Kapil Sharma is facing backlash from netizens after making a comment about director Atlee's appearance during a recent episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show. The episode, which featured actors Varun Dhawan, Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, and director Kaless, saw Kapil asking Atlee, “Has it ever happened that you went to meet a star and they didn’t recognize you? Have they asked where is Atlee?”
In response, Atlee, known for his work on Jawan and Mersal, cleverly handled the comment, saying, "I understood your question, but I am thankful to AR Murugadoss sir, who didn’t judge my appearance when he saw my script. He didn’t care about how I looked but loved my narration." Atlee further highlighted the importance of judging people by their actions and character, rather than their outward appearance.
Atlee’s thoughtful response received applause both from the live audience and social media users, with many praising him for his grace under the circumstance. However, the clip quickly went viral, sparking widespread criticism of Kapil for what many considered body-shaming Atlee under the veil of comedy.
Fans and viewers expressed their displeasure over the remark, calling it uncalled for, while others defended Atlee for his positive and dignified reply. The episode sparked a debate on social media about the boundaries of comedy and body shaming.
On the professional front, Atlee is gearing up for the release of Baby John, which marks his second Bollywood directorial venture after the massive success of Jawan (2023), one of the highest-grossing films of all time. Baby John is a remake of Atlee’s own 2016 Tamil film Theri, which starred Vijay, Samantha, and Amy Jackson. The Bollywood version, featuring Jackie Shroff and Rajpal Yadav, is set to release on December 25, 2024. The film is produced by Murad Khetani, Priya Atlee, and Jyoti Deshpande, with music by Thaman S. and cinematography by Kiran Koushik.
