Samay Raina has opened up about not being able to perform in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, for the past one year. In a recent episode of India’s Got Latent 2, the stand up comedian revealed that he has not been able to organise a show in the city because he could not get the required permission. During the episode, Samay directly addressed the authorities in Ahmedabad and requested them to allow him to perform in the city. He even made the request with folded hands, showing how much he wants to return to the Gujarat city and perform for his audience.
The conversation began when a contestant from Ahmedabad spoke about the need to build a stronger live comedy scene in the city. The contestant appealed to people in Ahmedabad to attend live shows and support local comedians. He said, “Ahmedabad, if you are watching this, please come to live shows. We really need you. We want to develop a scene in Ahmedabad.” He then asked Samay Raina to give a shout out to the city. Responding to the request, Samay revealed that he himself has been unable to perform there. The comedian said, “Mere khud ke shows nahi ho paa rahe Ahmedabad mein.” He then directly addressed the authorities and said, “Ahmedabad authorities if you are watching this, let me do shows in Ahmedabad. I love performing in Gujarat.”
Varun Dhawan, who was one of the panelists on the episode, then asked Samay about the reason behind the situation. Samay explained, “Last one year, I have not been able to. I could not get permissions.” His comments have now drawn attention because they come roughly a year after the major controversy surrounding India’s Got Latent, which also led to legal trouble for Samay and several others associated with the show.
The controversy erupted after Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, appeared on the show and made controversial remarks while questioning a contestant. One of the questions involved an inappropriate reference to parents and sexual activity, leading to widespread criticism. The incident triggered a major public backlash and several police complaints were filed against Ranveer Allahbadia and Samay Raina.
The complaints alleged that the show contained obscene and sexually explicit content. The controversy also resulted in Samay removing episodes of India’s Got Latent from YouTube and rescheduling his India tour. After a period away from the spotlight, he eventually returned to live performances with his special show Still Alive.
His latest comments about Ahmedabad now highlight another challenge he has faced while trying to return to live performances. Samay’s appeal to the authorities has also sparked discussion among viewers about the difficulties comedians can face when organising live shows in different cities.
