A restaurant named Swing in Karachi, Pakistan has received severe backlash on social media in Pakistan for using a scene from the Bollywood film Gangubai Kathiawadi, which featured Alia Bhatt, to promote her special offer for men only. Is. In its ad posted on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook on Friday, June 17, the restaurant used a scene from Bhatt’s film to promote a special “Men’s Monday” discount, where it offered only 25 men for men. Percentage discount offered.
The restaurant used a scene in which Alia Bhatt, who played a sex worker in the film, was seen proposing to men on the streets of Mumbai. “Aja Na Raja – What are you waiting for? The swings are calling out all the kings. Come and take advantage of 25% off on men’s Monday swings!?” Read the caption of the advertisement.
The ad did not go down well with Pakistani netizens, who slammed the restaurant for promoting sexual exploitation of women for cheap publicity. A Facebook user named Daniyal Sheikh wrote, “Aaja na raja? What is this? It is promoting sexual exploitation of women and literally making fun of women who are forced to become prostitutes. Try to be responsible. ,
One Instagram user farihaa.irrfan said, “You really need to see what’s being put in here. Misogyny, ignorance to use a painful scene to justify what you’re presenting.” Is. ”
Several other social media users criticized the Pakistani restaurant for falling so low for publicity.
To defend its ad, the restaurant posted a follow-up saying, ‘It was just a concept and not meant to hurt anyone.’ “Hey Logan, why did you take so much to heart? Movie kare tu fire, restaurant kare to sin? The restaurant asked. Further, it said, “The film and this post are based on a concept. As before, we are open to all and will serve you with the same love as ever.”
The so-called apology further angered the already outraged netizens, who took to the restaurant to issue such an unapologetic response. “The film tells the story of a girl who was forced into prostitution. Appealing to men and selling them a product was not a commercial. Don’t you really understand the difference? How deaf is it? You are literally making this deeper!” wrote one Khadija Abbas on Facebook.
“Drain worm!! Boycott the swings for their sick sense of humour. I feel for the women who work at your restaurant. Wonder what they have to deal with!” another person on social media reprimanded the restaurant for using a cheap PR stunt.
Alia Bhatt starter ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and released in theaters on February 25. The film is an adaptation of Hussain Zaidi’s book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’, which records the life of Gangubai Kothewali, a brothel in Kamathipura, Mumbai.
