Netflix film Maa Behen has been winning praise from viewers for its powerful message about consent and the deep rooted misogyny that still exists in society. While the film uses comedy to tell its story, it raises important questions about how women are treated and why conversations around consent are still necessary. Ironically, just as the film was being celebrated for tackling these issues, the viral ₹370 biryani controversy grabbed headlines and reignited a nationwide debate about consent and respect in relationships.
Actors Geetanjali Kulkarni and Arunoday Singh, who play important roles in the film, recently shared their thoughts on the controversy. Geetanjali, who plays the outspoken neighbour Gupta Aunty in the movie, believes that the solution starts with education. According to her, children need to be taught about gender sensitivity and respect from a young age. She stressed that these lessons should not be limited to schools but must also come from families and communities. Geetanjali said that blaming one another is easy, but meaningful change can only happen when society starts educating young people about equality, boundaries and consent early in life.
Arunoday Singh, who plays the kind hearted police officer Maheshwari in the film, took a stronger stance. He said the controversy reflects a larger problem within society and that people need to seriously examine how such attitudes have become normalised. While agreeing that education is important, he argued that there must also be accountability. According to him, governments, communities and elders have a responsibility to discourage harmful behaviour and ensure there are consequences for actions that cross the line. He expressed concern that society is becoming too accepting of problematic behaviour and questioned why people often remain silent instead of speaking up.
The controversy began when web developer Himanshu Jangra made remarks during comedian Pranit More’s show about expecting sexual intimacy from a woman because he had bought her a ₹370 biryani on a date. A video of the interaction quickly went viral, triggering massive outrage online. Many people condemned the comments, calling them disrespectful and a clear misunderstanding of consent. Following the backlash, Himanshu reportedly lost his job.
Comedian Pranit More also faced criticism for not challenging the remarks during the show. Social media users accused him of laughing at the comments and helping spread the clip online. As the controversy grew, Pranit temporarily deactivated his Instagram account before returning to issue a public apology. The incident has since sparked wider conversations about consent, accountability and the attitudes that continue to shape relationships in modern society.