Comedian Tanmay Bhat’s latest video poking fun at master blaster Sachin Tendulkar and legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar has touched a raw nerve among fans and stars. In the video titled “Sachin Vs Lata Civil War”, Bhat mimics the voices of the cricketer and the singer, superimposing their faces over his body, to debate whether Virat Kohli is “ten times better” than Tendulkar.
While the AIB comedian does a spot-on job mimicking their voices, the jokes have been called “disrespectful”, “insulting” and “disgusting” by many. Bhat’s ageist punch lines, which included “Have you seen your face – it looks like someone has kept you in water for eight days” and a Game of Thrones reference “Jon Snow also died – so you should also...” directed at Lata Mangeshkar, were considered shocking and in poor taste.
Bollywood stars like Anupam Kher, Riteish Deshmukh and Celina Jaitley took to Twitter to express their shock and anger at Bhat’s one-minute video.
I am 9 times winner of #BestComicActor. Have a great sense of humor. But This's NOT humor. #Disgusting&Disrespectful https://t.co/sTuTfbAOrU
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) May 29, 2016
Am absolutely shocked. Disrespect is not cool and neither is it funny. https://t.co/ymYPi9hxuv
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) May 28, 2016
Absolutely.. Shocked n appalled!! Not amused @mangeshkarlata ji needs to be apologised to .. NOW !! @rasheshshah https://t.co/viTcXyBSI0
— Celina Jaitly (@CelinaJaitly) May 28, 2016
Although Bhat’s video came with a disclaimer, “I obviously love Lata and Sachin, just having some fun”, it was not enough to assuage those outraging against it.
Watch the video: