The Aryavarth Express:
Mumbai, April 8: The recently आयोजित Screen Awards in Mumbai have stirred controversy, with several remarks made during the event drawing criticism from industry figures and audiences alike.
After journalist Saurabh Dwivedi faced backlash for his comment on actor Rajpal Yadav, stand-up comedian Zakir Khan has now found himself at the center of a fresh row.
While hosting the event, Zakir made a remark referencing the success of Dhurandhar, suggesting it had sparked jealousy within the film industry. He said, “Film mein bomb phoote Lyari mein aur yahan dhuaa udaa Bandra se Juhu mein,” implying that while the impact may have originated elsewhere, reactions were being seen in Mumbai’s film circles.
The comment did not go down well with several Bollywood personalities.
Actress Ameesha Patel took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Zakir’s statement, urging him to avoid spreading negativity. She emphasized the long-standing success of top Bollywood stars, writing that actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Sunny Deol, Hrithik Roshan, and Ajay Devgn have delivered not just one, but over 25 major hits each in their careers.
“Stop spreading negativity… these superstars have created massive success over decades and will continue to do so,” she posted.
Filmmaker Siddharth Anand, known for directing Pathaan, also criticized the joke, calling it disrespectful. He highlighted the contribution of the Mumbai film industry, stating that it has delivered numerous all-time blockbusters over the past 50 years.
The Screen Awards, held on Sunday, have since been trending on social media, largely due to the controversies surrounding remarks made during the event.
