New Delhi: The teaser for stand-up comic Munawar Faruqui’s acting debut has dropped. First Copy, a web series, is set to release on Amazon MX Player this June. But it has not managed to create the buzz that the Bigg Boss 17 winner is known for.
The average views of Faruqui’s Instagram reels are around 7-10 million, the teaser has clocked just 3.2 million views in the past 24 hours.
“It is just the timing. With the Kunal Kamra controversy blowing up every single day, the attention is directed to him. Faruqui had his moment with Lock Upp, and now is just one of the many people to try acting after a successful career,” said a producer, who did not wish to be named.
He’s not the first stand-up comic to make the leap to acting. In 2023, popular stand up comic Anubhav Singh Bassi appeared in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkar, alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor. In the same year, comic Rohan Joshi also appeared in the Amazon miniTV web series Half CA. Comedian Harsh Gujral also made his acting debut this year with the film Mere Husband Ki Biwi.
First Copy is a thriller that explores Mumbai of the 1990s. The plot revolves around the menace of piracy. Faruqui plays Arif, who joins a film production company but soon becomes the mastermind behind a piracy empire. The show also stars Krystle D’Souza, Gulshan Grover, Raza Murad and Meiyang Chang. It’s set to premiere in June this year.
Piracy has been a major concern in the film industry. Salman Khan’s Sikandar is the latest victim. It was leaked online a day before its release on 30 March.
Faruqui posted the trailer on 1 April. “Maal nakli hai, par Arif ka swag bilkul asli hai! [The goods are fake but Arif’s swag it completely original] First Copy streaming this June only on Amazon MX Player for free!”, he wrote in the caption.
Also read: Is Kamra final authority on free speech? Both critics & supporters can’t see beyond him
Faruqui’s audience
Faruqui was arrested on stage on 1 January 2021, was in jail for 37 days, and 16 of his shows cancelled in a row. He was arrested after an FIR was lodged against him by the son of a politician in Madhya Pradesh. He was performing at a cafe in Indore, where he allegedly cracked a joke insulting Hindu deities.
His first big break after getting out of jail was in the reality TV show Lock Upp (2022), hosted by Kangana Ranaut. With 18 lakh votes, he won the show and got a cash prize of Rs 20 lakh and a car.
Lock Upp recorded 21.2 million views, as per Ormax, and was one of the top 10 streaming originals of 2022.
“One reason for the reality show to blow up was, of course, his conviction. Then he went on to win Bigg Boss,” said the producer. Faruqui was the winner of the 17th season of the popular reality show. “ Whether or not people in the bigger cities watch him, tier 3-4 towns are a good base for Amazon MX Player, and it might do well,” he added.
Currently, Faruqui is hosting a show titled Haftaa Vasooli, which streams on Jio Hotstar, which started streaming on 14 February this year. He landed in legal trouble after a complaint was filed against him on 22 February. Advocate Amita Sachdeva registered a complaint against the show for allegedly promoting vulgarity, insulting religions, and violating cultural values. It is a satirical newsroom comedy, where new guests come in every episode.
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)