Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan slammed Egyptian jokester Ramez Galal on his television show Ramez Undergound on Friday, as he fell victim to one of Galal’s infamous pranks.
Galal tricked Khan into thinking he has an interview with Lebanese-Armenian presenter Neshan. But he was then taken into the desert for a safari, only to plummet into a pit of quicksand along with the car that was carrying him. Galal dressed up as a massive lizard and charged toward him before the big reveal.
Khan, 51, appeared furious, calling Galal sick and ugly.
“You got me here all the way from India to do this [expletive]?” he demanded. “Don’t talk to me.”
“You’re my hero, you’re my dream,” Galal said, attempting to assuage Khan’s anger as he pulled him out of the quicksand.
But Khan tackled the host to the ground, poised to punch him. “Should I make it funnier?” he asked.
Galal told him that “millions of Egyptian people” were waiting for his episode, but Khan was having none of it, retorting, “I will take your clothes off and bury you here. I promise you.” He also asked to meet with the producers of the show.
Later, however, Galal posted a selfie with a much calmer Khan as well as a video where Khan says, in Arabic, “Wait for me this Ramadan on the programme Ramez Underground on MBC Masr.”
The seasoned actor, known for films such as Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kal Ho Naa Ho and Khabi Khushi Khabie Gham, refused to stay for Galal’s standard post-prank interview on the show.
Unverified reports that Khan was paid up to $400,000 (Dh1.4 million) to appear on the show have surfaced; MBC was unable to confirm or deny those claims to tabloid!.
Galal is a divisive figure in Arabic television, with some enjoying his sense of humour and others deeming his pranks cruel. Some consider his antics to be staged or fake. He returns every Ramadan with the same programme, but operates under a different theme each year.
Actress Nadia Al Jundi, who appeared in Ramez Underground days prior to Khan, told Galal he needed therapy, while Cheb Khalid, another guest this year, was more jovial about it.
