Weeks after his comments on comedian Pranit More's crowd-work show triggered a social media storm, Himanshu Jangra has spoken at length about the fallout, saying he deeply regrets attending the event and wishes he had chosen his words differently.
The 23-year-old Gurgaon resident found himself at the centre of controversy after a clip from the show went viral online. During the interaction, Himanshu narrated a dating experience and suggested that because he had spent ₹370 on a plate of chicken biryani during a date, he expected a "return" on that investment.
The remarks drew sharp criticism across social media, with many calling them offensive and problematic. The backlash eventually cost Himanshu his job at Gurgaon-based tech firm Starvik Design. Both he and comedian Pranit More later issued public apologies.
Now, in a video shared by Starvik Design on Instagram, Himanshu has opened up about how the controversy affected not just him, but his entire family.
Family Under Strain
The conversation began with Starvik Design founder Vivek Vishwakarma asking Himanshu how things had been at home since the controversy exploded online. Himanshu admitted that the past two weeks had been extremely difficult.
"Sir, currently my condition is very bad. I have been trolled heavily on Instagram for the past two weeks. For the first week, no one at home knew about it. No one in my hometown knew," he said.
According to Himanshu, things became even harder once relatives and neighbours started learning about the viral clip. He revealed that his uncle came across the controversy and called him about it. Initially, he hoped the issue would die down after a few days. Instead, the criticism kept growing.
Soon, people in his neighbourhood were discussing the incident, and some even approached his parents about the remarks he had made during the show.
"My family called me home and asked what was happening. I admitted my mistake, so they scolded and explained to me. It was okay until then, but when they found out I was fired from my job, they became very tense. Now, when I see my family, I feel deep regret for ever going to that show," he said.
Story Was Improvised
The most significant part of the conversation came when Himanshu addressed the story he told during the show. According to him, while the date itself was real, the version he narrated on stage was not entirely accurate.
"The story I told there, the girl I was talking about… yes, I did date a girl… but sir, what I said there was not totally true. I had improvised and told a story there," he explained.
He added that other audience members before him were also sharing dramatic stories, and he ended up adding his own twists while speaking on stage.
"Because the people before me were also telling similar types of stories. I don't know if my luck was bad or people got triggered. I admit I used some wrong words. I want to apologize for that."
Himanshu insisted that the comments were made in what he believed was an entertainment setting and did not reflect his actual mindset.
"What I said was only for entertainment purposes. I have no such intention or mentality," he added. He also said that throughout his professional life he has maintained good relationships with female colleagues and that he genuinely regrets making those remarks.
Company Seeks Context
The company, while sharing the video, clarified that the conversation was intended to provide context rather than defend Himanshu's actions. In the caption, Starvik Design wrote, "We believe that every situation deserves context, conversation, and clarity. As requested by many members of our community, we invited Himanshu Jangra to share his perspective and address the questions surrounding the ongoing discussion."
The company further stated that the video should not be viewed as an endorsement of any comments or actions, and urged viewers to remain respectful while discussing the issue.
The Original Controversy
The controversy traces back to a crowd-work segment during Pranit More's show, where Himanshu spoke about taking a woman out on a date. He claimed that after paying ₹370 for a plate of chicken biryani, he felt entitled to something in return.
"I said ₹370 is spent, I will recover it," he had said during the show. He then went on to describe taking the woman to a park despite her reluctance, remarks that quickly sparked outrage once clips from the event began circulating online.
The backlash has since grown into a larger conversation around consent, dating expectations and the responsibilities of both performers and audience members during live comedy shows. While Pranit More has apologised for not intervening during the interaction, Himanshu's latest statement appears to be his most detailed attempt yet to explain what happened, acknowledge his mistake and address the fallout that followed.
