Malti Chahar slams ₹370 biryani remark: 'Teach your sons about consent'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Actress Malti Chahar has publicly called out comedian Pranit More over a viral ₹370 biryani remark, saying it reflects a deeply troubling attitude toward women's consent. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, 10 June, Chahar — who shared the Bigg Boss 19 house with More and was at one point romantically linked to him — said the incident was a reminder of why many women today are hesitant about marriage.
The Remark That Sparked the Outrage
The controversy traces back to a video from More's recent stand-up show, in which Himanshu Jangra, 23, claimed he paid ₹370 for a plate of chicken biryani on a date and therefore deserved a 'return' on his investment. The clip spread rapidly on social media, drawing widespread condemnation and reigniting debates around consent, transactional attitudes in relationships, and women's financial independence.
What Malti Chahar Said
'₹370 biryani and Peddi… make you realise 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,' Chahar wrote in her post.
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.'
Chahar also linked the biryani controversy to the ongoing backlash over 'Peddi', a film criticised for the alleged hypersexualisation of actress Janhvi Kapoor in the lead role — drawing a line between normalised media portrayals and real-world attitudes toward women.
A Message to Mothers — and the Audience
Chahar directed a pointed appeal at mothers and future mothers: 'Please teach your sons to respect women and understand the importance of consent.'
She also addressed audiences who dismiss such incidents as harmless entertainment. '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 normalised on screen,' she said.
Wider Conversation on Consent and Independence
The episode has fed into a broader national conversation about consent, financial independence for women, and the role of popular culture in shaping social norms. Critics argue that comedy and cinema have long served as vehicles for normalising attitudes that, in real life, translate into coercion and entitlement. This is not the first time a stand-up clip has triggered such a reckoning — similar controversies have erupted with increasing frequency as social media amplifies public accountability. Notably, the fact that the criticism here comes from someone within More's own social circle gives it added weight.