Actor and author Twinkle Khanna has faced criticism online after linking the debate over Mughal history with popular Mughlai dishes in her latest Mrs Funnybones column, writes Free Press Journal.
Khanna made the remarks in a column published on August 30 while discussing the ongoing debate around food and ingredients.
She wrote that those who wanted to remove the Mughals from Indian history books should first give up dishes such as koftas, kormas and kebabs. She also referred to Mughlai paneer while making her point.
The comment drew criticism from social media user Sheema Kher, who argued that comparing food with a violent period of history was neither funny nor appropriate.
“Dear Funny Bones, comparing food with brutal history and equating the two isn’t funny or sensible,” Kher wrote in a post addressing Khanna.
Kher also brought up Kesari, the 2019 film based on the Battle of Saragarhi and starring Akshay Kumar, Khanna’s husband. She argued that the film highlighted a historical episode that had received limited attention in school education.
Kher questioned why food should be used as an argument when discussing the darker chapters of Indian history.
She also referred to the wars, conquests and bloodshed associated with the Mughal period and argued that acknowledging those events should not be linked to whether people continue to enjoy dishes associated with Mughlai cuisine.
The criticism has added another layer to the wider online debate surrounding Khanna’s satirical comments, with her remarks drawing attention beyond the original discussion about food and ingredients.
Khanna is known for her Mrs Funnybones columns, where she frequently uses humour and satire to comment on contemporary issues. Her latest remarks, however, have prompted a strong response from critics who felt the comparison crossed a line.
