Man behind ‘Rs 370 biryani’ remark at Pranit More’s show fired from job, internet says: ‘Let him apologise’

The Gurugram-based man who went viral on the internet for making a distasteful joke on Pranit More’s comedy show is facing the consequences of his action. Himanshu Jangra appeared on an episode of the show and shared an anecdote about one of his dates, in which he revealed that he had asked for “sexual favours” in return for dinner. Following significant backlash over his remarks, the company he worked for decided to fire him.

Himanshu was working for a Gurugram-based design company, Starvik Design. Once the controversy surrounding his derogatory remark for a woman intensified, founder Vivek Vishwakarma took to the official page of the company to share that they have terminated his employment.

The controversy began when Himanshu told the comedian and his audience that he went on a date with a girl, and then they had biryani for around Rs 360-370. After dinner, when the woman asked him to drop her at home, he responded to her by saying that since he had already spent Rs 370 on the meal, he intended to “recover” the amount.

“Maine kaha yaar 370 rupaye lage hai, wasool toh karunga (I have spent Rs 370, I am going to get my money’s worth),” he said, hinting at seeking sexual favours from her.

Founder Calls Himanshu Jangra “Professional, Respectful, Hardworking, And Well-Behaved”

In a video shared on Instagram, the company’s founder said, “Over the last 24 hours, I have received hundreds of messages, emails, calls regarding one of our employees, Himanshu Jangra. Like many of you, I came across the clips that have been circulating online. Let me be very clear, the statements shown in those clips are offensive. They are not something I agree with; they are not something our company stands for.”

He shared that the company “reviewed the matter internally”, asked female employees about Himanshu’s conduct and was told that he was “professional, respectful, hardworking, and well-behaved at work.” The founder added, “But what happened outside the workplace has now affected the workplace, and I have the responsibility towards the company, our team, our clients, and the environment we created. That is why we have decided to part ways with Himanshu.”

However, before ending the clip, Vivek shared his take on the matter and said, “A person can be wrong, a person can make a terrible mistake, a person should face consequences. But I hope we never become a society that believes people cannot learn, reflect, apologise, or change. Social media trolling is not a joke, and that too for a 22-year-old mind. His future from here will already carry the consequences of this moment for a very long time.”

He continued, “My hope is that Himanshu reflects on this chapter of his life. My hope is that he learns from it. And while we hold people accountable, let us also leave room for reflection, for growth and positive transformation.”

Internet Is Divided Over The Founder’s Statement

Once the clip caught attention on social media, people had varied reactions. While some praised the company for firing Himanshu, others called out the company for still “defending” him.

One user said, “This action is appreciated.”

Another remarked, “It’s even worse to defend him like this. He faced consequences for his actions; leave it at that.”

“How are the female employees in your company can still defend him? How can anyone in your company still defend him? Is this the same mindset of everyone there?” asked one individual.

Someone else remarked, “Yeah, sure. Let’s leave room for reflection and learning. I hope you extend that same understanding and energy to all those entitled men who hold the same views about the women in your family. Funny how the expectation is always for women to bleed and men to learn.”

“Don’t speak on his behalf. Let him apologise, and then we will see. Defending someone shows your value,” mentioned another person.

“A gentleman would never act like that in the first place. That’s why I can’t agree with you defending his mindset. Respect, accountability, and decency are what define a man of character, not the behavior he displayed. We don’t need more men who think that way; we need more men who know how to treat others with dignity and respect,” a different individual commented.