Patna: Bhojpuri singer-actor Pawan Singh has apologised after a video from a live show in Lucknow appeared to show him inappropriately touching Haryanvi performer Anjali Raghav on stage. But the controversy has continued to escalate, with Pawan Singh’s wife and Anjali Raghav both publicly responding to the incident.
In a television interview, Singh’s wife Jyoti Singh criticised her husband’s behaviour. “Pawan ji should have thought before touching the girl’s waist on stage like this,” she said. “He says that as artists these things are normal. But he should understand that for that girl’s father and brother, she is their daughter and sister.”
Raghav has accused Singh’s team of orchestrating an online campaign of harassment after the video went viral. The actor said clips from her 2015 songs were being recirculated with derogatory commentary, with trolls calling her a porn star. “I am mentally broken due to this trolling and cannot bear it anymore,” adding that she plans to file a police complaint in Delhi.
She alleged that Singh’s “very strong PR team” was behind the campaign. “After two days, my defamation started everywhere,” she said. “I am also getting threats from many fake IDs.”
Singh issued a statement on Instagram last week, writing: “My intention was not wrong. If Anjali ji felt bad then I apologise. We are artists and respect each other.” Raghav initially accepted the apology, posting: “Yes, he has admitted his mistake and I have forgiven him.” However, she later claimed she was pressured by Singh’s team to change her statement to a simpler “thank you”.
The incident has sparked wider condemnation. The All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) demanded action against Singh and praised Raghav’s decision to speak out. The group urged the National Commission for Women to intervene, saying such behaviour not only disrespects women but damages the credibility of the film industry.
Raghav, who built her career in Haryana after a brief stint in Bhojpuri films, said she has no plans to return to the Bhojpuri industry. “I collaborated with Pawan Singh once, but what happened is in front of everyone. Now I don’t feel like returning,” she said.
The 15-year industry veteran said she was initially hesitant to react on stage due to fears for her safety. “At that time, I felt that some tag of my blouse was stuck on my waist. I couldn’t understand whether they did it intentionally or not. Also, the whole environment there was theirs – media, police, staff. I was afraid that something untoward might happen,” she explained.
