In a defiant and trademark “dark comedy” return, stand-up comedian Samay Raina has finally addressed the massive legal and social media firestorm that shut down his viral YouTube show, India’s Got Latent, in early 2025.
Dropping a 1.21-hour special titled Still Alive on April 7, 2026, Raina used the platform to announce the return of the show while taking sharp jabs at the “disproportionate” backlash he faced.
The “Kashmiri Crossfire” & Viral Backlash
Reflecting on the February 2025 episode featuring podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia (BeerBiceps), which led to multiple FIRs and a summons from the National Commission for Women (NCW), Raina joked about his inadvertent involvement.
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The Quip: “I didn’t even say anything in that episode… Hum Kashmiri crossfire mein hi marte hain” (We Kashmiris always die in the crossfire).
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On Ranveer Allahbadia: Referring to him as “the monk who sold my Ferrari,” Raina called the country’s reaction “unfair” but admitted with his typical bluntness, “The kind of joke he cracked, I couldn’t even defend that at my own home!”
Calling Out the “Moral Police”
Raina didn’t hold back against the celebrities and public figures who criticized the show during its darkest hour:
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The Critics: He took aim at Sunil Pal, B Praak, and even Mukesh Khanna (Shaktimaan).
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The Reality Check: Raina offered a cynical view of online fame, stating, “In India, the Internet is not a platform to showcase your art… it’s a game we play to set a high score in our bank accounts. I’m also just acting on the internet.”
A Philosophy of Survival
Linking the controversy to his roots, Raina spoke about the “Kashmiri Pandit wisdom” of knowing when to retreat. He explained that deleting all 18 episodes of the show was a survival tactic, comparing it to his community’s exodus from the Valley: “When the fight is not fair, you f** off from there… Today we are still alive, still killing it.”*
The Future: India’s Got Latent Season 2
Despite the police complaints and the parliamentary mentions, Raina confirmed that the show is not dead.
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The Announcement: He clarified that while the first season ended on a chaotic high, a second season is officially in the works.
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The Promise: “Show toh main laoonga, bhai… I want to do a wild, wild f***ing show.”
What to Expect: With the comedian doubling down on his “edgy” brand of humor, Season 2 of India’s Got Latent is expected to be even more unfiltered, though likely with a closer eye on the legal “crossfire” that nearly ended his digital career.
