Khushboo Patani slams misogynistic comments amid Pranit More row: Educated fools
Khushboo Patani criticised comedian Pranit More after an audience member's 370 biryani remark about expecting a return drew outrage. The backlash widened as both men apologised and the audience member's employer ended his employment.
The controversy surrounding comedian Pranit More’s viral crowdwork clip has found another high-profile critic. Khushboo Patani, sister of actor Disha Patani, has weighed in on the debate, calling out what she described as misogynistic remarks made by an audience member during the show and questioning the comedian’s handling of the exchange.
Sharing excerpts from the clip on Instagram, Khushboo criticised the comments and the thinking behind them. Referring to the exchange, she said Jangra appeared to be suggesting that asking for sex on the first date would have been awkward after taking a woman out for biryani. She also pointed to his remarks about taking the woman to a secluded park and his references to physical intimacy.
Questioning the mindset reflected in the conversation, Khushboo said she was disturbed that such comments were coming from young men in their early twenties. She also expressed shock that nobody intervened while the audience laughed and the discussion continued on stage.
"This is what the 22–23-year-old men are saying. See girls what they want to do. Look at the laughter in the show. I am shocked how the comedian did not stop this man from spewing such dirt on the show," she said.
Watch the video here:
Further in the post, Khushboo criticised what she called a long-standing tendency to assign women a "price" at different stages of life. She argued that such attitudes begin early, continue through dating and relationships, and persist after marriage in the form of dowry demands.
She added, "These educated fools will determine our rates. It starts when we go to school, then at college, then at a date and finally after marriage with dowry."
She also shared a video featuring a traditional Nepali knife, known as a Khukuri, and urged women to buy one instead.
Comedian Pranit More issues clarification
As criticism mounted, More issued a public statement addressing the controversy. "I've seen the criticism regarding a recent crowdwork clip. The comments made by the audience member do not reflect my views. Looking back, I should have challenged the remark instead of laughing and moving on. That was a lapse in judgment on my part," he wrote.
The comedian further added, "I appreciate everyone who raised their concerns respectfully. I sincerely apologise for whatever happened, and I'll take this lesson forward. I'm human, and like anyone else, I'm constantly learning."
The controversy also prompted a response from Jangra's employer, Starvik Design. On Tuesday, founder Vivek Vishwakarma announced on Instagram that the company had terminated Jangra's employment, saying the incident had extended beyond an individual's personal conduct and was now affecting the workplace. He added that he had a responsibility towards the organisation, its employees, clients and the culture it seeks to maintain.
The debate continues to generate discussion online, with attention focused not only on the original remarks but also on the responsibilities of performers, audiences and employers when such incidents unfold in public spaces.