The Dhak Dhak Lady of Bollywood, Madhuri Dixit, who is one of Bollywood’s most beloved actresses, has found herself at the centre of a controversy surrounding a derogatory remark made against her in an episode of the popular American sitcom, ‘The Big Bang Theory’. This show revolves around the fascinating lives of four brilliant scientists in sunny California. Among them is the witty and intelligent astrophysicist of Indian origin, Rajesh Koothrappali, brought to life by the talented Kunal Nayyar. The controversial legal notice calls out a particular scene from the show’s second season premiere, entitled “The Bad Fish Paradigm.”
As the scene unfolds, Rajesh and Sheldon Cooper, his endearingly eccentric friend, are engrossed in the title song of the Bollywood film, ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai’, featuring Ameesha Patel. Sheldon, with his characteristic bluntness, inquires if the woman on the screen is the legendary Aishwarya Rai. Rajesh, a fan of the Indian film industry, confirms Sheldon’s suspicion, calling her an “amazing actress.” However, things take a sour turn when Sheldon belittles Aishwarya by branding her a “poor man’s Madhuri Dixit,” sending Rajesh into a frenzy of indignation. Fuming with rage, he hits back, “Aishwarya Rai is a goddess. By comparison, Madhuri Dixit is a leprous prostitute,” inciting a sharp rebuke from Sheldon, who questions Rajesh’s knowledge of Indian cinema.
Watch the scene here:
Author and political analyst Mithun Vijay Kumar who is a die-hard fan of Madhuri Dixit has sent a legal notice to Netflix, the streaming giant that airs the show, demanding that they remove the episode in question immediately.
Read the fan’s legal notice to netflix here:
While some may find the legal notice extreme, it speaks volumes about the passion that fans have for their favourite stars. Madhuri Dixit has been a beloved figure in Indian cinema for decades, and her fans will go to great lengths to protect her reputation. However, the use of derogatory language and harmful stereotypes is not acceptable in any context, and it is crucial to call out such behaviour whenever we see it.
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