During the cultural event in Lucknow, Anjali Raghav, dressed in a golden saree, was addressing the audience while Pawan Singh, in a white coat and trousers, stood beside her. As she engaged with the crowd, Pawan placed his hand on her waist. Though Anjali initially continued speaking with a smile, she soon appeared visibly uncomfortable when he repeated the gesture. Despite her clear reluctance, Pawan kept his hand on her waist until finally stepping back after saying “Okay.”The clip quickly spread across social media platforms, with netizens condemning Pawan’s behaviour. Many Reddit and Instagram users labelled it as “disturbing” and “inappropriate,” with calls for accountability.Anjali’s ReactionFollowing the incident, Anjali took to Instagram in a series of emotional videos. She revealed feeling “disturbed” for two days, addressing questions about why she didn’t protest on stage.
- Responding to criticism and memes that trivialised her discomfort, she said, “Do you really think I would enjoy being touched in public like that? Some people are blaming me, but the truth is, I was deeply uncomfortable.”Initially, Anjali hinted at stepping away from the Bhojpuri industry over the episode. However, she later shared Pawan Singh’s apology on her Instagram Stories, writing in Hindi:“Pawan Singh ji ne apni galti maani hai. Wo mujhse bade hain aur senior artist hain. Maine unhe maaf kar diya hai. Main is baat ko aur aage nahi badhana chahti. Jai Shree Ram.”(“Pawan Singh admitted his mistake and apologised. He is elder to me and a senior artist. I have forgiven him and do not wish to take this matter forward. Jai Shree Ram.”)
- Pawan Singh’s ApologyPawan Singh, known for Bhojpuri hits like Lolipop Lagelu and recent Bollywood tracks from Stree 2 and Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, also addressed the controversy via Instagram Stories. He wrote:“Due to a busy schedule, Anjali ji, I couldn’t watch your live. When I came to know about this matter, I felt bad. I had no wrong intention towards you because we are all artists. Even then, if you felt hurt by any of my actions or behaviour, I sincerely apologise for that.”