Ameya Khopkar, president of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s film wing , took offence at Kapil Sharma referring to Mumbai as Bombay on his Netflix talk show The Great Indian Kapil Show. He categorised Sharma’s use of the old name as “blatant disrespect”. The party has issued a warning to the comedian.

“It has been 30 years since Bombay was renamed Mumbai, yet in Bollywood, including The Kapil Sharma Show, celebrity guests, Delhi-based Rajya Sabha MPs, show anchors and numerous Hindi films continue to use ‘Bombay’ freely. […] Therefore, a humble request-cum-warning is being issued to respect this and use the name Mumbai,” Khopkar wrote on X.

He also attached a clip of Bollywood celebrities Huma Qureshi and Saqib Saleem using the term ‘Bombay’ while talking about their move from Delhi.

“You (Kapil Sharma) have been working in Mumbai for so many years… Mumbai has been your ‘karmabhoomi’ (land of work),” he added, as reported by Live Mint. “The people of Mumbai like you and watch your shows. Mumbai is in our hearts, don’t insult this city, don’t insult the people of Mumbai…I am warning Kapil Sharma.”