“Meri condition bohot worse hai…”: Himanshu Jangra breaks silence on ‘Rs 370 ki biryani’ row during Pranit More show, says story was ‘improvised’
In a joint video posted on Instagram by Jangra and his former employer, the Gurugram resident addressed the controversy that led to intense backlash on social media and loss of his job.
Jangra said that although he was with a woman, the story he told during the program was not entirely based on facts. According to him, various elements of the story were improvised to suit the comedic atmosphere of the event.
He explained that he joined the show after watching similar crowd work clips online where viewers shared their personal experiences, often mixed with dark humour. Jangra issued an apology, admitting that some of the language he used was inappropriate and said he never intended to offend anyone.
“I used some words I shouldn’t have used and I want to apologize for that. The story was told in an entertaining way and did not reflect my true mindset or intentions,” he said.
Speaking about the effects of this, Jangra explained that online criticism soon went beyond social media and reached her hometown, causing distress to her family. He said relatives and neighbors informed his parents about the argument before he had a chance to explain the situation.
According to Jangra, his family called him home and questioned him about the incident. Although his parents initially scolded him for his behavior, they became deeply concerned after learning that he had lost his job due to the argument. He said seeing the impact on his family left him with a strong sense of regret, adding that he often wondered why he chose to participate in the show.
Jangra explained that his statement was not an attempt to gain sympathy, but rather an attempt to accept responsibility for his actions and learn from the experience.
Sharing the video, the company said in its caption that the purpose of the conversation was to provide context and allow Jangra to present his side of the story. He emphasized that hosting the debate should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any of the statements or views expressed in the video and urged viewers to be respectful and avoid online harassment.
Meanwhile, comedian Pranit More also publicly apologized for his handling of crowd-work interaction. More admitted in a video posted on Instagram on June 13 that he had to intervene after Jangra made offensive remarks.
More said he was caught up in the audience reaction and admitted it was a mistake to allow the comments to continue. Calling it an error of judgment, he apologized to those harmed and accepted responsibility for publishing these statements on a public platform.
The debate has now attracted legal attention. Maharashtra Cyber registered an FIR against More, Jangra, MBBS student Sejal Pawar and others for allegedly broadcasting and distributing obscene and objectionable content related to the comedy show.
The case was filed under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, as well as relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Separately, KEM Hospital and Medical College has placed Pawar on 15-day compulsory leave after preliminary investigation into another viral clip of the same incident. The agency also suggested setting up a five-member committee to conduct a detailed investigation.
Earlier, Devendra Fadnavis said that freedom of expression is important but it should be used responsibly and should not harm the dignity of another person.
