The television industry was recently stirred by controversy after veteran actor Ram Kapoor’s remarks during a promotional event for his web series Mistry sparked public outrage. Known for his work in some of the biggest Indian television shows over the past two decades, Ram’s behaviour at the Mumbai event shocked both his colleagues and fans.
It began when reports surfaced claiming the actor had made a series of inappropriate comments. Allegedly, during the event, Ram not only interrupted interviews meant for co-star Mona Singh but also directed offensive remarks towards a member of the Jio Hotstar marketing team. His language raised eyebrows, especially when, as per witnesses, he remarked, “I feel like I’ve been gang-raped by elephants,” while inquiring about how many interviews were left. The comment, crass and insensitive, left many present stunned.
Another incident reportedly took place just before another interview. As Ram prepared himself, he allegedly asked aloud, “Which position should I take now? Doggy or missionary?” The comments didn’t go unnoticed. Within days, the management at Jio Hotstar made a decisive call to distance Ram Kapoor from all promotional activities linked to Mistry.
In the aftermath, Ram Kapoor didn’t deny the allegations. He openly admitted his actions in an interview. “Let me start by saying that everything I’ve been accused of saying, I have said it. So, the fact is that I am guilty as charged. But this is what I have to say in my defence,” he remarked. Ram claimed he tends to be his unfiltered, boisterous self around familiar people and insisted that if he had known his remarks were unwelcome, he would have stopped immediately.
Following the controversy, Sudhanshu Pandey, known for his work in Anupamaa and a contemporary of Ram’s in the television world, addressed the matter. When asked about Ram’s behaviour in an interview with FilmiBeat, Sudhanshu didn’t mince words. Speaking in Hindi, he stated, “Firstly, Ram is ruining his own reputation if he has made such comments. Secondly, I feel that one has to be mentally unstable to make comments like this, especially if you’re commenting about a woman who is in your close proximity.”
Sudhanshu said that decent individuals ought to be respectful, particularly towards women. He didn’t hesitate to voice his disappointment and offered an apology on behalf of the industry. “It’s very wrong, and if Ram has done something like this, I apologise on behalf of my fraternity,” he added.
The controversy highlighted the ongoing issue of casual sexism and offensive humor disguised as harmless banter in public spaces. While Ram defended his words as being said in jest, the younger audience and professionals present at the event didn’t share that sentiment.
