Humor is a virtue that is appreciated by all. It is too easy to break into laughter but it is equally difficult to make people laugh. The comic genre in Indian cinema has undergone great changes form the time of its conception. Comedy was previously a part of films. Humor was, thus, utilized as a comic relief. Actors like, Johnny Walker, were the first comic actors of the Indian cinema. Later came Mehmood, IS Johar, Premnath, Bhagwan, Kishore Kumar, Keshto Mukherjee, Johnny Lever and others. The first comedy flick in Hindi was Albela (1951). The film was well accepted by the audience.

A number of films alter followed suit. But in most of the films comedy was a part of other genres. But it must be noted that both actors and actresses have tried their hands in this medium and have been successful. One of the most remembered comedy movie was Padosan, starring Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu, Kishore Kumar and Mehmood. Later films like Golmaal, Chhoti Si Baat and Khoobsurat made this genre quite popular. Humor was no longer used as comic relief but it had established itself as a genre in the Indian film industry. Actors like Amitabh Bachchan also explored this field with films like Chupke Chupke, Amar Akbar Anthony, Namak Halal and others.

With changing times the definition of comedians changed. Today the lead actors are frequently seen in our and out comedy movies. Amol Palekar, Rekha, Moushumi Chatterjee, Kamal Hassan, Paresh Rawal, Kader Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Akshaye Khanna, Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Hema Malini, Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Rani Mukherjee, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Govinda, Karisma Kapoor and others. But one of the timeless actors who had made humor talk of the town is Utpal Dutt. In the films of Hrishikesh Mukherjee he redefined humor.

Contemporary film directors like David Dhawan and Priyadarshan brought back the comic genre. Most of Dhawan`s films have Govinda, Salman and Karisma in the lead. While his films were termed slapstick comedies they went onto be accepted and appreciated by the audience. Haseena Maan Jayeegi, Jodi No. 1, Hero No.1, Mujhse Shaadi Karoge, Partner and many more are credited to David Dhawan. Priyadarshan is one of the most popular directors in Indian cinema. A versatile director he has made films in several languages and genres. His first Hindi comedy film was Muskurahat with Amrish Puri and Revathy. His later films were Hera Pheri, Hungama, Hulchul, Phir Hera Pheri, Bhool Bhulaiya, Garam Masala and others.

Deya Neya, Shaare Chuattor, Ogo Bodhu Sundari, Chaddobeshi and Dhonnyi Meye are some of the comic Bengali films. Ashi Hi Banawabanawi, Pachadlela, Shejari-Shejari, Dhamal and others are the Marathi comedies.