New Delhi: Samay Raina’s India’s Got Latent 2 has found itself at the centre of another controversy, but the backlash does not appear to have hurt its viewership. The latest episode has crossed 31.9 million views, making it the most watched episode among the show’s last 10. Raina himself shared the milestone on Instagram as criticism over the episode continued to build.
The numbers are striking. The four episodes before it had recorded around 28.6 million, 22 million, 19.4 million and 19 million views respectively. The latest episode has therefore not only attracted attention but has also comfortably surpassed the recent viewership record.
Much of the discussion, however, is about what happened during a roasting segment involving comedians Samay Raina and Sharon Verma.
Verma, who is from Bihar, and Raina, who is a Kashmiri Pandit, traded jokes about their respective backgrounds. What may have been intended as comedy quickly became controversial online, particularly after remarks touching on Bihari stereotypes and the experiences of Kashmiri Pandits.
Raina joked about Verma’s Bihar roots and her decision to move to Mumbai. Verma then turned the joke towards Raina’s Kashmiri identity, including a reference to “getting stoned”. The exchange was part of the show’s roast format, but clips from the episode soon began circulating independently on social media, prompting criticism.
The backlash has since moved beyond social media. BJP MLA Ram Kadam criticised the comedians, accusing them of using controversial remarks to gain publicity. Bihar minister Mithilesh Tiwari also objected to the comments and described them as derogatory.
The strongest criticism has come over references to the Kashmiri Pandit community. The J&K Peace Forum said the community’s history of displacement and suffering should not be reduced to a punchline. Its chairman Satish Mahaldar also stressed that comedy can have freedom while still carrying responsibility.
Not everyone has called for the remarks to be condemned outright. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam said jokes should be understood in context, while also acknowledging that some comments crossed a line, particularly when they touched on the suffering of Kashmiri Pandits.
Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who himself hails from Bihar, offered a more relaxed view of the controversy. He said people should not be too quick to take offence at harmless banter, while stressing that humour should not come at the cost of respect for someone’s background.
The controversy is also significant because India’s Got Latent has already faced intense scrutiny. The show became embroiled in a major row in 2025 after remarks by YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia triggered complaints and a wider public debate over the limits of online comedy.
This time, despite the criticism, one thing is clear people are watching. With 31.9 million views, Latent 2 has turned its latest controversy into another major talking point in India’s digital entertainment space.
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