Shekhar Suman's witty jab: Bollywood takes off more clothes than it sells
Synopsis
Shekhar Suman is back on late-night TV after 14 years, and he's not pulling punches. While chatting with Ali Fazal about his chikankari label on ‘Shekhar Tonite', the veteran host quipped that Bollywood is an industry where ‘more clothes are taken off' than sold — a self-aware jab that's already travelling further than the show itself.
Key Takeaways
Shekhar Suman joked that the entertainment industry ‘takes off more clothes' than it puts on, during a chat with Ali Fazal .
The exchange aired on ‘Shekhar Tonite' , created by Suman's son Adhyayan Suman .
It marks Suman's return to late-night television after nearly 14 years .
Fazal discussed his home-grown chikankari brand, now expanding online and overseas.
Fazal will reprise Guddu Bhaiya in the ‘Mirzapur' film, releasing 4 September .
Veteran actor Shekhar Suman took a tongue-in-cheek swipe at the entertainment industry on 4 June while hosting actor Ali Fazal on his late-night chat show ‘Shekhar Tonite', quipping that Bollywood is better known for stripping clothes off than putting them on. The remark came during a conversation about Fazal's homegrown chikankari fashion label, which the ‘Mirzapur' star is now scaling internationally.
How the moment unfolded
Sharing a clip from the episode on the photo-sharing platform, Suman captured Fazal explaining the origins of his brand. ‘A small, cute brand of chikankari that we started from home. In fact, the name was an idea that my aunt (mumani) came up with,' Fazal said in the video.
The actor added that the label, initially run out of his home, has since moved online and is gearing up for wider reach. ‘We were running it from home. It is an online store now. We are now looking at expanding even further because there is a lot of demand. And not just in India but outside India as well,' he said.
The punchline that went viral
When Suman asked whether the brand was doing physical pop-ups, Fazal said they had only just begun. That set up the host's quip: ‘You've just started doing it. That makes the two of us. But it's good. We are at least making people wear clothes. Otherwise, in the industry we are in, more clothes are taken off.'
Suman captioned the clip: ‘When two brands meet… one sells clothes, the other survives an industry that removes them.'
Suman's return to late-night TV
‘Shekhar Tonite', created by his son Adhyayan Suman, marks the senior actor's return to the late-night chat format after nearly 14 years. The show has positioned itself as a celebrity-led conversational space, with Suman leaning on his trademark wit and timing.
What's next for Ali Fazal
Fazal is set to reprise his role of Guddu Bhaiya in the film adaptation of the ‘Mirzapur' franchise, locked for a 4 September release. The original series follows Akhandanand ‘Kaleen' Tripathi, a crime boss who rules the Mirzapur district in the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh.
The film extension is among the most-anticipated streaming-to-screen transitions of the year, with the franchise's loyal fanbase awaiting how the gritty Purvanchal saga translates to the big screen.
Point of View
Not preachy — a veteran calling out his own industry's optics economy without moralising. It also signals what ‘Shekhar Tonite' is betting on: not sanitised promo chats, but the kind of unscripted candour Indian late-night television has long lacked. In an era of curated celebrity PR, a one-liner like this travels further than any movie trailer, which is precisely why Suman pushed the clip himself.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Shekhar Suman say about Bollywood on ‘Shekhar Tonite'?
While chatting with Ali Fazal about his chikankari clothing brand, Shekhar Suman quipped that ‘in the industry we are in, more clothes are taken off' than put on. He framed it as a playful jab at the entertainment industry's image.
What is ‘Shekhar Tonite' and who created it?
‘Shekhar Tonite' is a late-night celebrity chat show hosted by Shekhar Suman and created by his son Adhyayan Suman. It marks Shekhar's return to the late-night format after nearly 14 years.
What is Ali Fazal's chikankari brand?
It is a home-grown chikankari clothing label that Ali Fazal runs along with his family, with the name suggested by his aunt. The brand began at home, now operates online, and is expanding to international markets due to rising demand.
When is the ‘Mirzapur' film releasing?
The film adaptation of the ‘Mirzapur' franchise is locked for a 4 September release. Ali Fazal will reprise his role of Guddu Bhaiya.
