‘Comedy Is a Tightrope Walk Now’: Raveena Tandon reveals why making people laugh has become tougher than ever

Mumbai: Veteran actress Raveena Tandon, one of Bollywood’s most loved comedy queens of the 90s, has opened up about how the world of comedy has dramatically changed over the years and why making people laugh today has become far more complicated.

Known for iconic comedy entertainers like Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Aunty No. 1, Dulhe Raja, and Pardesi Babu, Raveena says the comedy landscape today feels much more restricted compared to the free-flowing humor of the 1990s.

Speaking about the evolution of humor in cinema, the actress admitted that in the current social climate, comedians and filmmakers constantly walk a fine line.

According to her, making audiences laugh without hurting someone’s sentiments has become one of the biggest challenges in entertainment.

Raveena explained that in the 90s, actors performed with spontaneity and instinct, without worrying about how a joke would be dissected, clipped, or debated online.

Back then, comedy was louder, more character-driven, and free from overthinking.

She fondly recalled working alongside Govinda, saying those films carried a raw energy that connected instantly with audiences.

But today, she believes social media has changed the game.

With every scene under public scrutiny, filmmakers often hesitate, second-guessing whether a joke may trigger controversy or backlash.

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For Raveena, this shift has made comedy lose some of its natural rhythm and unpredictability.

The actress recently returned to the comedy genre with Welcome to the Jungle, directed by Ahmed Khan, calling it a “homecoming.”

The film reunites her with her Mohra co-stars Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty, bringing back a wave of nostalgia for fans.

Raveena said comedy taught her some of the most important lessons in acting spontaneity, improvisation, and the ability to let go of inhibitions.

She believes if an actor can make people genuinely laugh, they earn a permanent place in the audience’s heart.

Welcome to the Jungle, the third installment in the popular Welcome franchise, has already made a strong impact at the box office, reportedly crossing ₹100 crore worldwide within days of release.

The film features a massive ensemble cast including Paresh Rawal, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, and Disha Patani.

As audiences embrace this latest chapter of the franchise, Raveena Tandon’s reflections serve as a reminder of a time when laughter came easy and perhaps, a hope that comedy can once again find that fearless freedom.