A joke about a Rs 370 biryani meal at a Dubai comedy show sparked a nationwide debate on consent and workplace accountability.
During a crowd‑work segment, Gurugram‑based web developer Himanshu Jangra recounted a date where he spent Rs 370 (Dh 14) on a plate of chicken biryani and suggested that paying for the meal gave him a right to sexual favours from his companion. The clip quickly spread across social media, prompting criticism that framed his remarks as a sense of entitlement and a misunderstanding of consent.
Comedian Pranit More laughed as Jangra spoke and labelled the exchange “Peak Gurgaon content.” Critics argued that by treating the remark as a punchline rather than challenging it, More missed an opportunity to address the problematic attitude.
Later, More issued a public apology, saying the audience member’s comments did not reflect his own views and describing his reaction as a “lapse in judgement”.
Jangra’s employer, Starvik Design – a Gurugram‑based branding and social media firm – announced that it had decided to part ways with him, citing the controversy’s impact on the workplace.
“What happened outside the workplace has now affected the workplace.” — Vivek Vishwakarma, Founder, Starvik Design
Frequently asked questions
What happened to the web developer who made a biryani joke?The web developer, Himanshu Jangra, was dismissed from his job at Starvik Design after a viral clip showed him suggesting that paying for a biryani meal gave him a right to sexual favours.
Why was the comedian Pranit More criticized?More was criticized for laughing at and labelling a problematic comment as a joke, rather than challenging the attitude, which many saw as endorsing entitlement.
What sparked a debate on consent in India?A viral clip from Pranit More’s Dubai comedy show, where a web developer made a biryani joke, sparked a nationwide debate on consent and workplace accountability.
What did Pranit More say about the biryani joke?More issued a public apology, saying the audience member’s comments did not reflect his own views and describing his reaction as a “lapse in judgement”.
