Maniesh Paul says he never made fun of Katrina Kaif’s Hindi — and that’s why she felt safe at award shows. The TV host, known for his sharp wit and long-running stint on Comedy Nights with Kapil, has spoken out about repeated requests to roast the actress over her accent during live events. He refused every time. Not because he lacked material, but because he didn’t believe comedy should come at someone’s expense. 'Kyunki maine kabhi unki Hindi ka mazaak nahi banaya,' he told Zoom TV, recalling how Katrina would show up at award nights he hosted and always sit in the front row, not just as a guest, but as someone who trusted him. That trust wasn’t built on laughter at her cost. It was earned by choosing not to laugh at her. The pressure came from channels too. ‘Kayi baar channel bhi pressure deta tha,’ he said. But he’d respond: ‘Aapko 3 minute ka laughter chahiye na? Main dila dunga.’ And he did. Without crossing lines. He also declined jokes about break-ups and relationships, knowing that what plays well on stage can hurt families watching at home. The moment feels heavier now. In August 2026, Katrina attended filmmaker Kuku Kohli’s funeral with Vicky Kaushal. Photos surfaced. Online trolls pounced. Body-shaming comments flooded social media. Shivaleeka Oberoi stepped in, calling it ‘ridiculous’. Then, in October, Katrina addressed the toxicity herself at a Kay Beauty event in London. ‘We really need to be careful of letting the narrative on social media affect our self-worth,’ she said. Maniesh’s story isn’t about a punchline. It’s about presence. About choosing dignity over cheap laughs. And in an industry where being funny often means being cruel, that choice is rare. Now, it’s being remembered.