Actor Ram Kapoor found himself embroiled in controversy recently after making sexually inappropriate remarks during the promotional activities for his upcoming JioHotstar series, "Mistry". The actor's comments, allegedly directed towards publicists, the show's marketing team, and even a journalist, reportedly created a visibly uncomfortable atmosphere, leading to his removal from further promotional events. His co-star, Mona Singh, continued with the promotions solo.
Reports indicate that during media interactions in Mumbai, Kapoor made repeated comments about kissing a male marketing executive from the show. He also reportedly joked that his mother "should have gone to sleep" instead of conceiving him. Furthermore, he allegedly made an inappropriate comparison, stating that an interview felt like being "gang-raped," and referenced sexual positions while speaking with a journalist. Additionally, Kapoor made comments about a female crew member's outfit that were deemed distracting and caused further discomfort.
Following the backlash, Kapoor acknowledged his remarks in a statement, admitting he was "guilty as charged". He explained that he tends to be his "bindass self" when comfortable with people and doesn't intend to offend. However, he recognized that his remarks may have made others uncomfortable and stated he would be more mindful in the future.
The OTT platform, JioHotstar, issued a statement emphasizing that its workplace prioritizes dignity and safety. The platform representatives confirmed that after a complaint was raised and the incidents were corroborated by eyewitnesses, the leadership acted promptly, and wants to distance itself from any behavior that normalizes workplace misconduct.
Kapoor stated that he was unaware his remarks might have made others uncomfortable. He added, "If I felt it was inappropriate, why would I say it openly in a hall full of media people?". He also expressed that his character has been questioned for the first time in his 25-year career. Kapoor promised to apologize personally to those who were offended and stated that the incident would teach him a lesson. He said that he respects the OTT platform's decision to drop him from the promotions.
