The dispute between actor Mukesh Khanna and comedian Samay Raina has escalated into huge publicity and media interest. On 1 February 2025, Khanna posted on Instagram that he was vehemently unhappy with Raina, mentioning their stand-up special Still Alive, which made multiple references to Khanna and his iconic superhero, Shaktimaan.
In a strongly-written post, Khanna used a dog tail to illustrate that Raina is always misaligned with what should be happening. He claimed that Raina had disrespected Shaktimaan, who was a popular character among Indian children. Khanna escalated the criticism with dramatic comments that such actions should be condemned by the masses, and his anger toward Raina, with his comedy being a complete disappointment.
The controversy was preceded by the situation surrounding the TV series India Got Latent, in which Raina supposedly made jokes about Khanna at a sensitive time. This has fueled the feud that is still going on between the two.
Raina responded indirectly through his YouTube special, Still Alive, his first public statement on the controversy. During the performance, he touched on his Kashmiri Pandit identity and shared the personal hardships his family has experienced. He also mentioned the Ranveer Allahbadia controversy, whose scandalous statement had already prompted several FIRs and accusations.
The set that Raina created combined humour with a scene that touched the audience’s emotions, in which a friend of hers tearfully pleaded with authorities over the controversy. This gave his act this extra dimension, making real-life struggles shine through the humour.
People have had a variety of reactions, sparking debates over free speech, respect, and the limits of humour. The confrontation also indicates a widening generation gap between older actors and newer comedians. With the feud raging, it is now the center of debate on the changing role of comedy in society.
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