RJ Mahvash has confirmed that she will be appearing in the second season of comedian Samay Raina’s controversial comedy talent show India’s Got Latent, while also publicly defending Samay and other creators who faced backlash during the show’s first season controversy.
The actor, influencer and former radio jockey made the revelation during a recent interview and podcast appearance while promoting her upcoming OTT series Satrangi: Badle Ka Khel. During the conversation, Mahvash shared that Samay Raina personally invited her to join the upcoming season of the show.
“When we were shooting for another show, Samay asked me if I would attend the next season of his comedy talent show,” Mahvash said. “And I told him I would definitely come for the show.”
Her confirmation has quickly gone viral online because India’s Got Latent became one of India’s most debated comedy shows after a major controversy erupted during its first season in early 2025.
The controversy began after podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia, popularly known as BeerBiceps, appeared as a guest judge alongside Ashish Chanchlani, Apoorva Mukhija and Jaspreet Singh on one of the bonus episodes. During the episode, Ranveer made remarks involving parents and sex that triggered widespread outrage online. Multiple FIRs were later filed against Ranveer Allahbadia, Samay Raina and other panel members over allegations related to obscenity and offensive content.
Following the backlash, Samay Raina removed all episodes of India’s Got Latent from YouTube. The controversy also led to intense public criticism, legal scrutiny and heated debates about the boundaries of comedy and online content in India.
Despite the backlash, Mahvash said she continues to stand by Samay, Ranveer and other creators associated with the show. She admitted that mistakes were made but argued that people should not continue “roasting” them endlessly.
“I agree that they were wrong, but humans do make mistakes,” Mahvash said. “Let’s not roast them further.”
She further explained that her support comes from personal experiences with the creators involved. According to Mahvash, Ranveer Allahbadia, Ashish Chanchlani and others had supported her professionally and shown up during important moments in her career despite being significantly bigger public figures at the time.
“For me, that is real friendship,” she said while discussing why she continues supporting them even after the controversy.
Mahvash also clarified that she had not known Samay Raina personally during the peak of the controversy and had initially observed the entire episode “from a third perspective.” However, after interacting more closely with him and other creators, she said she formed a more personal understanding of them as individuals.
The announcement has generated mixed reactions online. Some users praised Mahvash for supporting friends despite public criticism, while others questioned whether returning with a second season so soon after the controversy was the right decision.
Many fans of Samay Raina, however, celebrated the news and expressed excitement about the return of India’s Got Latent. The show had developed a massive cult following before its removal, largely due to its raw humour, unpredictable contestant interactions and roast-style comedy format.
Hosted by Samay Raina, the show blended stand-up comedy, talent performances and improvised judging, drawing inspiration from international formats such as Kill Tony and talent-based reality competitions. It quickly became one of the most talked-about independent comedy formats on Indian YouTube.
Samay himself recently confirmed that a second season of the show is officially in the works. During his comeback stand-up special Still Alive, released earlier this year, the comedian joked about surviving cancellation and announced that the show would eventually return.
In the comedy special, Samay also opened up emotionally about the psychological toll of the controversy, revealing that the backlash had left him dealing with severe anxiety and emotional exhaustion. Clips from the special later went viral online.
The controversy around India’s Got Latent became one of the biggest internet culture debates in India in 2025, sparking discussions about censorship, comedy boundaries, creator accountability and online outrage culture.
While critics argued that certain jokes crossed ethical lines, supporters claimed the backlash represented increasing intolerance towards edgy comedy. The debate divided audiences sharply across social media platforms.
RJ Mahvash’s latest comments now place her directly into that larger conversation. By publicly confirming her participation in Season 2 and defending Samay Raina, she has effectively signalled support for creators trying to move past the controversy and rebuild professionally.
Mahvash herself has steadily expanded beyond radio and social media influencing into acting and digital entertainment. She currently enjoys a strong online following and has become increasingly visible in OTT projects and celebrity interviews.
Meanwhile, Samay Raina remains one of India’s most influential young comedians despite the controversy. The Comicstaan 2 winner built a massive fanbase through stand-up, chess streaming, YouTube content and later India’s Got Latent.
For now, though, it is the return of India’s Got Latent itself that has become the biggest talking point online. Mahvash’s confirmation has added further excitement and controversy around the show’s comeback, ensuring that Season 2 is already under intense public scrutiny even before filming begins.