Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has praised comedian Kunal Kamra for his refusal to apologize for his comments regarding Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which sparked significant controversy. In an interview with the Indian Express, Hansal expressed that it takes courage for Kunal to maintain his stance despite the backlash.

Hansal stands by Kunal's decision to not apologise

When asked for his thoughts on Kunal Kamra's decision not to apologize, Hansal remarked, "It is quite courageous of him to take that position. Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay Raina were compelled to back down following the former’s inappropriate comment on India’s Got Latent, but Kunal Kamra has remained steadfast in the face of all the outrage, which is commendable."

Hansal thinks Indians ‘lack the ability to laugh at ourselves’

Hansal was also questioned about the ongoing "harassment" faced by stand-up comedians and whether it stems from a "lack of humor." He responded, "We struggle to laugh at ourselves; it is not something that comes easily to us. Recently, I watched a video from the Golden Globes where someone made some rather harsh comments about Hollywood legends like Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Clint Eastwood, who were present and laughing. Culturally, we are not as open-minded; we tend to be overly sensitive."

What is the row about

Following his comments regarding Eknath Shinde, Kunal sparked a controversy and subsequently posted on Instagram, stating that he would not "apologise" and that he does not "fear this mob" nor will he "hide under my bed, waiting for this to pass."

Hansal has been supporting Kunal Kamra

Hansal has previously defended Kunal, asserting that regardless of the extent of disagreement or the intensity of provocation, violence, intimidation, and humiliation are unacceptable. In a series of posts on X, the director recounted his own experiences with the Shiv Sena approximately 25 years ago, when members of the then-undivided political party vandalized his office.

"What occurred with Kamra is, unfortunately, not a new phenomenon in Maharashtra. I have experienced it firsthand... They vandalized my property, physically assaulted me, blackened my face, and compelled me to publicly apologize by bowing to an elderly woman for a single line of dialogue in my film," part of his statement expressed. He referenced his 1997 film Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar, which had been approved by the Censor Board with 27 cuts.

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