Kunal Kamra says turned down offer to be a part of Salman Khan hosted Bigg Boss: ‘Rather check into a mental hospital'

Kunal Kamra

Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra, who was in the news for his recent controversial statements against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has revealed that he rejected an offer to join hit reality TV show Bigg Boss, hosted by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.

Kunal took to his Instagram Stories and shared a screenshot of his chat with someone who claimed to be a casting agent for the next season of Bigg Boss.

Kunal Kamra had made controversial remarks about Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during one of his stand-up acts in Mumbai.

He shared the message, and it read, "I am handling the casting for this season of Bigg Boss, and your name came up as someone they might find interesting. I know it might not have been on your radar, but honestly, it’s such a mad platform to show your real vibe and win over a massive audience. What do you think? Should we talk about it?"

Responding to the message, Kunal Kamra wrote, “I would much rather check into a mental hospital…" The story also had a song from Salman Khan's film, Radhe.

Bigg Boss is known for its controversies, fights, and scandals over the years. It has been hosted successfully by Salman Khan over the years, and many celebs use it as a platform to resurrect their falling careers.

Talking about the other controversy, Kunal Kamra had made a few comments about Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during one of his shows in Mumbai.

An FIR was registered against Kunal Kamra, and he was summoned by the police for his alleged defamation and remarks.

Recently Kunal Kamra also wrote an open letter to BookMyShow requesting the online ticketing platform to either not delist him or to hand over the contact information of audience members he has earned through his solo shows over the years.

Later in the day, BookMyShow, in an official statement said facts on its role have been 'misrepresented in the public domain.'

The letter, which Kamra shared on his X page, comes days after Shiv Sena claimed BookMyShow had taken the comedian off the sale and artists list from its platform amid ongoing controversy around his 'traitor' jibe against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

"Dear BookMyShow, I understand that you need to maintain a cordial relationship with the state, and I know that Mumbai is a major hub for live entertainment. Without the state's cooperation, iconic shows like Coldplay and Guns N' Roses wouldn't be possible...

"I request one of the following: Do not delist me or provide me with the data (contact information) I've generated through your platform from my audience," Kamra said in his two-page letter.

On April 5, the Mumbai-born comedian -- who is now a permanent resident of Tamil Nadu -- had asked BookMyShow whether the reports of him being delisted from the platform were true.

"Hello @bookmyshow can you please confirm if I have your platform to list my shows if not it’s fine. I understand… "Sic," he wrote on X.

Hours after he posted the open letter, BookMyShow issued the official statement on Instagram, saying it is a platform to facilitate the sale of tickets and "operates the business with neutrality and in compliance with the applicable laws of India".

"Facts on our role have been misrepresented in the public domain. Our role is to provide a platform for ticket sales of live shows, and it is the decision of the organizer or the venue to list or delist their shows," the platform said in the statement, without naming Kamra. (With PTI Inputs)