Just when it seemed the ₹370 biryani controversy couldn’t get any bigger, comedian Pranit More has come out with another apology.And this time, he isn’t blaming the internet for taking things out of context. Instead, he’s admitting he made a mistake.In a video shared on Instagram, More said he got “carried away” during the now-viral crowd-work interaction that has landed him in the middle of one of the biggest online controversies of the year.“I could have stopped him. I could have taken a stand. But I didn’t,” he said. For many people watching, those were the words they had been waiting to hear.
The joke that stopped being a joke
The controversy started at one of More’s live shows when an audience member, Himanshu Jangra, began talking about a date.At first, it sounded like the kind of awkward dating story comedians hear every day during crowd work. Then things went sideways.While describing the date, Jangra spoke about spending ₹370 on a plate of biryani and suggested that because he had spent money on the woman, he expected something in return.The audience laughed. More laughed too.And the clip quickly escaped the comedy club and found its way onto social media.That’s when everything exploded.
The internet wasn’t laughing
Thousands of people called out the remarks, saying they reduced consent to a transaction. But the criticism wasn’t aimed only at Jangra. A lot of it landed on More as well.People questioned why he didn’t stop the conversation. Why he continued engaging with the audience member. Why nobody on stage challenged what was being said.Almost overnight, what began as crowd work became a national talking point. “I deserve the hate”In his latest apology, More admitted that he got swept up in the atmosphere of the room. According to him, everyone around him was laughing and he failed to realise where the conversation was heading. Looking back now, he says he should have handled it differently.One line from the video stood out.“I deserve the hate.”It’s not something public figures often say when they’re facing backlash. And that’s partly why the clip has been getting attention.More acknowledged that giving someone a microphone also comes with responsibility. Even if the remarks aren’t yours, you’re still the person running the show.
The fallout keeps growing
What happened next only made the controversy bigger.Jangra lost his job after the video went viral. The National Commission for Women stepped in. Police complaints followed.Every few days, a new clip, statement or development seemed to emerge. What started with one audience interaction suddenly became a conversation about consent, comedy and accountability.And honestly, that’s probably why the story has stayed in the headlines for so long. It stopped being about biryani a long time ago.
Not everyone is convinced
The fresh apology has received mixed reactions online. Some people appreciated the fact that More finally accepted responsibility instead of trying to defend himself.Others felt the apology came only after the controversy spiralled out of control. A few even argued that by this point, no statement is going to satisfy everyone.That’s the reality of internet outrage. Once a story reaches a certain point, every new apology becomes part of the story itself.
A lesson for comedians?
The incident has also sparked a larger discussion inside the comedy community. Crowd work is unpredictable. Anyone who has watched live stand-up knows that.A comedian can never fully control what an audience member is about to say. But many people now believe the bigger question is what happens after those words are spoken.Do you shut it down? Do you challenge it? Or do you laugh and move on?Pranit More’s latest apology suggests he believes he chose the wrong option. Whether people accept that apology is another question entirely.But for now, a controversy that began with a ₹370 plate of biryani continues to dominate conversations far beyond the walls of a comedy club.
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