Mukesh Khannawho is best known for playing the iconic superhero ‘Shaktimaan’, faced severe criticism on social media after appearing in a commercial with comedian Samay Raina, the man he had publicly and viciously attacked just a few months ago for his YouTube show ‘India’s Got Latent’. The unexpected collaboration left many users questioning whether the actor’s initial anger was real or just a play for attention.
What does the ad star in? Same: Raina and Mukesh Khanna appear?
The advertisement was shared by Samay Raina after the launch of the second season of ‘India’s Got Latent’. The clip opens with Samay on a phone call, saying: “Thank you, yaar. The show is back today. As they say, darkness won’t prevail for long.”The camera then reveals Mukesh Khanna standing on Samay’s rooftop. A surprised Samay asked, “What are you doing on my roof, sir?”In a deliberate callback to his earlier public attack on the comedian, Mukesh replied, “Teri tedhi dumm seedhi karne ayaa hu, Samay Raina.” He then added, “After three FIRs, you don’t seem to have learned a lesson. We have to paint your face black.” Taking a swipe at Samay’s style of comedy, he said, “You live in India, but your jokes are American style.”The banter eventually pivots to a mobile phone promotion. Samay signed off the ad with a conciliatory, “Sorry, Shaktimaan.”
The Internet reacted to the advertisement starring Samay Raina and Mukesh Khanna
The ad was not well received. Social media users were quick to call out Mukesh Khanna for what they saw as a glowing face. One user wrote, “Shameless Mukesh Khanna doing an ad with Samay Raina. Where is his respect now??” Another asked bluntly, “Mukesh Khanna went from criticizing Samay Raina to doing an ad with him. Respect or profit?”Others look at it through a more strategic lens. One user observed, “Samay has now teamed up with Sunil Pal and Mukesh Khanna after they publicly criticized him for India’s Got Latent. The man truly understands the market and its needs.”Others were not so forgiving of Mukesh. One netizen wrote, “Grumpy man! If shameless had a face, it would look like Mukesh Khanna. This guy said so many bad things about Samay, but now I know all he wants is fame!!”
What did Mukesh Khanna say earlier about Samay Raina about ‘India’s Got Latent’?
The context makes the collaboration even more impressive. In April, Mukesh Khanna launched a scathing attack on Samay after the comedian made fun of his Shaktimaan character on his Still Alive show.Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mukesh wrote, “Kutte ki dum tedhi rehti hai. Use lakh sheeshyyo main rakho. Baahar nikaalo. Fir tedhi ki tedhi. Samay Raina ki bhi ek dum hai. Kitna bhi maaro, seedha karo, woh to waapas tedhi ho jaati hai (A dog that wags its tail, it always stays straight. once you pick it up, it turns back to the same Samay Raina is like a tail.“He continued, and added, “Kiyunki woh seedha prani nahi hai. Woh roasted prani hai. Gandagi ki aag main jalaya hua. Pakaya hua. Poore desh ne latara, maara, fir bhi aa gaya besharmo ki tarah (Because he is not a righteous man. He is a roasted creature of all criticism. The whole country burned him. He was scolded and hurt, but he came back shameless as before).“The statements came shortly after Samay publicly spoke of “irrelevant people” trying to grab the spotlight amid the ‘India’s Got Latent’ controversy. The collaboration between Mukesh Khanna and Samay Raina shows a pattern that is getting more attention; People who publicly criticize internet creators often work with them, blurring the line between moral outrage and opportunism.
