India
oi-Swastika Sruti
A political event in Indore has put stand-up comedian and digital creator Pulkit Mani in the spotlight after he shared the stage with Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme.
Stand-up comedian Pulkit Mani performed a political satire act mimicking PM Narendra Modi alongside Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at the September 19 ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Indore, sparking controversy that led to the cancellation of Mani’s subsequent Noida show.
Mani performed an impression of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including references to his mannerisms, interactions with foreign leaders and other public appearances. Gandhi was seen responding and laughing during parts of the act. The video, shared by Congress, has since triggered a political controversy. But who exactly is Pulkit Mani, the comedian at the centre of the latest political row?
Who Is Pulkit Mani?
Pulkit Mani is a stand-up comedian and social media content creator known for political satire, mimicry and commentary on current affairs.
On Instagram, he is known by the handle @hunnywhoisfunny, where he has built a sizeable following through comedy videos and political satire. Reports describe him as a performer who frequently uses impressions of political personalities and public figures in his content.
His comedy is not limited to one political figure. However, his impressions of PM Modi have become particularly recognisable online and have previously attracted significant attention.
Pulkit Mani’s PM Modi Mimicry Goes Viral
At the September 19 ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Indore, Mani appeared alongside Rahul Gandhi and performed a short political satire act.
During the performance, he mimicked Modi’s speaking style, gestures and references to foreign leaders. The routine repeatedly used the phrase “my friend”, imitating the way the Prime Minister has publicly addressed foreign leaders.
At one point, Mani addressed Gandhi while portraying Modi, prompting Gandhi to respond,
“I’m fine, how are you, Modi ji?”
Why Has Pulkit Mani’s Performance Triggered A Political Row?
It is not only about mimicry. Leaders of BJP have raised objections to certain parts of the show which, according to them, went beyond political satire and moved towards making comments on an individual level.
ये सस्ता कॉमेडियन पुलकित मणि है!
जिस तरह की भाषा ये भगवान और पुजारी जी के लिए कर रहा है क्या ऐसा ही ये किसी अन्य धर्म, मजहब, मौलवी पादरी के लिए भी कर सकता है?
ऐसे सस्ते छपरी कॉमेडियन के साथ मंच शायरी करने की राहुल गांधी की भला क्या मजबूरी रही होगी? https://t.co/Tm5fYsDQOA pic.twitter.com/Avx4n1uTVU
— Shubham Shukla (@Shubhamshuklamp) September 20, 2026
CR Kesavan, spokesperson of BJP, condemned Gandhi for being a part of the show and making comments about an old lady and mother of Modi. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami too criticized the show stating that there must be no comment about one’s mother even if there are differences politically.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has also condemned Congress regarding the show by referring the Congress as “Party of Comedians & Jokers”. But it must be kept in mind that the Congress show itself had mainly students’ related topics. Gandhi talked about issues of education, employment, exam irregularities, and questioning institutions.
Pulkit Mani’s Noida Show Cancelled
Stand-up comedian Pulkit Mani, who recently drew attention after his appearance alongside Rahul Gandhi at the Chhatron Ki Goonj event in Indore, has announced the cancellation of his upcoming show in Noida.
Taking to Instagram, Mani wrote that the show had been cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances”. He apologised to the audience for the inconvenience and thanked them for their understanding and continued support.
“I regret to inform that my Noida show has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding and support,” Mani said in his Instagram post.
The cancellation comes shortly after his appearance at Rahul Gandhi’s Indore event, where his mimicry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi sparked a political controversy and drew criticism from BJP leaders and supporters.
