to be entertained on The Great Indian Kapil Show, One Mic Stand does the exact opposite, with the stars performing and taking center stage.
Sometimes a hit, sometimes a train wreck, you just don’t know how each episode is going to turn out. The strength of this show lies not only in the content, but in how it humanizes celebrities who are usually seen as “glam” or “glitzy,” offering a refreshing and funny twist.
Biswa Kalyan Rath, originally an IITian who sashayed into the world of comedy and never looked back, ventures into his personal life in Biswa Kalyan Rath: Biswa Mast Aadmi with that awkward charm that makes Biswa unmistakably Biswa.
If you have followed Biswa since his Pretentious Movie Reviews days and saw him mentoring in Comicstaan, this special gives him the center stage (literally!) and will feel like homecoming. Unlike The Great Indian Kapil Show, Biswa Mast Aadmi is a one-man show where his aura and razor-sharp remarks manage to captivate audiences for an hour, proving that clever comedy succeeds when it’s equal parts insightful, fearless, and seriously funny.
Kanan Gill wrote a letter to his future self when he was a 15-year-old chap, and we get the pleasure of seeing him revisit it and break it down for an hour of witty and self-deprecating (a part of his charm) humour. For anyone who has made a to-do list and left it incomplete at least once in their lives, this special is surprisingly cathartic.
Kanan’s comedy is more lowkey compared to The Great Indian Kapil Show, and that’s exactly what sets him apart. If you love comics who don’t take themselves too seriously and, at the same time, don’t throw a pity party, Yours Sincerely, Kanan Gill is an entertaining watch that feels both fresh and relatable at the same time.
Neeti Palta proves that being Almost Sanskari is way more fun than following the script. Her fiercely honest stand-up special highlights traditions in her culture, gender norms, and the experience of being a modern Indian woman in a still-sometimes traditional society.
If you like social commentary with a side of comedy, all without sounding too preachy or pretentious in the same way comedian Sumukhi Suresh does in her special Don’t Tell Amma, then you will enjoy this special. For everyone who is tired of witnessing a comedy scene dominated by male comics, Palta brings a beautiful balance of sarcasm and substance to the audience, making it a “complete” crowd-pleaser.
Though Vir Das has made his mark in Hindi cinema, he still remains one of the topmost comedians in India. In Vir Das: Landing, Das goes against pure slapstick humour. His honest commentary on personal controversies and political matters offers a refreshing change for anyone who feels like they are “too Indian for the West, too Western for India.” Where Das uses comedy to talk about the issues at a global level, Palta hones in on everyday Indian life in Almost Sanskari.
If you’re looking for a light, turn-your-brain-off sort of comedy, then Sincerely Yours, Kanan Gill or LOL - Hasse Toh Phasse might be a better pick for you. However, if you’re someone who’s seeking more depth and nuance in the content they watch, then Landing is worth giving a shot!
Before The Great Indian Kapil Show, there was The Kapil Sharma Show drawing individuals and families alike to their televisions every weekend like clockwork. Though slightly rawer, The Kapil Sharma Show is the blueprint on which The Great Indian Kapil Show was built. This show is perfect for fans who love light-hearted comedy with rib-tickling skits and hilarious characters.
The chemistry between Kapil and his talented supporting cast (including Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Bharti Singh, etc) and the banter between Kapil and Navjot Singh Sidhu, and in later seasons, Archana Puran Singh, is what makes this show memorable. The unscripted one-liners and audience interactions also bring the best laughs. Over time, though, some of the sketches and jokes can feel a bit repetitive, with the humour sometimes leaning toward stereotypes. Nevertheless, The Kapil Sharma Show is the perfect ode to where it all started.
