MTV Roadies is a popular reality TV show in India known for its daring tasks, adventurous challenges, and controversies. MTV Roadies which first aired on MTV India in 2003. The show features a group of contestants who compete in a series of physical and mental challenges to win the title of "Roadie". The contestants are selected through auditions held in different cities across India and are then put through various tasks designed to test their endurance, strength, and strategic thinking.
Roadies has spawned several spin-offs, including ‘Roadies Xtreme’, ‘Roadies Real Heroes’, and ‘Roadies Revolution’. The show has also been credited with launching the careers of several popular TV personalities and actors, including Rannvijay Singha, Ayushmann Khurrana, and Prince Narula.
MTV Roadies has a lengthy history of controversy. The show has frequently made headlines due to violent participants and nasty judges. Over the years, the show has been mired in several controversies, some of which include:
Slapping incident: In 2008, one of the leaders, Neha Dhupia, slapped a male participant who had made derogatory comments about women during an audition. The incident sparked a debate on violence against men and women's empowerment.
Sexual harassment allegations: In 2017, a former contestant, Priyank Sharma, accused a judge on the show, Nikhil Chinapa, of sexually harassing her during the show's audition process. The allegations were denied by Nikhil and the show's producers.
Body shaming: In 2018, a female participant, Shubhada Nishtala, was body-shamed by one of the judges, Neha Dhupia, for being overweight. The incident led to public outrage and criticism of the show's insensitivity towards body positivity.
Physical violence: In 2019, two contestants, Surbhi Rana and Kriti Verma, got into a physical altercation during a task, with Surbhi allegedly hitting Kriti with a slipper. The incident sparked a debate on the show's glorification of violence and aggressive behavior.
Religious controversy: In 2020, the show faced criticism for allegedly promoting religious bigotry and bias against the Muslim community in a particular episode. The makers of the show were accused of perpetuating stereotypes and spreading hatred towards a particular religion.
Despite the controversies, the show continues to be popular among viewers, and new seasons are produced every year.