Pranit More, Himanshu Jangra appear before NCW over Rs 370 Biryani row; Commission rejects apology

A controversy that began with a stand-up comedy crowdwork clip has now reached the doors of the National Commission for Women (NCW). Comedian Pranit More, audience member Himanshu Jangra, and stand-up comic Madhur Virli were recently spotted arriving at the NCW office in connection with separate cases involving alleged derogatory remarks about women.

Videos shared by news agency PTI showed Pranit and Himanshu entering the commission's premises for a scheduled hearing. Pranit chose not to address the media and walked inside wearing a face mask despite repeated questions from reporters. Madhur Virli was also seen arriving separately and similarly avoided making any public statement.

How The Rs 370 Biryani Remark Sparked Outrage

The issue started after a crowdwork video from one of Pranit More's comedy shows went viral online. During an interaction with the comedian, audience member Himanshu Jangra spoke about taking a woman on a date and spending Rs 370 on a plate of chicken biryani. He then suggested that he deserved a "return" on that expenditure, a remark that many viewers condemned as sexist and offensive.

The clip quickly spread across social media platforms, triggering criticism from users who accused the content of promoting unhealthy attitudes towards women and consent. The backlash intensified because the video was uploaded online and remained publicly accessible before being removed.

NCW Steps In, Hearing Takes A Serious Turn

Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the NCW summoned those involved for a hearing held on June 22. According to reports, the commission expressed strong concern over content that appeared to trivialise women's autonomy and present problematic behaviour as entertainment.

Sources quoted by PTI stated that the commission was not satisfied with the apologies submitted in the matter. During the proceedings, NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar reportedly stressed that freedom of expression cannot be used as a shield to normalise disrespect towards women or turn serious issues into jokes for public amusement.

Following the backlash, Himanshu Jangra issued an apology and later deleted his social media accounts. Pranit More also released a statement acknowledging the criticism. He admitted that, in hindsight, he should have challenged the audience member's comment instead of laughing and moving on with the act.