Yasir Hussain questions why comedy faces stricter boundaries than other fields

Actor says audiences should choose what they watch, urges greater support for theatre

Actor and comedian Yasir Hussain has spoken about the criticism he faces online, arguing that stand-up comedy should not be subjected to stricter standards than other professions and forms of public expression. Speaking in a recent interview, Hussain addressed the ongoing debate around boundaries in comedy and questioned why restrictions were often demanded specifically from comedians.

"Either there should be boundaries in everything, in journalism, government policies, etc, or nowhere. If boundaries are applied, they should apply everywhere. Why demand boundaries only in comedy?" he said.

 

Hussain pointed to his appearance on Nadir Ali's podcast as an example, saying guests were aware of a show's style before agreeing to participate.

"Take Nadir Ali's podcast; he asked controversial questions, but I went knowing his style of humour. If someone has an issue with a host's timing or controversial questions, why go on that show in the first place rather than having problems afterward?" he said.

He said the same principle applied to stand-up comedy, where audiences knowingly bought tickets to watch a particular performer.

"You buy a ticket for a stand-up show, why go if you think you'll have a problem with it?" he said. "If you don't like it, don't watch the show; why does the host need to be cancelled?" he added.

Hussain said that genuine concerns should be addressed through established legal channels rather than public backlash.

"If there are bigger issues, there's the government; there are legal forms that can look into all of that. These decisions being made in the public sphere should stop. Why are you getting every verdict decided in the people's court? Take it to an actual court," he said.

 

Asked how he dealt with criticism, Hussain said negative reactions no longer had much of an impact on him. "Who is listening to criticism? Did anyone hear them? I only remember the applause; I remember the sound of the claps echoing and the whistles of appreciation I received," he said.

 

Hussain is set to bring his theatre work to Lahore with his upcoming play, So Suite. He praised Punjab's efforts to revive theatre and credited Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari for supporting the initiative.

"In Karachi, when we do a play, the Arts Council supports us a lot. This time in Lahore, Azma Bokhari has taken a great initiative; she's reviving theatre, better family theatre. This play is part of that too," he said.

He also used the opportunity to appeal to the Sindh government to provide greater support for theatre in Karachi. "Where is theatre even happening in Karachi? If we don't do it, no one will; some new kids are doing it, support them. If we don't want to do it, that's fine too," he said.

 

Hussain also discussed the demands of theatre and why he continues to favour it over television. "Whoever wants to do TV, let them do TV. Theatre demands a lot of time, and it's very difficult; it needs dedication," he said.

He acknowledged that television offered a steady stream of opportunities but said he had repeatedly expressed his reluctance to work in the medium. "In TV, as long as you keep saying yes, you'll keep getting offers, and I've said on so many platforms that I don't even want to work in TV," he said.

However, Hussain said he would consider returning to television for the right project, particularly one offering a strong character and creative freedom. According to him, he would say yes only if there was "a really good character with a lot of margin" and a production "with some class".

For him, however, theatre remains something close to an addiction. "Nothing feels as good as this," he said.

Hussain was last seen on television as Inspector Sajid in Express Entertainment's crime drama Missing Darling, a Sunday primetime show centred on the disappearance of a TikToker known as "Darling" and the darker secrets uncovered during the investigation.