Stand-up comedian Pranit More on Saturday, 13 June issued a public apology over the viral 'Rs 370 Biryani' clip, admitting he failed to intervene when derogatory remarks were made during a crowd-work session and saying he deserved the backlash that followed. The apology came amid mounting online criticism and formal action by the National Commission for Women (NCW).

What More Said in His Apology

More posted a video on Instagram after his account was briefly suspended, addressing the controversy directly. 'You have seen the crowd-work video circulating on social media, and I have been receiving a lot of hate because of it,' he said in the clip.

The comedian acknowledged that he got carried away during the performance and did not step in when inappropriate remarks were made. 'During the crowd-work session, the man made several derogatory comments. Everyone was laughing, and I, too, got carried away. It was a lapse in judgment. I believe it was my biggest mistake. I could have taken a stand at that moment, but I did not,' he said.

More also admitted that his reaction amplified the remarks. 'I gave those comments a platform, and things escalated from there. I want to apologise to everyone who was hurt by this,' he added. He confirmed cooperation with legal proceedings and appealed for a second chance, saying he was 'working on myself and my content.'

The Controversy: What Happened at the Gurugram Show

The row stems from a stand-up comedy show held in Gurugram, where web developer Himanshu Jangra recounted an incident involving a date on which he spent Rs 370 on a plate of chicken biryani. According to the account, when the woman later asked to be dropped home, Jangra allegedly indicated he expected sexual favours in return for the money spent. More was visibly laughing at the remark during the performance — a reaction that drew widespread condemnation once the clip circulated online.

This is not an isolated instance of stand-up comedy drawing scrutiny for crowd-work content that crosses into misogynistic territory. Critics argue that the genre's informal, improvisational format can normalise harmful attitudes when performers fail to exercise editorial judgment.

NCW Summons and Legal Proceedings

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday summoned both Pranit More and Himanshu Jangra over the remarks, stating that the comments appeared to glorify sexual coercion and non-consensual conduct towards a woman. More confirmed he is cooperating with authorities in whatever legal proceedings are underway.

Notably, a Gurugram-based firm also terminated Jangra's employment following the controversy — a rare instance of professional consequences flowing directly from viral social media outrage over comedy content.

Wider Implications for Stand-Up Comedy

The episode has reignited debate about the boundaries of crowd-work comedy in India and the responsibility performers carry when audience members make offensive remarks on stage. Several fellow comedians and commentators have weighed in online, with opinions divided between calls for accountability and concerns about over-policing of comedy spaces.

More's apology and the NCW summons signal that the fallout is far from over — with legal proceedings ongoing and public scrutiny unlikely to ease in the near term.