Ali Asgar as Dadi, Sunil Grover as Gutthi
Ali Asgar as Dadi, Sunil Grover as Gutthi

Ali Asgar and Sunil Grover have been in the industry for a while now. But their popularity as Dadi and Gutthi seems unprecedented. However, their kids at home may not be as excited about this. In a story by TOI, the comedy stars reveal how their kids are actually bullied in school sometimes because Ali and Sunil cross-dress on TV.

Ali said:

Somehow the roulette dice seems to stop at that (playing a cross-dresser onscreen) for me only. But my children – son and daughter – don’t like me playing such characters at all. They say they are embarrassed to go out with me anywhere because people start shouting ‘Dadi! Dadi!’ when they see me. Their school mates tease them in the bus saying ki iska baap toh Basanti hai, because I had done a few episodes of Comedy Circus as Basanti. In fact, my son tells me ki ‘Aap ko kuchh aur aata nahi hai kya! Aap hamesh yahi sab karte ho?’ I try and explain to him that this is my work, but he tells me chhod do yeh sab. And that is why I am not very happy playing a drag all the time. I can’t deny that Dadi has made me very popular, but not so much in front of my kids.

Sunil said:

My son, Mohan is six years old. Initially, when he saw me as a woman on Comedy Nights, usey bahut ajeeb laga tha. Building ke kuch ladke use chhedte the ki ‘oye, tere Papa toh ladki bante hai’. My son asked me to not play a woman. One day I decided to do something about it. I went to a mall with him, and made him see how people were going crazy to take pictures with me. I was with him for three-four hours there, and he was amazed to see my popularity. I explained to him that I am popular today because of Gutthi. I am proud to be a hero for my son playing a heroine.

That’s so sad to hear! But in drag or not, there’s no denying the fact that they are two of the greatest actors of our country at the moment. Keep it up, you guys!