Just days before the premiere of his upcoming web series Mistry, actor Ram Kapoor has come under fire for allegedly making sexually inappropriate and unprofessional remarks during a promotional event. In response, the streaming platform JioCinema removed Kapoor from all promotional activities associated with the show.
According to a report by Mid-Day, Kapoor allegedly made a series of sexually inappropriate remarks during a press event at JW Marriott, Juhu, on June 19, in the presence of co-star Mona Singh and senior JioHotstar executives.
One remark that drew immediate backlash involved Kapoor allegedly joking about media pressure by saying he felt “gang-raped” comment reportedly made in front of a female journalist.
In an interview with ETimes, Kapoor admitted to making the remarks and acknowledged the harm caused. “Let me begin by saying that everything I’ve been accused of saying—I have said it. So yes, I am guilty as charged. But this is what I want people to understand: when I’m in a space where I feel comfortable, I become my usual, bindass self. That’s just how I’ve always been. Everyone who’s worked with me knows that I never intend to offend, ”he stated.
He added that he was unaware of the discomfort he may have caused, saying, “Throughout the day, I felt we were all laughing and joking. Had I sensed any unease or offense, I would have addressed it immediately.”
Ram Kapoor further addressed the comment many found most problematic, “I did comment on a girl’s dress, calling it a distraction. But before that, I also asked a few men standing in my line of vision to move. I said it in front of a room full of media. If I truly believed it was inappropriate, why would I say it so openly?”
Calling it the first major public controversy in his career, Kapoor admitted, “I hope people take a moment to hear my side as well.”
He also admitted the need for growth and sensitivity, “I now realise that what may seem harmless to me can feel offensive to others, especially when they’re much younger than me. I can’t just be my usual, unfiltered self anymore. I have to evolve.” He further added, “What matters is that someone felt uncomfortable, and that’s not okay. Whether or not I intended harm is irrelevant. I understand why the platform acted the way it did, and I don’t hold it against them. In fact, I respect their decision. It’s a wake-up call for me.”
In a final note of accountability, Kapoor said, “I will find a way to personally apologise to each member of the team who felt hurt that day. I owe them that much—not just as a colleague, but as a human being, and as a father whose son looks up to him.”
Directed by Risab Seth, Mistry is the Hindi adaptation of the popular series Monk. It stars Ram Kapoor, Mona Singh, Shikha Talsania, Kshitish Date, and Dipak Dhar. Ram Kapoor plays Armaan Mistry, a germophobic former detective with obsessive-compulsive disorder, while Mona Singh is seen playing a pivotal role as Senior Police Officer Sehmat Siddiqui. The show premieres June 27 on JioHotstar.
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