Javed Jaaferi has extended its support to comedian Pranit More, who is currently at the center of a controversy for his comedy act. Addressing the controversy, the actor noted that comedians tend to become “soft targets” whenever public outrage flares. Talking about how audience sensibilities have changed over time, the actor noted that humor is now being judged by a section of people who don’t even make up half the population.
Jaaved Jaaferi on comics becoming ‘soft targets’
In a conversation with India Today, Jaaved defended Pranit’s right to perform, stressing that comedy ultimately comes down to personal choice and that audiences have the freedom to attend a show or skip it. “He’s an individual. He’s a comedian. People can choose to buy a ticket for their show or not. But what happens is that comedians and actors become soft whites. Even though there are many bigger issues around us, people sweep them under the rug and focus on an easy target simply because it’s a comic book. They are always the easiest people to follow,” he said.
Jaaved Jaaferi says parents should monitor content, not demand bans
The actor also weighed in on concerns about objectionable content, saying it should be the responsibility of parents to control what their children see rather than pushing for blanket bans. “You control your kids. If you don’t want them to see something, that’s your responsibility. You decide what they’re exposed to on social media and the internet. There’s all kinds of content online, even pornography. Can we stop it all? No. People have to make their own choices,” he added.
Jaaved Jaaferi says society has become ‘intolerant’
The ‘Dhamaal 4’ actor also observed that the society has become much more intolerant. He noted: “Society has become extremely intolerant in our country now and everything is being sensationalised. That wasn’t the case in the 90s or even the 2000s. Movies had jokes, people made fun of things, and audiences enjoyed them. If then I disguised myself as a sadhu or a mullah in a comical situation, no one was offended. Today, the same would be immediately labeled as offensive.“
Jaaferi Jaaferi on the reaction to Pranit More’s crowd work segment
Jaaferi also spoke about the criticism that Pranit faced for his crowd work segment, saying that comedy is often judged without looking at the context in which it was performed. He said people who watched the show may have laughed at the jokes at the time, but felt uncomfortable only later, while most of the criticism came from people who weren’t even there but were quick to judge. He stated, “Those who object are often outsiders who become very judgmental. Everyone becomes a moral authority, a religious authority. People say, ‘This doesn’t happen in our religion,’ but there are many religions that don’t have a problem with these things.”
About the Pranit More controversy
The dispute erupted after a clip from Pranit More’s stand-up show in Gurugram went viral on social media. In the video, 23-year-old audience member Himanshu Jangra talked about spending 370 rupees on a plate of chicken biryani during a date and said he expected some “return” for that amount, a comment that drew heavy criticism online. Pranit was also criticized for laughing and letting Jangra continue during the crowd work segment. Amid the growing backlash, both Pranit More and Himanshu Jangra posted video apologies for their comments.
Jaaved Jaaferi’s recent film
On the professional front, Jaaved Jaaferi reprized his beloved character Manav in ‘Dhamaal 4’, part of a cast that includes Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Riteish Deshmukh and Anjali Ananda, with the film currently enjoying a theatrical run.