Actor Sanjay Mishra has come out in support of stand-up comic Shyam Rangeela, saying artistes should have the freedom to perform and no one can influence their choice of content.
Rangeela, who has become popular for his mimicry of political leaders on the social media, was invited to perform on the show "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge".
The comic, however, has claimed that he was asked by the makers of the show to not poke fun at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in his skit.
"Yesterday, I was told about Shyam Rangeela. I haven't seen it nor do I know what happened. But you mimic a person who has influenced you. Nobody (in India) would mimic a person from Nigeria," said Mishra.
"We should not be told what to do. We are being told since our childhood about things that we should do and should not do," he added.
Mishra was speaking at a panel discussion titled 'Cinema Ka Hasya Rang' at poetry festival 'Jashn-e-Adab' here.
Actor Piyush Mishra also said that filter is necessary at times but it should come from the performer himself.
"The problem is that we have to impose restrictions. In our country the moral science is weak. But these problems should be dealt by us. Why should it come from the government?"
Concluding the discussion Sanjay said, "We will decide whether something is wrong or not. It should not be decided by a certain section."
PTI
