Mumbai, Feb. 4: Comedy group AIB withdrew its insult comedy video featuring actors Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh from YouTube today, invoking Voltaire and defending lofty ideas of "freedom of expression".
"I may not agree with you, but I will defend to death my right to get offended. How dare you? Baahar mil," said AIB in a Facebook post in response to threats and criticism about its show that some found distasteful and some delightful.
The video, called AIB Knockout, was a highly edited version of an insult comedy-inspired stage show held in Mumbai last month that many Bollywood celebs, religious fringe groups and politicians called "offensive and crude".
The stage show had featured Arjun and Ranveer, who were subjected to below-the-belt grilling by four "roast-masters", among whom were Karan Johar and AIB comedian Rohan Joshi. It was formatted on the lines of Roast, a popular American show that has cut Charlie Sheen and Pamela Anderson to shreds, in the spirit of "good sport".
Sources at OML, the company promoting AIB, said the decision to withdraw the video was taken not because of the controversy but on prodding by Bollywood celebs.
Vijay Nair, who heads OML, said "there was no pressure whatsoever from any political party - we took it off largely because there were some fringe groups who seemed to have been offended and there were Bollywood personalities involved".
But people present at the AIB stage show claimed that some comments on politicians had riled the BJP, Congress and the NCP.
"We have run jokes on Narendra Modi, Arvind Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi on our shows - nobody has forced us or pressurised us to shut down an act before. We are doing this totally voluntarily so fringe groups cannot take advantage and harass the Bollywood personalities who are often soft targets," said Nair.
An OML source said some Bollywood celebs, pressed by family and the brands they endorsed, "had been very uncomfortable and nearly in panic mode after the controversy erupted".
An actor got a lashing at home for "spoiling his image as a role model" - crucial for seeking big-ticket endorsements - and "for also making fun of a family member".
The withdrawal of AIB Knockout can be considered the end of the Roast format comedy in India. " AIB Knockout was in any case meant as a one-off, to test the waters. There is no immediate plan to bring it back," Nair said.
