Veteran comedian and actor VIP has spoken candidly about slipping into depression during the COVID-19 lockdown, revealing that a year without work pushed him to one of the lowest points of his life. Appearing on the television show 'Tum Ho Naa – Ghar Ki Superstar', hosted by Rajeev Khandelwal, VIP credited his daughter Dhwani Pawar with pulling him back — by engineering a virtual performance idea that reignited his career.

A Year Without Work

VIP recalled how the entertainment industry was among the last to resume during the pandemic, with weddings capped at 50 guests and stage performances effectively shut down. 'Kalakaaron ki dukaan jo thi sabse last mein khuli thi,' he said on the show — the performers' world was the last to reopen. After going without work for nearly a full year, he said he found himself sinking into depression.

This comes amid a broader, well-documented pattern: performing artists and live entertainers were among the most economically vulnerable during the pandemic, with little access to the digital infrastructure that allowed other professionals to pivot quickly.

How Dhwani Stepped In

It was Dhwani Pawar who devised a way out. Aware that her father was not comfortable with technology, she reached out directly to his event organisers and proposed a joint virtual show. The format: VIP would perform for 45 minutes, Dhwani would follow with her own 45-minute set — anchoring and singing included. The client agreed, and the show was a success.

An emotional VIP described his daughter as a 'devdoot' — a guardian angel — on the programme. 'Uss samay issne jo meri madad ki hai sir, pressure itna tha,' he said, reflecting on the weight of that period. 'COVID mein jitne kalakaar the sab ghar mein baithe the.'

Dhwani's Response

Dhwani, who also appeared on the episode, deflected the praise. 'Maine kuch nahi kiya hai. Ek father ka contribution zindagi mein itna hota hai, toh uske muqable maine kuch bhi nahi kiya hai,' she said — acknowledging that her father's lifelong contribution to her far outweighed anything she had done in return.

The exchange drew an emotional reaction from the studio audience and host Rajeev Khandelwal, underscoring the human dimension of a crisis that is often discussed in economic rather than personal terms.

Three Decades on Stage

VIP has been a fixture in Indian comedy for over three decades, rising to national prominence through shows such as 'Comedy Circus', 'Comedy Nights Bachao', and 'The Great Indian Laughter Challenge', as well as numerous stage performances and Hindi film appearances. His candid disclosure on a mainstream reality show adds to a growing conversation among Indian entertainers about mental health struggles during and after the pandemic.

With the entertainment industry now fully operational, VIP's account serves as a reminder of how fragile livelihoods in live performance can be — and how family support often bridges the gap that institutional safety nets do not.