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Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
'Chalo tum Hanuman Chalisa padho ab': Comedian Gaurav Gupta roasts Pakistani fan at US show
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. In the aftermath, social media accounts of several Pakistani artistes were blocked from public access in India. Amid this, comedian Gaurav Gupta, currently on his US-Canada tour, shared a clip from one of his shows featuring an interaction with a Pakistani audience member. The light-hearted exchange has left fans in splits. (Also Read: FWICE calls for complete ban on Pakistani artists after Pahalgam attack: 'Hindustan ka sadasya agar unke saath kaam…') Gaurav kicked off his US-Canada tour on May 30 with a show in Atlanta, followed by another in Chicago. On Sunday, the comedian shared a clip of his crowdwork comedy from one of his performances, which featured an interaction with a Pakistani audience member. In the clip, Gaurav appears surprised to see a Pakistani man attending his show. As some audience members shouted 'Sindoor' (referring to Operation Sindoor), he asked them to behave during the interaction. Gaurav then joked, 'Brother, you have a lot of guts coming to the show. He thought artistes were banned, but audience members are still allowed.' He continued, laughing, 'Chalo tum Hanuman Chalisa padho ab (Go on, recite the Hanuman Chalisa now),' drawing loud cheers and laughter from the crowd. A post shared by Gaurav Gupta (@gaurav_comic) He then asked the man's name and whether he understood his jokes, being Pakistani. When the man said he did, Gaurav quipped, 'Toh tumhe samajh nahi aata, nahi milega tumhe? Itne saalon se keh rahe hain nahi milega, nahi milega, phir aa jaate ho tum (So you don't understand? You won't get it. We've been saying it for years – still, you keep coming),' subtly referencing the Kashmir issue. Fans flooded the comments section with laughing emojis and praise for the comedian. One user wrote, 'Nahi Milega was brilliant.' Another added, 'He was hesitating while roasting him… but he still did it gracefully.' A third commented, 'Hanuman Chalisa sunao was the best,' while another said, 'More respect and only respect.' However, some Instagram users expressed disappointment with the segment. One commented, 'It was not required! Respect the guy who came to watch your show. It's a very sensitive subject currently – don't blow it off like this!' Another wrote, 'What a missed opportunity, @gaurav_comic! You could have actually celebrated their presence at your show as fans and admirers, despite the politics and government propaganda. People in both countries are simply striving to make a living, seeking peace and harmony. We can't deny that we have more in common than what the political narrative suggests.' Gaurav Gupta is a popular Indian stand-up comedian known for his sharp, relatable takes on middle-class life and Baniya culture. He gained prominence as one of the top 12 finalists on the 2017 reality show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, judged by Akshay Kumar. Since then, he has performed across India and internationally, with hit shows like Not Just Baniya and Market Down Hai.


India.com
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Amid India-Pakistan tensions, this actress received an offer from Turkey, was being paid Rs 35 lakh for..., She rejected the offer due to...
As relations between India and Pakistan soured, the Bollywood industry took a call to boycott all the Pakistani actors from the industry. During the war-like situation, Turkey was one of the countries that backed Pakistan. Now, many famous faces in India have come upfront to protest against Turkey. Recently, actress Payal Ghosh revealed that she canceled her trip to Turkey. Payal stated that 'backstabbing and tourism can't coexist,' reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that blood and water cannot flow simultaneously. Payal was offered a whopping amount of Rs 35 lakh, but she decided to turn down the offer. In a conversation with IANS, Ghosh shared, 'Well, no amount of money can come ahead of the country's respect and pride. I am an Indian first and an actress or artist later. Like our honorable Prime Minister mentioned that blood and water can't flow together, similarly, backstabbing and tourist visits and entertainment can't happen together.' 'If Turkey chose to be sided alongside Pakistan at a crucial time like that, they cannot expect revenue from our appearances as celebrities or from Indians and their tourism plans. I am very clear in my head, and that's why I have chosen to cancel my Turkey visit. God has been kind enough to bless me with what I need. I can't place my country as secondary for money. Jai Hind,' Payal Ghosh added. Meanwhile, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) called on Indian film producers to give it a second thought when selecting Turkey as a filming destination, amid Turkey supporting Pakistan in the war against India.


Time of India
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Payal Ghosh calls off Turkey visit: 'Travel and treachery don't go together'
Actress Payal Ghosh revealed the reasons behind her decision to cancel her much-anticipated trip to Turkey. Payal stated that " backstabbing and tourism can't coexist," echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's saying that blood and water cannot flow together. Despite being offered a hefty sum of Rs 30 lakhs, Payal Ghosh made the firm decision to cancel her appearance in the country. In a conversation with IANS, Ghosh shared, "Well, no amount of money can come ahead of the country's respect and pride. I am an Indian first and an actress or artist later. Like our honorable Prime Minister mentioned that blood and water can't flow together, similarly, backstabbing and tourist visits and entertainment can't happen together." "If Turkey chose to be sided alongside Pakistan at a crucial time like that, they cannot expect revenue from our appearances as celebrities or from Indians and their tourism plans. I am very clear in my head, and that's why I have chosen to cancel my Turkey visit. God has been kind enough to bless me with what I need. I can't place my country as secondary for money. Jai Hind," Payal Ghosh added. Following Turkey's backing of Pakistan amid the recent military tensions with India, a widespread boycott of Turkish goods has been called for by traders, consumers, and businesses alike. The entertainment sector has also joined the movement, with numerous celebrities canceling their Turkey visits and encouraging everyone to avoid Turkish visits as a gesture of national solidarity. A few days ago, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees ( FWICE ) called on Indian film producers to rethink choosing Turkey as a filming destination, citing the country's escalating support for Pakistan. In an official statement, the organization stressed the importance of the Indian film industry taking a firm stance against Turkey's political position and encouraged producers to explore alternative shooting locations. --IANS ps/ Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
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Business Standard
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Standard
Artist body urges Netflix, JioCinema, Prime Video to boycott Turkish shows
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has called on Indian streaming platforms, including Netflix, Prime Video, and JioCinema, to stop streaming Turkish shows, citing Turkiye's continued support to Pakistan on issues critical to India's national interest. In a statement issued on Thursday, the industry body representing workers, technicians, and artists from 36 crafts of the Indian entertainment industry said, 'We are writing to express our serious concern and strong objection regarding the continued streaming and promotion of Turkish shows on various OTT platforms operating in India.' Popular Turkish series such as Binbir Gece, As the Crow Flies, Another Self, Terzi, and Ethos have gained popularity in India, especially since the early 2000s. Now, citizens are calling for boycotts against Turkiye and Azerbaijan following the military strikes between India and Pakistan. FWICE said Turkiye's diplomatic and political alignment with Pakistan, particularly on sensitive matters like Kashmir, directly challenges India's sovereignty. 'As is well known, Turkiye has consistently extended diplomatic and political support to Pakistan on matters that are detrimental to India's sovereignty and national interest,' the statement noted. The union also urged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to step in and take action against Turkish content being streamed in India. 'Such a step will not only send a strong message globally but also encourage the promotion of Indian content and support the large workforce of our domestic entertainment industry,' it added. A day earlier, the FWICE also issued a separate appeal to Indian film producers, urging them to refrain from choosing Turkiye as a shooting location. 'In view of recent developments and Turkey's consistent positioning in support of Pakistan… it is not in the best interests of the Indian film industry to invest or collaborate in any form that could indirectly support or benefit such a nation,' the body said. Why is India boycotting Turkiye? The push to boycott Turkish content and collaboration comes in the wake of Turkiye's criticism of India's retaliatory strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed. Reports also surfaced of Islamabad deploying Turkish drones during the conflict.


NDTV
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Cine Employees' Body Calls For Banning Turkish Shows On Netflix, Prime Video
Mumbai: The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has urged streaming platforms, including Netflix, Prime Video and JioHotstar, to boycott Turkish shows following the country's support to Pakistan amid heightened tensions with India. In a statement, released on Thursday, the organisation said they stand 'firmly for the interest of the nation and industry'. 'We are writing to express our serious concern and strong objection regarding the continued streaming and promotion of Turkish shows on various Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms operating in India. "As is well known, Turkey has consistently extended diplomatic and political support to Pakistan on matters that are detrimental to India's sovereignty and national interest, including on sensitive issues such as Kashmir," the FWICE said. The union body, which represents workers, technicians, and artists from 36 different crafts working in the Indian media and entertainment industry, further said it is not in India's best interest to allow the content of a nation that does not support its territorial integrity to be consumed widely by Indian audiences. The FWICE urged the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to consider taking necessary action to boycott or restrict the streaming of Turkish television shows and films on Indian OTT platforms. 'Such a step will not only send a strong message globally but also encourage the promotion of Indian content and support the large workforce of our domestic entertainment industry. We hope the Ministry will take cognizance of this matter with the seriousness it deserves and initiate appropriate steps in the national interest,' it said. Turkish dramas such as Binbir Gece, As the Crow Flies, Another Self, Yabani, Terzi, Ethos, and Creature gained popularity in India in early 2000s. The development comes after Turkiye criticised India's strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack. Islamabad had also used Turkish drones in the conflict. Following its support to Pakistan, calls for boycotting Turkish goods and tourism have surfaced across India, with online travel platforms like EaseMyTrip and Ixigo issuing advisories against visiting the country.