Mumbai:
Amid the uproar over Shiv Sena workers’ vandalism at a Mumbai studio to protest comic Kunal Kamra’s remarks against party chief Eknath Shinde, the city’s civic body has carried out a round of demolition inside the studio, citing a violation of rules. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) staff reached the studio in Khar today with hammers and carried out the demolition. Details of the violations for which the studio faced the demolition exercise are awaited. Sources, however, alleged that the studio’s premises are in an encroached area between two hotels.
The BMC is currently helmed by an IAS officer and since its elections are due, the ruling coalition exercises control over the civic body. Against this backdrop, the action against the Mumbai studio is likely to draw strong criticism from the Opposition and further stoke the row.
#WATCH | Mumbai: BMC officials arrive at Unicontinental Studio in Khar area of Mumbai. The officials have arrived here with hammers. Details awaited. pic.twitter.com/dLb1O2z3uT
— ANI (@ANI) March 24, 2025
Earlier today, the management of Mumbai’s Habitat Studio said they had decided to shut the premises for now and that they are not responsible for the views of the artists performing on the premises.
“We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us. Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices. We have never been involved in the content performed by any Artist, but the recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time almost like we are a proxy for the performer.”
“We are shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy. We invite all artists, audience and stakeholders to discuss and share their views freely and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers’ rights,” the studio said.
The studio had also posted that it was not involved in the making of Kunal Kamra’s latest video and “does not endorse the views expressed by it”. “We extend a sincere and heartfelt apology to all those hurt by this video,” it said.
In a show shot last month, Kunal Kamra targeted Mr Shinde with a parody version of ‘Bholi Si Surat’, a popular song from the 1997 blockbuster Dil To Pagal Hai. He used the ‘gaddar’ (traitor) jibe against the Shiv Sena leader, who led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray in 2022, bringing down his government and splitting the party. Multiple FIRs have been filed against the comic, including one based on a complaint by minister Pratap Sarnaik.
