Hansal Mehta Supports Kunal Kamra, Recalls Assault by Shiv Sena Workers

Ziya Khan March 26, 2025Last Updated: March 26, 2025

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has publicly expressed his support for stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who recently faced vandalism at a Mumbai comedy club by members of the Shiv Sena. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mehta recounted a traumatic incident from the release of his 2000 film Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar that mirrors Kamra’s experience.

Mehta shared his own harrowing encounter from over two decades ago when he was assaulted and publicly humiliated by loyalists of the same political party. He detailed how his office was invaded, vandalized, and he was physically attacked by members of the then-undivided Shiv Sena due to a single line of dialogue in his film.

“What happened to Kamra is, sadly, not new to Maharashtra. I’ve lived through it myself. Twenty-five years ago, loyalists of the same (then undivided) political party stormed into my office, vandalized it, physically assaulted me, blackened my face, and forced me to apologize publicly—by falling at the feet of an elderly woman—for a single line of dialogue in my film. The line was harmless, almost trivial, and the film had already been cleared by the Censor Board with 27 other cuts.

But that didn’t matter,” Mehta wrote.

What happened with Kamra is, sadly, not new to Maharashtra. I’ve lived through it myself.

Twenty-five years ago, loyalists of the same (then undivided) political party stormed into my office. They vandalised it, physically assaulted me, blackened my face, and forced me to…

— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) March 24, 2025

Describing the gravity of the situation, Mehta recalled being coerced into a public apology in front of a large crowd while political leaders and the Mumbai Police stood by in silence. The humiliation had a lasting impact on him, affecting him physically, emotionally, and creatively. “At the so-called ‘apology’ venue, at least 20 political figures arrived in full strength to oversee what can only be described as a public shaming—with 10,000 onlookers and the Mumbai Police watching in silence. That incident didn’t just bruise my body; it bruised my spirit. It blunted my filmmaking, muted my courage, and silenced parts of me that took years to reclaim,” he shared.