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As controversy continues to mount over YouTuber-podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia’s perceived distasteful ‘joke’ on comedian Samay Raina’s India’s Got Latent, the issue has drawn the attention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well. However, this is not the first time the reality show has courted trouble. In fact, India’s Got Latent has previously faced backlash on separate occasions for controversial remarks made on it about people with disabilities (PwDs), residents of Arunachal Pradesh and depression.
Back in September 2024, the show sparked outrage for its use of offensive language targeting people with physical disabilities and speech disorders. The episode featured comedian Santosh Patra making remarks that many found insensitive. Not only did the judges, including Samay Raina, erupt in laughter hearing these ‘jokes’, but they also gave the performance a standing ovation, which people found equally problematic. Expressing his disapproval, Dr Satyendra Singh, who practices at Delhi’s Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital and the University College of Medical Sciences, sent a legal notice against the show’s judges — comedians Nishant Tanwar, Vipul Goyal and Sonali Thakker — as well as Santosh Patra, citing defamation and disability discrimination.
Later, in November, the show stirred controversy again after contestant Bunti Banerjee made a remark about actor Deepika Padukone’s battle with depression. During her stand-up set, Banerjee joked, “Deepika Padukone also became a mother recently, right? Great, now she knows what depression really looks like,” evoking much laughter from the judges and audience, prompting her to add: “I’m not trying to insult breakup-wala depression; actually I am.”
More recently, prior to the entire Ranveer Allahbadia episode, India’s Got Latent — which debuted in June 2024 — faced criticism over comments made about Arunachal Pradesh on the show. Contestant Jessy Nabam, who hails from the state, joked that her people eat dog meat, including their own pets. The remark led to a complaint being filed by a resident of Arunachal Pradesh, resulting in an FIR being reportedly registered.
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