TV NEWS
The Big Bang Theory Got Into Legal Trouble Over A Bollywood Joke
By SAMANTHA BAMBINO
"The Big Bang Theory" is in some legal hot water after political activist Mithun Vijay Kumar called attention to what he feels is an offensive joke made in Season 2, Episode 1.
The joke in question happens when Sheldon and Raj watch a Bollywood film, and Raj expresses his love for actress Aishwarya Rai.
Sheldon responds that Rai is “a poor man's Madhuri Dixit," prompting Raj to retort, "Aishwarya Rai is a goddess. By comparison, Madhuri Dixit is a leprous prostitute."
Political activist Mithun Vijay Kumar took legal action against Netflix India for the offensive joke, finding it derogatory and offensive towards Indian culture and women.
Kumar’s legal notice claimed the episode insulted the modesty of Indian actress Madhuri Dixit and promoted sexism and misogyny.
Indian actresses Jaya Bachchan and Urmila Matondkar agreed with Kumar, criticizing the offensive content and mentality behind it.
Critics questioned Kumar’s intentions, as the episode aired over a decade ago, and neither Aishwarya Rai nor Madhuri Dixit ever publicly took issue with the joke.
Others questioned targeting Netflix India, as the show is on other platforms and produced by CBS, not Netflix.
At the time of this writing, Nayyar, Chuck Lorre, nor anyone else involved with the show has commented on the matter.