Bigg Boss 19 fame Malti Chahar, who shared a close bond with comedian Pranit More on the show, has now strongly reacted to the Rs 370 biryani remark made during Pranit's recent stand-up show. The actress took to social media on Wednesday to express her disappointment, stating that due to such attitudes, women nowadays feel discouraged about marriage.
Taking to her X handle, Malti expressed disappointment and said it is sad to learn that some people still believe a woman's consent is not more valuable than a plate of biryani. For those unaware, a video from Pranit More's recent stand-up show went viral and sparked widespread criticism online. In the clip, 23-year-old Himanshu Jangra said he had spent Rs 370 on a plate of chicken biryani during a date and therefore expected a “return” on that expense. His remark drew strong reactions on social media, and netizens called out both Pranit and Himanshu.
This problematic statement has led to a new debate about consent and why women need to be financially independent. In her post, Malti also spoke about the backlash surrounding the film "Peddi" for the hypersexualization of the leading lady Janhvi Kapoor. Malti's post read, "Rs 370 biryani and Peddi… make you realize why many women are hesitant about marriage, why we value our independence, and why we choose to split the bill. Some women are even financially supporting men entirely."
She added, "Yet, we continue to be objectified, and a woman's consent is apparently worth no more than a plate of biryani. After generations of fighting for equality, dignity, and respect, it's disheartening that we're still confronting the same underlying mindset." Malti went on to share advice for all mothers and future mothers: "Please teach your sons to respect women and understand the importance of consent."
"And to the audience - it's easy to dismiss something as 'just a joke' or 'just a film,' but media shapes culture, and women often face the real-life consequences of what gets normalized on screen," she added.
Pranit is also facing backlash for his reaction to Himanshu's statements. In the video, Pranit is seen laughing and says, "Peak Gurgaon content." Fans expressed their disappointment after the video went viral. He later shared an apology on social media and revealed that the video had been taken down from all platforms. His post read, "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 judgement on my part. Live crowdwork often involves reacting in real time, but that's not an excuse. I take the feedback seriously and will be more thoughtful in how I handle similar situations going forward. We've also removed the video from all our platforms, as I don't want to amplify or normalize those views."
He further said, "I appreciate everyone who raised their concerns respectfully. I sincerely apologize for whatever happened, and I'll take this lesson forward. I'm human, and like anyone else, I'm constantly learning. Being called out when I get something wrong doesn't make me smaller, but helps me grow. I accept that I could have handled this better, and I'll be more mindful to never unintentionally support or normalize such views in the future."
On the work front, Malti was last seen in Bigg Boss 19. She is Indian cricketer Deepak Chahar's sister.
