Vighnesh Pande: Hated showbiz earlier as there was no stability

Vighnesh Pande

It's rare to find Vighnesh Pande minus Anna, his puppet. After making appearances on The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, Dance India Dance, The Khatra Show, Nach Baliye and India's Best Dramebaaz, the ventriloquist and his partner-in-crime are now a staple on The Happy Hour on Zee TV. Describing it as unlike any other non-fiction show, Pande says, "We are collecting moments from every other reality show on the channel, and stitching it together with gags in between. This way, people can access their favourite moments with a bit of tadka, instead of scrolling through YouTube feed."

Conceptualised during the lockdown, the show was shot in June and has opened to a warm response. The ventriloquist is accompanied by child artistes, Garvit Pareek and Dipali Borkar, on the laugh riot. Ask him if it is wise to have children play adult roles that expose them to a world they are not emotionally ready for, and Pande states, "Sometimes, that can happen. That said, the content on our show goes through several levels of approval and [the makers] have been careful of not broaching complicated topics. We've dialled it down enough to make it suitable for children and adults."

Having been part of several reality shows, Pande says The Happy Hour is one of those rare offerings that allow him to pursue his passion, thus giving him creative satisfaction. "[The makers] have put a lot of trust in something I do [ventriloquism]. They've given me a bit more liberty than they usually would have," says the comedian, who started ventriloquism as a mere hobby. "I started it way back in college because it was the best time to take a chance. Back then, I hated show business. I have seen the highs and lows of an artiste through my father's [magician and ventriloquist] journey. There is no stability; that was one thing I wanted. But my ideas changed when I entered the field. Media attention is like a drug; you always want more."