Tanmay Bhat Dropped From Kotak Mahindra Bank Ad Over Old Tweet on Lord Ganesha

Mumbai: Comedy duo Tanmay Bhat and Samay Raina’s Kotak Mahindra Bank advertisement was recently withdrawn after a Twitter user pointed out that Bhat had previously made jokes about Lord Ganesha. The re-posted tweets date back at least ten years.

A number of customers tagged Kotak bank on Twitter and urged that the promotion be stopped because they found the comedian’s earlier jokes offensive. Finally, the bank expressed regret for working with Bhat.

Hi @KotakBankLtd @udaykotak

I am a customer of your bank but the fact that you have hired a hinduphobic, woman and child abuser Tanmay Bhat for a campaign is making me consider closing my account. Discontinue the association with him and apologise? pic.twitter.com/W57pdic4jf

— Monica Verma (@TrulyMonica) February 12, 2023

“We, at Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. do not support or endorse the views of actors made in their personal capacity that harm or offend any individual or group. We have withdrawn the campaign”, Kotak 811 tweeted.

We, at Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. do not support or endorse the views of actors made in their personal capacity that harm or offend any individual or group. We have withdrawn the campaign.

— Kotak 811 (@kotak811) February 12, 2023

Bhat has not yet responded to the charges.

The comedian has previously been into some trouble. It was claimed that he did nothing when allegations were made against a collaborator at the now-defunct AIB comedy collective during the #MeToo movement some time ago. The contentious roasting of stars Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh by AIB had previously resulted in FIRs. He has also drawn criticism for making fun of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and singer Lata Mangeshkar.