25,000 People Can’t Be Wrong (Or Can They?)
Okay, I’ll admit it—I was one of those people refreshing BookMyShow like a maniac trying to get tickets to Samay Raina’s Mumbai shows. And let me tell you, after witnessing what just happened over two nights, I’m convinced this guy could probably sell tickets to watch him read his grocery list out loud.
Twenty-five THOUSAND people. In Mumbai. After everything that went down earlier this year. If that’s not the definition of a phoenix rising from the ashes, I don’t know what is. The “Samay Raina Is Alive and Unfiltered” tour just proved something we all suspected—cancel culture might be loud, but loyal fans are louder.
Instagram Stories That Hit Different
You know those Instagram posts that just feel different? Samay’s post-show message was one of those. No fancy PR speak, no calculated messaging—just pure, unfiltered gratitude that made me believe every single word. “Mumbai, I love you so much. You have given me everything,” he wrote, and honestly, you could practically feel the emotion through the screen.
When someone says, “I performed for 25,000 people in my city” and follows it with “I am overwhelmed,” that’s not media training talking—that’s genuine shock at how much love was waiting for him. The “God has been kind” line? Chef’s kiss. Sometimes the simplest statements hit the hardest.
And can we talk about Tanmay Bhat being part of the lineup? Having your comedy bros rally around you when you’re making a comeback is exactly the kind of support system every performer needs. It’s like having your squad show up to your first day back at school after being sick for weeks.
Let’s Talk About That Elephant (It Was HUGE).
Look, we can’t pretend the “India’s Got Latent” situation didn’t happen, and honestly, we shouldn’t. What went down with Ranveer Allahbadia asking that absolutely inappropriate question was cringe-worthy at best and downright offensive at worst. Watching Samay get dragged into that mess felt like watching someone’s career implode in real time.
The backlash wasn’t just Twitter noise either—we’re talking multiple FIRs, actual legal trouble, and criticism from people who usually stay out of comedy drama. When your show gets accused of mocking people with disabilities, that’s not “edgy humor” territory anymore—that’s just wrong. Period.
An Apology That Actually Mattered
Here’s what I respect about Samay’s response—the dude went straight to the Supreme Court with a sworn affidavit. Not a Twitter thread, not a YouTube video essay, but an actual legal document taking full responsibility. That takes guts, especially when you could have easily thrown Ranveer under the bus and called it a day.
His commitment to “inclusive and sensitive” content moving forward isn’t just lawyer-speak; it feels like someone who genuinely learned something from getting absolutely roasted by the entire internet. Sometimes rock bottom becomes the solid foundation you build your comeback on.
The Victory Lap Continues
Starting the tour in Bengaluru on August 15 was smart (Independence Day symbolism, anyone?), but Mumbai was always going to be the real test. Next up: Kolkata on September 6-7 (those audiences don’t mess around), Chennai on September 19-20, and Pune from September 26-28.
But October 3-5 in Delhi? That’s where legends are made or broken. Three consecutive nights in the capital means no hiding behind “off nights”—you either bring your A-game or everyone knows about it by morning.
The fact that venues are selling out proves something beautiful about second chances and genuine accountability. Mumbai didn’t just show up for nostalgia—they showed up because sometimes the best comedy comes from people who’ve been through hell and lived to joke about it.
Now excuse me while I frantically try to get Delhi tickets before they disappear faster than Samay’s last show got cancelled.