By: Express News ServiceMumbai | Updated: September 11, 2025 07:49 PM IST 2 min readAmeya Khopkar, president of the party’s film wing, described the continued use of the old name as “blatant disrespect” to the city’s identity and vowed to take action if Kapil Sharma keeps calling up with it. (Express file photo)Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Thursday issued a warning to comedian Kapil Sharma for repeatedly referring to Mumbai as Bombay on his popular television show, The Kapil Sharma Show.Ameya Khopkar, president of the party’s film wing, described the continued use of the old name as “blatant disrespect” to the city’s identity and vowed to take action if Kapil Sharma keeps calling up with it.In a post on X, Khopkar said, “It has been 30 years since Bombay was renamed Mumbai, yet in Bollywood, including The Kapil Sharma Show, celebrity guests, Delhi-based Rajya Sabha MPs, show anchors and numerous Hindi films continue to use ‘Bombay’ freely. The name was officially changed by the Maharashtra government in 1995 and by the Centre in 1996, even before Chennai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata were renamed. We demand that Mumbai be referred to by its official name — this is not just a request, it is a warning.”Khopkar said that continued references to ‘Bombay’ would trigger protests at shooting locations and could even lead to filming being halted.Khopkar also posted a clip on X, highlighting an instance when actors and siblings Huma Qureshi and Saqib Saleem, while recalling their move from Delhi, referred to Mumbai as Bombay on Kapil Sharma’s show.Khopkar also targeted Sharma, saying, “Kapil Sharma has been living in Mumbai for over 15 years. Yet, he cannot even take the city’s name right. Outsiders come here to work, but they disrespect our city. If we start calling him ‘Tapil’ instead of Kapil, would that be acceptable? Mumbai is not just a name — it is our identity. If he continues to do this, we will have to resort to protest and it will be seen in the future.”Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Kapil SharmaMNS