Popular comedian and host Bharti Singh has found herself in the midst of a significant controversy after making a remark about actress Ayesha Khan's appearance that viewers have labelled as blatant body-shaming. The incident occurred during a recent episode of the cooking comedy show Laughter Chefs Season 3, which she hosts.
The Controversial Episode and Remark
The cast of the upcoming film Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2, including Warina Hussain, Ayesha Khan, Tridha Choudhary, and Parul Gulati, made a promotional appearance on the show alongside Kapil Sharma. Their grand entry was set to the film's song Pahli Uddi Furrr. It was during this segment that Bharti Singh made the comment that ignited the fire.
After observing the actresses, Bharti pointed at Ayesha Khan and stated, "Jab saari heroine aayi na, mujhe Ayesha ko dekh ke laga, Krushna phir se aa gaya, kyunki uski tarah lambi hai na". This translates to, "When all the heroines came, seeing Ayesha made me think Krushna has returned because she is tall like Krushna." The comparison was to fellow comedian Krushna Abhishek, known for his height and comic roles.
The comment created an immediate awkward moment. Co-host Kapil Sharma quickly intervened, asking Bharti if that was meant to be a compliment. Parul Gulati was heard correcting Bharti, saying "Ye Nahi bolna tha" (You shouldn't have said this). Bharti's defence was to attribute the remark to her pregnancy, saying, "Sorry, I am pregnant." While Ayesha Khan appeared taken aback, she handled the situation with grace.
Viewer Backlash and Online Fury
The clip soon circulated on social media, drawing widespread criticism from disappointed and angry viewers. Many accused Bharti Singh of routinely being disrespectful and crossing the line with body-shaming jibes.
One user expressed their frustration online, writing, "Bharati is rude with most women on the show... and body shaming jibes from someone who made it big as a comedian sheerly for the way she looked (more fat, less funny) are BRAVE." Another netizen pointed out the pattern, stating, "This season Bharti is being really mean to the new girls trio... and she does not realise at one point it gets really hurtful and rude."
The criticism extended to calling her actions misogynistic. A comment read, "Bharti is just a misogynist. Just because she is a working woman doesn’t change her mindset... The joke wasn’t even funny." Another viewer called the remark "plain disrespectful to bigger sized woman," while noting that Ayesha isn't even that.
Context and Show's Performance
This controversy emerges even as Laughter Chefs Season 3 has been performing well in the ratings. The show secured the number 3 spot in the television rankings last week. The new season features fresh celebrity pairings or 'jodis' like Gurmeet Choudhary-Debinna Bonnerjee, Elvish Yadav-Isha Malviya, Eisha Singh-Vivian Dsena, and Karan Kundrra-Tejasswi Prakash.
The incident raises ongoing questions about the boundaries of comedy on national television and the normalization of comments on physical appearance. While Bharti Singh is celebrated for her impeccable comic timing, this episode highlights how such remarks can quickly veer into offensive territory, prompting a serious conversation about respect and sensitivity in entertainment.
