Source The Indian Express
NEW DELHI — Stand-up comedian Pranit More issued a video apology on Saturday regarding his viral “₹370 Biryani” crowd-work video, admitting he got “carried away” by the live audience’s laughter and had a massive “lapse in judgment.”
The controversy stems from a clip recorded during More’s comedy show in Gurugram, which sparked widespread public outrage and legal scrutiny.
The Controversy Behind the Clip
During an interactive crowd-work segment, an audience member, identified as web developer Himanshu Jangra, recounted a story about a date. Jangra explained that because he had spent ₹370 on a plate of chicken biryani for the woman, he felt entitled to physical intimacy, stating, “Maine kaha ki ₹370 lage hain to use to wasool to karunga hi” (I spent ₹370, so I will definitely get my money’s worth).
A longer, more graphic version of the video later surfaced, showing Jangra describing non-consensual physical conduct while More laughed and referred to the exchange as “Peak Gurgaon content,” even rewarding the audience member with a ₹5,000 cash prize.
The video quickly went viral, drawing intense criticism for trivializing consent and normalising sexual coercion.
‘It Was My Biggest Mistake’
Taking to Instagram after a brief suspension of his account, More addressed his followers directly to take ownership of his reactions.
“You have seen the crowd-work video circulating on social media, and I have been receiving a lot of hate because of it. And I feel that I probably deserve this hate,” More said in his video statement.
He acknowledged that the collective laughter in the room clouded his judgment on stage:
Failure to Intervene: “When I was doing crowd work with that guy, he made some derogatory remarks and everyone was laughing at them. I feel this was my biggest mistake. I could have stopped him there itself, but I did not.”
Enabling a Platform: “Instead, I gave him a platform which allowed the situation to escalate to the extent that it did. For that, I take full responsibility.”
A Plea for a Second Chance: “I want to apologise to everyone who was hurt because of this… I request all of you to give me one chance. I will become a better human being.”
Legal Fallout and Corporate Repercussions
The incident has escalated far beyond social media backlash, resulting in serious legal and professional consequences for those involved:
Police Investigation: The Maharashtra Police have registered a case against both Pranit More and Himanshu Jangra for allegedly promoting obscene content and non-consensual conduct. More confirmed in his video that he is “cooperating fully with the authorities” regarding the legal proceedings.
NCW Intervention: The National Commission for Women (NCW), led by Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, took suo motu cognisance of the tape, summoning both men and demanding a swift Action Taken Report from the police for glorifying sexual coercion.
Job Termination: Following intense public pressure, Starvik Design—the Gurugram-based company where Jangra worked—officially terminated his employment, stating that his public remarks did not align with company values.
More concluded his apology by stating that this has been a profound learning experience and promised that the necessary introspection will be reflected in his future comedic content.
