Over the weekend, a promo of a future episode of the reality comedy show Madness Machayenge – India Ko Hasayege mocked veteran Bollywood filmmaker and TV chat show impresario Karan Johar beyond all tolerable limits. Comedian Kettan Singh, in a despicable attempt to impersonate the trendsetting and fashion savvy KJo, appeared on Sony LIV and proceeded to mimic the Dharma Productions’ boss man deprecatingly. Proving that comedy, for him – if not the channel, is more than sketches, gags, roasts, spoofs and stand-up acts, and also includes trolling a prominent figure.

A hurt KJo reacted on Instagram yesterday, saying that he expected this from trolls and faceless and nameless people, while adding, “But when your own industry can disrespect someone who has been in the business for over 25 years, it speaks volumes about the times we live in... this doesn't even anger me it just makes me sad!” Sensing an unanimous and furious backlash, Kettan immediately apologized to KJo, claiming he was a huge fan of the filmmaker’s work, and that the intention behind his act on the comedy show was not to hurt him – but just to entertain the audience. But by then, the damage had been done.

The thing is, how did this joker forget the tremendous respect KJo has earned for genuinely entertaining the same audience with path-breaking family cinema featuring magical stories of romance, drama, emotion and thrill over 25 years? And why do bigtime TV channels offer parodies like him a platform to do so? The victim here is a filmmaker who has not just taken Indian cinema to global audiences, but also introduced Bollywood to some of its leading talents of today. The man is large-hearted. With dignity and class, sass and wit, he dismisses most trolls. But for somebody cutting his teeth to hang onto KJo’s coattails, hoping the legend’s popularity and goodness will make his own dreams come true, is just not done.