Mukesh Khanna Launches Scathing Attack on Samay Raina Over Shaktimaan Insult
The controversy surrounding the comedy show India's Got Latent has intensified dramatically, with veteran actor Mukesh Khanna delivering a blistering critique of comedian Samay Raina. In a fiery social media post shared on Instagram, Khanna expressed deep offense over Raina's comedic style, accusing him of disrespecting his iconic superhero character, Shaktimaan.
Khanna's post, written in Hindi, used harsh metaphors to condemn Raina. He stated, "A dog's tail remains crooked. Place it in a million mirrors, take it out, and it's still crooked! Samay Raina has a similar tail. No matter how much you beat it or straighten it, it goes back to being crooked. Because he is not a simple creature. He is a roasted creature, burned and cooked in the fire of filth."
He further escalated his criticism, suggesting extreme public shaming: "The entire country has beaten and thrashed him. Yet he returns shamelessly, ready for more beating. Now only one thing remains: blacken his face, seat him on a donkey, and parade him through cities and streets across the nation. Let children throw eggs and tomatoes at him because he has insulted their superhero Shaktimaan!"
Samay Raina Breaks Silence in 'Still Alive' Special
Amid the growing backlash, Samay Raina addressed the controversy head-on in his latest comedy special titled Still Alive. Defending his brand of humor, Raina took direct aim at his critics, including Mukesh Khanna.
Recalling the intense backlash, Raina remarked, "Everyone came to eat me up—politicians, celebrities, Sunil Pal," noting that he was advised to learn from comedian Kapil Sharma. He also mocked other figures like Sunil Pal and B Praak, and specifically targeted Khanna, quipping, "Shaktiman has arrived, buddy. How do we fight Shaktiman?" He alleged that some individuals were merely seeking attention during the controversy.
Raina made a pointed statement about the entertainment landscape, asserting, "India is not a platform to showcase your art," highlighting the challenges faced by comedians in the country.
Samay Raina Addresses Ranveer Allahbadia's Role and Show Fallout
In his special, Raina also touched upon the involvement of Ranveer Allahbadia in the controversy. He claimed that an FIR was filed against Allahbadia for deviating from his established public image, humorously referring to him as "the monk who sold my Ferrari" and blaming him for derailing the show.
Reflecting on the personal toll, Raina shared, "We Kashmiris die in crossfire... It broke me like anything," explaining his decision to take India's Got Latent down in India. He revealed that after the show's removal, he received unexpected support from Pakistan.
Describing the show as raw and largely unscripted, Raina admitted, "We used to say very dirty things," but noted that he attempted to "play safe" through edits and post-shoot interactions. Concluding on a hopeful note, he expressed satisfaction with the end of Season 1 and hinted that Season 2 might soon be released on YouTube.
