Akshay Kumar’s alleged sexist comments for comedian Mallika Dua has now caused a full blown war on social media with Twinkle Khanna too fiercely defending her husband.
This was after in a Star Plus show, which was never broadcast, Akshay had told Mallika, “Mallika Ji aap bell bajao main aapko bajaata hun.” The episode in question involved the stand-up comedian, Shyam Rangeela, whose mimicry of Narendra Modi had been dropped by Star Plus.
Twinkle took to Instagram to defend her husband and also slam Mallika’s journalist father, Vinod Dua, after he allegedly wrote that he was going to ‘screw’ Akshay Kumar.
Twinle wrote, “… when Ms Dua went forward to ring the bell, Mr Kumar said: Mallika Ji aap bell bajao main aapko bajaata hun.” A pun on the words and actions related to ringing of the bell. It’s a colloquial phrase that both men and women use for instance – “I’m going to bajao him/her” or “I got bajaoed,” Red FM even has a tag line “Bajatey Raho” all without sexist connotations. Mr Vinod Dua, Ms Dua’s father, had written a post – it’s been taken down now, stating: “I am going to screw this cretin Akshay Kumar.” Should Mr Dua’s statement also be taken literally or taken in context?”
Vinod Dua, a senior journalist, had written, “I am going to s***w this cretin Akshay Kumar for telling his co-worker Mallika Dua that “aap bell bajao main aap ko bajata hun” at 5:26. This is his sense of humor and language. Star Plus.. wake up..
“I don’t expect an apology from Star Plus as they have not aired this episode. But I expect an apology from this fellow (Akshay Kumar).”
Mallika, who was later sacked from the Great Indian Laughter Challenge show along with Zakir Khan and Hussain Dalal, wrote in The Quint that people must not make it about Akshay Kumar.
She said, “The comment made to me was undoubtedly and perhaps unintentionally crass, “Mallika ji, aap bell bajaao, main aapko bajaata hoon”. This kind of banter or even sharing a cackle with Rohit Shetty while vulgarly demonstrating just how sexually inappropriate dress-men on a film set can be, is nauseating and reeks of casual sexism and age old Bollywood entitlement. It’s normalised to such an extent that even I didn’t make a huge deal of it. I’m a huge part of the problem. Do not make this about Akshay Kumar and trivialise it. It’s about all of us.”