Kapil Sharma Slammed For Racist Joke Against Filmmaker Atlee: ‘Will They Never Stop?’
A joke made by comedian Kapil Sharma on The Great Indian Kapil Show has sparked a controversy, with many viewers accusing him of making a derogatory comment about filmmaker Atlee’s appearance. Singer Chinmayi Sripaada has since weighed in, criticising Kapil for allegedly making a joke about Atlee’s skin colour.
Atlee, who was a guest on the show to promote his upcoming film Baby John, appeared alongside the film’s cast, including Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, and Wamiqa Gabbi. During the conversation, Kapil made a remark about Atlee’s appearance that many viewers found inappropriate. Kapil asked, “When you meet a star for the first time, do they ask, where is Atlee?”
Atlee responded graciously, emphasizing that he was grateful to director AR Murugadoss for giving him the opportunity to make his first film, despite not focusing on his appearance. “I’m actually very thankful to AR Murugadoss sir because he produced my first film. He didn’t judge me by how I looked or whether I was capable. He loved my narration,” Atlee said. He further added, “The world should not judge by appearance. You have to judge by your heart.”
Despite Atlee’s composed response, the clip from the episode quickly circulated on social media, where many criticized Kapil’s joke as insensitive. While both Kapil and Atlee have not yet commented on the backlash, the incident has triggered strong reactions from fans and viewers alike.
Singer Chinmayi Sripaada, a vocal critic of such remarks, took to X (formerly Twitter) to express her displeasure. Sharing the clip from the show, Chinmayi wrote, “Will they never stop these crass and racist jibes at his skin colour in the name of ‘comedy’?” She added, “Someone with the amount of influence and clout like Kapil Sharma saying something like this is disappointing and unfortunately, not surprising.”
Many of Atlee’s fans also voiced their disappointment over the comment. One Twitter user remarked, “Maybe his intention wasn’t bad, but he should have framed the question in a much better way. But all in all, Kapil is a champion of body shaming, so not surprising at all.” Another user pointed out that Kapil’s remark reflected a “fair-skin colour obsession” that is prevalent in some parts of India.
The controversy highlights the ongoing sensitivity around issues of body image and racism in Indian entertainment, particularly with high-profile figures like Kapil Sharma and Atlee involved.
