Ishaan Khatter Reacts To 'Beyonse Sharma Jayegi' Lyrics Being Called Racist: It Was Never Meant To Be About The Complexion

Ishaan Khatter and Ananya Pandey starrer Khaali Peeli song Beyonse Sharma Jayegi was meant to be a fun peppy romantic number but as the song was interpreted in an entirely different manner. Listening to the lyrics of the dance number that went like ‘Tujhe dekh ke goriya, Beyonce sharma jaayegi’,  the netizens called out the song as racist, the fact that the song included the name of international pop sensation Beyonce didn’t exactly help matters either.

Responding to the whole controversy Khaali Peeli’s leading actor Ishaan Khatter feels that the word ‘gori’ was taken a bit out of context and also spoke about the Beyonce reference that rose many alarms.

Speaking to Film Companion the actor says, "The word ‘gori’ has been taken out of context, as I understand it. I have asked a lot of questions to people from rural areas, who’ve clarified that ‘gori’ has been used in multiple songs, for ages, as just referencing a girl. Like you’d say ‘launda’ or ‘chhora’, you also say ‘gori’, and that is the context in which it was used."

Ishaan also added that comparing his girl to Beyonce in the song was meant as a form of flattery by his character. It was referring to someone beautiful, stylish and iconic and not at all in the fashion in which it has been perceived.

“It was never meant to be about the complexion, let alone race. As for Beyonce, for this ‘tapori’ character, his biggest reference for somebody beautiful, and stylish and iconic is Beyonce. If anything, it’s flattering. That’s why he goes so far as even to compare this girl he’s trying to woo to Beyonce, because he’s trying to flatter her," said the actor.

The lyrics were later tweaked by the makers and the spelling of Beyonce was changed to ‘Beyonse’ to about legal trouble.