Samay Raina Announces India Tour: ‘Still Alive and Unfiltered’

A few months after facing backlash over his YouTube show India’s Got Latent, comedian Samay Raina has announced his return to the stage with an India tour titled Samay Raina Is Still Alive and Unfiltered.

This marks his first live performance series in India since the controversy erupted, and it kicks off on August 15 in Bengaluru.

Tour Schedule Revealed

On Wednesday, Samay Raina shared the news of his tour through Instagram, confirming that tickets are now available on BookMyShow.

He begins with a three-day performance in Bengaluru from August 15 to 17, followed by Hyderabad on August 23 and 24, and Mumbai on August 30.

In September, he will perform in Kolkata on the 6th and 7th, and Chennai on the 19th and 20th. He will wrap up the month with three shows in Pune from September 26 to 28. The tour will conclude with three back-to-back shows in Delhi on October 3, 4, and 5.

Rapid Ticket Sales and Fan Response

After the announcement, Samay turned to Instagram Stories to express gratitude for the overwhelming support. He shared that 40,000 tickets were sold within an hour of going live — a personal record.

“The love is unreal. We have sold 40,000 tickets in an hour for the tour. That’s a record… Thank you so much for the love, we will bring the house down,” he posted. In another Story, he attributed his success to his mother’s blessings.

Global Tour Before India Return

In May, Samay had announced a global tour before coming back to Indian stages. His international shows took him across Europe, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, beginning in Cologne on June 5 and ending in Sydney on July 20.

Speaking about that phase, he wrote in his Stories, “The most testing time of my life makes for the best comedy. See you on the tour.”

The India’s Got Latent Controversy

Samay Raina’s show India’s Got Latent triggered controversy when an FIR was filed against several participants including YouTubers Ashish Chanchlani, Apoorva Mukhija, Ranveer Allahbadia, and Samay himself.

The accusations focused on the promotion of obscenity and sexually explicit conversations during the public YouTube show.

The backlash intensified when Ranveer made a joke that many deemed insensitive. The joke went viral, drawing sharp online criticism and nationwide outrage. Samay’s decision to return to live comedy with a tour comes after this extended period of scrutiny.

A Timeline of Earlier Controversies

The controversy with Ranveer Allahbadia was not the show’s first brush with backlash. Since its launch in June 2024, India’s Got Latent had been involved in several controversies.

In September 2024, it was criticised for offensive language targeting people with disabilities and speech disorders.

In November, another episode drew fire when a contestant mocked actor Deepika Padukone’s depression. Earlier this year, derogatory comments made about Arunachal Pradesh sparked fresh outrage.

But the most intense criticism came when Ranveer, during a guest appearance, asked a contestant, “Would you rather watch your parents have sex for the rest of your life or join in once to make it stop?” While the live audience reacted with laughter and applause, the internet response was fierce.

Following the backlash, legal action was taken and all episodes of the show were removed from YouTube.

Cancellation of Previous Shows

When the controversy peaked, Samay had several shows planned across India. However, they were cancelled and BookMyShow refunded the ticket amount to customers.

This new tour marks his first full-scale comeback since those events. With overwhelming ticket sales and strong fan support, it appears Samay is set to return to the stage with confidence.

A Comeback Tour with High Stakes

The ongoing legal cases have not stopped Samay from reconnecting with his audience. The NCW also summoned him earlier this month, where he submitted a written apology over the issue.

Despite the controversy, his ticket sales indicate that his fan base remains strong.

Samay’s tour — starting August 15 in Bengaluru and concluding October 5 in Delhi — will visit Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, and Pune along the way.

The comedian, who first rose to fame after winning Comicstaan 2 in 2019, is no stranger to public scrutiny. Yet, with this comeback, he seems determined to reclaim his space in the stand-up scene.