Suhel Seth has just landed in another controversy. Known for his appearances as news panel specialist, Seth put his foot in his mouth at the Times Literature Festival in Mumbai on Sunday after failing to recognise Indian Olympian and former men’s hockey team captain Viren Rasquinha.
He asked why Rasquinha was included in the panel for sports.
Viren Rasquinha is an Arjuna Award winner. The 34-year-old also won the gold medal at the 2001 Junior World Cup, the 2003 Asia Cup and the 2003 Afro-Asias Games.
Of course, Rasquinha was quite upset with the whole scenario.
He tweeted that it’s disappointing to be invited by the Times Lit fest to speak and then get dissed on stage ‘by a guy who doesn’t even know who I am.’
As my session ended, Suhel Seth comes on stage and says "don't know what that bald guy was doing on a panel on sport, whats he done" 2/5
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) December 7, 2014
It's so disappointing when I am invited by the Times Lit fest to speak and get dissed on stage by a guy who doesn't even know who I am. 3/5
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) December 7, 2014
He further said that it was even more disappointing to have the Times Lit fest director Bachchi Karkaria behave condescendingly.
I really do wonder though how Suhel Seth holds forth on everything under the sun and what exactly is his domain expertise 5/5
— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) December 7, 2014
Twitter too wasn’t at all happy after Rasquinha pointed out what happened at the Lit Fest. The angry Twitterati slammed Seth for recognising one of India’s best known sportspersons and asked “Who is Suhel Seth?”
BTW who is @suhelseth ,the guy who plays cameos in movies for free,I know @virenrasquinha he's worn the India colors for my country
— shishir hattangadi (@shishhattangadi) December 8, 2014
Rajdeep: Yaar Suhel, my doodhwala isn't agreeing to launch my book! Tu karega?
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) December 7, 2014
Suhel Seth: Who are u?
Rajdeep: Read my book to find out!
Every one knows who Suhel Seth is. What no one knows is what he does.
— dubash (@dubash) December 7, 2014
Suhel Seth is to the Indian society what an an appendix is to the human anatomy. Time to get an appendectomy.
— Gaurav Sabnis (@gauravsabnis) December 7, 2014
Who is Suhel Seth?
— Sidin (@sidin) December 7, 2014
@sidin God can't be an expert in every field, so He created Suhel Seth.
— Sumit. (@sirpunch_) December 7, 2014
Who is Suhel Seth?
— Amit Paranjape (@aparanjape) December 7, 2014
Suhel Seth was forced to apologised:
Love the roasting I am getting on Twitter. Deservedly even though I had apologised on Twitter and written to Viren. pic.twitter.com/P6Y036x4qu
— SUHEL SETH (@Suhelseth) December 7, 2014