‘Atmosphere hi aisa tha’: Haryana man behind ‘Rs 370 biryani’ joke tells ex-manager he did it for ‘entertainment’

GURGAON: A 22-year-old man from Haryana whose comments during a stand-up comedy show triggered widespread online backlash has said he is “very tense” and regretting the incident, as he faces job loss, legal notices and social media harassment.Himanshu Jangra, a Gurgaon-based web developer, was speaking in a video released by his former employer Starvik Design, days after he was fired following controversy over remarks made at a comedy event featuring comedian Pranit More.In the video conversation with the company’s founder, Jangra said he was struggling with the fallout.“Sir, now I am in a very bad condition, I am very tense why did I go to that show,” he said, adding that he felt regret when thinking about his family.

‘It was improvised, not my intent’

Jangra’s comments at the show, which later went viral, included a reference to a date and a payment of ₹370 for biryani, followed by a statement that sparked accusations of misogyny online.

Explaining the incident, he claimed parts of his on-stage account were improvised and not fully accurate.“Yes sir, I dated a girl… but what I said was not totally true. I improvised,” he said, adding that he used “wrong words” and wished to apologise.

He insisted the remarks were made in an “entertaining way” and did not reflect his beliefs.“What I said there, I said only in an entertaining way. I have no such mentality,” he said, adding that he had no complaints from female colleagues at work.

‘Atmosphere encouraged it’

Jangra also said the environment at the venue influenced his performance, claiming the audience and host reaction encouraged him to continue.“The host was also taking it in an entertaining way… I got a boost and added a little more,” he said.He added that he had already apologised and deactivated his social media accounts, and denied running any new accounts in his name.

The company response

Starvik Design said it released the video following public requests for clarity, stressing that the conversation was not an endorsement of any statement.The company said it aimed to provide “context, conversation and clarity” and urged viewers to remain respectful and avoid harassment.Earlier, the firm confirmed it had terminated Jangra’s employment after the video of his remarks circulated widely online.Founder Vivek Vishwakarma said the decision was taken after reviewing the situation, adding that “mistakes have consequences” while also hoping for reflection and learning.The controversyThe controversy began after Jangra’s remarks during the stand-up show were widely shared on social media, drawing criticism for being derogatory towards women.Comedian Pranit More, who was on stage at the time, also faced criticism for laughing during the exchange.Following the backlash, both individuals issued apologies. Jangra has since been summoned by the National Commission for Women along with others involved in the incident.