Gauahar Khan calls Nikhil Chinapa 'ignorant' over menopause remark; demands apology

Gauahar Khan, the outspoken Bollywood actress, has taken to Instagram to call out Nikhil Chinapa for a remark she described as “ignorant” and “disgusting.” The controversy erupted after Chinapa, a long‑time television host, suggested that Khan might be experiencing menopause, a comment that Khan said was a misguided attempt to dismiss her criticism of his role in the reality show Alliance.

The actress, who is currently supporting her husband Zaid Darbar—one of the contestants on the show—had earlier accused Chinapa of playing a “player” and of giving the other participants an unfair advantage. When Chinapa responded to her post following his eviction from the show, Khan took to a series of videos to express her disappointment, labeling his remarks as “ignorant” and “disgusting.” She added that it was “unfortunate” that some men still display such ignorance, especially those who are married, have children, and enjoy a comfortable life.

In her videos, Khan explained that she had never been in a position to experience menopause or perimenopause, noting she had a baby nine months ago. She accused Chinapa of “shocking” her by assuming she was in that age group, and she stressed that dismissing a woman’s opinion because of her biological cycle is deeply insensitive. Khan also clarified that her criticism was strictly about Chinapa’s gameplay and not his personal life, adding that she respects him as a professional.

She urged Chinapa to apologize to his wife and to the women in his life for failing to recognize the sensitivity of the subject. Khan also addressed women who are actually going through menopause or perimenopause, saying they should never be made to feel that their opinions are invalid because of a natural stage of life. The actress concluded that “it is shocking” that someone in Chinapa’s position would reduce a woman’s viewpoint to a biological phase.

While the incident has sparked debate on social media, no official statement has been released by Chinapa or the production team of Alliance. The controversy highlights the ongoing conversation about gender sensitivity in Indian media and the importance of respectful dialogue among public figures.