After ₹370 Biryani row on Pranit More's show, Gurugram company fires Himanshu Jangra; Boss faces backlash too

What started as a joke at a stand-up comedy show has now cost a young man his job and sparked a much larger conversation online about dating, entitlement, accountability and second chances.


Himanshu Jangra, the Gurugram-based web developer who recently went viral after making controversial comments during comedian Pranit More's show, has been fired by his employer following days of intense backlash on social media.


The controversy began when Jangra, while interacting with Pranit during a live audience segment, spoke about a date where he had spent ₹370 on chicken biryani. He then suggested that because he had paid for the meal, he expected something in return from the woman. His remarks, which many interpreted as implying physical intimacy, quickly spread across social media platforms and triggered widespread criticism.


As clips from the show went viral, thousands of users slammed the comments, arguing that paying for dinner does not create any obligation or entitlement.


Soon after, attention shifted to Jangra's workplace.


His employer, Gurugram-based branding and social media company Starvik Design, found itself flooded with messages, emails and calls from people demanding action.


The company's founder, Vivek Vishwakarma, eventually addressed the situation in a video shared on Instagram.


He made it clear that the remarks did not align with the company's values and said the incident had begun affecting the workplace itself.


According to Vishwakarma, the issue was no longer limited to something said outside office hours. The growing controversy had started impacting the company, its employees, clients and overall work environment. As a result, the firm decided to part ways with Jangra.


The decision received support from many online users who felt there should be consequences for such comments.


But the story didn't end there.


What really got people talking was another part of Vishwakarma's statement.


While condemning the remarks, he also spoke about the possibility of growth and learning. He said he had spoken to people within the company, including female employees, and was told that Jangra had generally been professional and respectful in the workplace.


Vishwakarma argued that while actions should have consequences, society should also leave room for people to reflect, apologise and change.


He pointed out that Jangra is only 22 and will likely carry the consequences of this incident for a long time.


That attempt to strike a balance between accountability and redemption immediately divided the internet.


Some users appreciated the fact that he condemned the comments while also acknowledging that people can learn from mistakes.


Others were far less convinced.


Many critics accused him of softening the seriousness of the remarks by talking about second chances. Some argued that if not for public pressure, the company may not have acted at all. Others felt his comments about growth and reflection sounded like an attempt to defend behaviour that should have been unequivocally condemned.


The backlash soon shifted from Jangra to his former boss.


Comment sections filled up with users debating whether people who make such remarks deserve empathy, whether losing a job is a fair consequence, and where society should draw the line between punishment and rehabilitation.


At the centre of it all remains the original clip from Pranit More's show.


What may have been intended as a funny audience interaction quickly turned into one of the most talked-about viral moments online this week. It reignited discussions around consent, dating expectations and the mindset that spending money on someone automatically entitles a person to something in return.


For many people, that was the real issue.


The controversy has now grown far beyond a ₹370 biryani bill.


It has become a debate about how people view relationships, how social media reacts to public mistakes, and whether there is still room for redemption once the internet has made up its mind.


For Jangra, the fallout has already been significant. The viral clip led to public criticism, an apology, a disappearing social media presence and now the loss of his job.


For everyone else watching, the debate continues. Not just about what was said, but about what should happen next when someone becomes the centre of an internet storm.