The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has issued a warning to comedian and actor Kapil Sharma, demanding that he refrain from referring to Mumbai as "Bombay" or "Bambai" on his show, The Great Indian Kapil Show. The MNS has threatened to launch a "strong agitation" if this practice is not stopped.

Ameya Khopkar, the head of the MNS film wing, addressed reporters in Mumbai on Thursday, September 11, 2025, to convey the warning. Khopkar stated that the city's name is Mumbai and that the continued use of "Bombay" or "Bambai" on Sharma's show is unacceptable. He expressed the party's anger, emphasizing that Mumbai's official name should be respected, just as other cities are addressed by their proper names, such as Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.

Khopkar reminded Sharma that Mumbai has been his "karmabhoomi" (land of work) for many years and that the people of Mumbai have supported him and watched his shows. He urged Sharma not to insult the city or its people. Khopkar requested that Sharma correct this issue and instruct his celebrity guests and show anchors to use the name Mumbai.

To support his claim, Khopkar shared a clip on X (formerly Twitter) from The Great Indian Kapil Show, featuring actors Huma Qureshi and Saqib Saleem. In the video, Huma Qureshi can be heard referring to Mumbai as "Bombay" while recounting her experience of moving from Delhi. Khopkar noted that despite the city being officially renamed Mumbai nearly 30 years ago, the old term is still commonly used in Bollywood, television shows, and films. He emphasized that the Maharashtra government officially recognized Mumbai in 1995, and the central government followed in 1996.

When asked if the MNS was raising this issue because of upcoming local body elections, Khopkar stated that they have been agitating on this issue for many years. He asserted that the name of the city is Mumbai, regardless of elections, and those who do not call it so will face the party's anger.

Kapil Sharma currently hosts The Great Indian Kapil Show on Netflix. The third season of the show premiered on June 21.

This is not the first time the MNS has taken a firm stance on issues related to the Marathi language and the identity of Mumbai. The party has been known for its activism and moral policing on such matters. In the past, MNS workers have been involved in incidents of assault and intimidation related to the use of the Marathi language.