Last year, Ashish Chanchlani became embroiled in significant controversy following his appearance on Samay Raina’s show, “India’s Got Latent.” A specific clip from the episode ignited heated backlash aimed at several participants, including Ranveer Allahbadia and Apoorva Mukhija. In recent comments, Ashish revealed that he had attempted to caution Ranveer about the show’s tone prior to the episode’s airing.
During a podcast hosted by Prakhar Gupta, Ashish reflected on the escalating outrage surrounding not only their episode but the show itself, which had faced scrutiny for some time. He noted that the episode was filmed in November and released in February, expressing disbelief that the backlash would reach such magnitude.
Recalling the atmosphere during filming, Ashish shared that the show had previously featured inappropriate remarks and behavior, and he felt the growing anger exploded during their episode. He mentioned that after learning about the virality of the clip, he initially assumed Ranveer would bear the brunt of the criticism.
Discussions among the panelists during filming revealed Ranveer’s intent to keep things lighthearted. Ashish recounted advising him to tone down his comments, concerned that the humorous approach could lead to repercussions. Despite his reservations, Ashish acknowledged that the show’s structure encouraged spontaneous and often unrestrained dialogue, which contributed to his initial dismissal of the situation.
The day following the recording, Ashish reached out to Ranveer to express his concerns about potential fallout from the episode. Ranveer reassured Ashish, emphasizing their goal of fostering a fun atmosphere; however, Ashish later found himself uneasy about his role in the discussions, feeling he had not been particularly impactful during the episode.
Reflecting on the controversy, Ashish admitted to discomfort regarding the final cut of the show, revealing that he initially attended only out of support for Samay. Despite enjoying his time on set, he ultimately wished his contribution had not been included in the broadcast. As the backlash unfolded, he felt a strange sense of relief for his previous restraint during the conversations.
The incidents on “India’s Got Latent” led to significant backlash, particularly a controversial comment made by Ranveer Allahbadia directed at a contestant: “Would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life, or join in once to make it stop forever?” While the panel initially laughed off the comment, it spurred outrage from various politicians and social media users, resulting in multiple FIRs being filed against the participants, including Ashish.
In February, Ashish was interviewed by the Assam Police regarding the incident. Subsequently, in March, he, along with Ranveer and Apoorva Mukhija, provided statements to the National Commission for Women as part of the ongoing investigation.
Amidst the controversy, Ashish released an emotional video message on Instagram, asking his followers for support and prayers for him and his family. He expressed uncertainty about what to say during the challenging time but conveyed resilience and a willingness to learn from adversity.
Professionally, Ashish Chanchlani has transitioned into the sci-fi genre with his YouTube series “Ekaki,” showcasing his talents as a writer, director, producer, and actor.