The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has issued a strong warning to comedian Kapil Sharma, urging him to cease using the term ‘Bombay’ in reference to Mumbai on his Netflix show, ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show.’ The political party has threatened to initiate protests if the city’s official name, Mumbai, is not consistently used in future episodes. Ameya Khopkar, the head of the MNS film wing, took to social media to express his concerns, highlighting an instance on Sharma’s show where guests Huma Qureshi and Saqib Saleem used the term ‘Bombay.’ Khopkar emphasized that despite the official renaming of Bombay to Mumbai 30 years ago, the term continues to be used by celebrities, show anchors, and in Hindi films. The MNS views this as disrespectful and demands that the show’s team instruct guests to use the correct name, Mumbai. Khopkar directly addressed Kapil Sharma, stating that Mumbai has been his ‘karmabhoomi’ (place of work) and that the city’s residents appreciate his work, therefore he should not insult the city. The MNS clarified that the warning is not politically motivated but stems from a long-standing issue of respecting the city’s official name, irrespective of any upcoming elections. The Great Indian Kapil Show, launched in June this year, features popular comedians and special guests.
