Neeti Mohan, Diljit Dosanjh & Shankar Mahadevan face backlash after an 'insensitive and sexist prank' on a reality show

Rising Stars 3, a singing reality show judges — Neeti Mohan, Diljit Dosanjh and Shankar Mahadevan face flak on social media after they pulled an insensitive prank on the sets of the show.

In a recent episode, two contestants — Kunal and Shikhar called Neeti 'kadak' and 'raapchik in a red saree'. Listening to this, Neeti got furious and said: "I am representing all the girls here and I don’t allow this. No one can talk to me, or any girl like this in this country or any country. We three judges don’t approve this, the show doesn’t approve this, the channel doesn’t approve this way of talking."

Just as she was about to walk off, Diljit interrupted and told the organisers to send the contestants later. Shankar too was furious. But minutes later, the trio burst out laughing saying the entire thing was a 'prank' and originally the contestant's idea.

Women's rights activist Kirthi Jayakumar took to her Twitter handle to condemn the judges for making fun of sexual harassment. Krithi tweeted, “Absolutely appalled at how @neetimohan18, @diljitdosanjh, @Shankar_Live and the rest of the crew literally threw the #MeToo movement under the bus on @ColorsTV. Speaking up about sexual harassment is not easy, and here you’re all belittling it as “mazaak”. Terrible that @neetimohan18 says that she represents all girls on the stage, and then threatens to walk out in response to what is clearly inappropriate and verbal sexual harassment, and then proceeds to laugh at how it is all a prank. Seriously, sexual harassment is not a joke.And now @diljitdosanjh apologized to them!! @Shankar_Live says it was a prank by one contestant on another. Thanks to how casually you all treat an issue so serious, there is ZERO accountability in this industry for sexual harassment.”

Singer Chinmayee Sripada also tweeted in support of Kirthi.