22 June,2026 05:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mukesh Khanna and Samay Raina. Pics via Instagram
In April this year, during his Still Alive stand-up, comedian Samay Raina took a jibe at Mukesh Khanna after the Shaktimaan actor criticised him during the India's Got Latent controversy. Mukesh hit back by responding to Samay with harsh words, describing the show as "ashleel" (obscene) and saying that the comedian should be paraded on a donkey. Now, nearly two months after their exchange, the two have come together for a new ad. However, the collaboration has left many social media users shocked, with many criticising Mukesh for working with Samay after speaking out against him.
On Monday, Samay and Mukesh took to Instagram and shared a joint post which was a video advertisement for a smartphone brand. In the video, Samay is seen speaking to someone on the phone and saying, "Thanks, yaar. The show is returning now. As they say, darkness doesn't prevail for long." That's when Shaktimaan arrives in his signature style. Samay asks, "What are you doing on my rooftop, sir?" Mukesh says, "Teri tedhi dum seedhi karne aaya hoon, Samay Raina (I am here to put you in line, Samay Raina)."
Samay then says that he is afraid to be on a rooftop with him and urges him to come inside. Mukesh then adds, "3 FIR hone ke baad bhi tum sudhre nahi na? Tera muh kala karna hi padega (Even after three FIRs were filed against you, you still haven't changed, have you? We will have to blacken your face)." Samay replies, "Then there'll be one more FIR against you for doing blackface, right?"
An irritated Mukesh goes on to say, "Phirse ghinone jokes. Phirse kutta aakar keh raha hai ki meri dum tedhi hai. Kutta kabhi bhi aakar nahi kehta ki dekho dekho meri dum tedhi hai. Tumhari issi gandi bhasha se logon ka dimaag kharab ho gaya hai. Tum Hindustan mein rehte ho par tumhare jokes ashleel American style ke hain. Joote Japanese hain aur shirt Canada ki (Such disgusting jokes. Once again, a dog comes along and says that my tail is crooked. A dog never goes around saying, 'Look, look, my tail is crooked.' It is because of this filthy language of yours that people's minds have become corrupted. You live in India, but your jokes are vulgar and American in style. Your shoes are Japanese and your shirt is Canadian)."
The advertisement has left the internet divided. One user commented, "Totally unexpected collab before GTA 6," while another wrote, "Hahaha, collab no one imagined." Meanwhile, many users criticised Mukesh Khanna for collaborating with Samay and even called him a 'hypocrite.' One comment read, "Shaktimaan bhi bik gaya (Even Shaktimaan has sold out)." Another comment read, "It feels like creating controversy with Samay is good for your bank balance, as he ends up collaborating with every hater and humbling them too." A user wrote, "Shaktimaan ki neeyat badal gayi (Shaktimaan's motives have changed)."
Another user went on to say, "He is the same person who was demanding Samay's arrest after the India's Got Latent Season 1 controversy. Where are his sanskar and moral values now? Did he sell them for some money?"
For the unversed, a day after Samay took a jibe at Mukesh Khanna and Shaktimaan in his comedy special Still Alive, Mukesh reacted by calling the comedian shameless.
Mukesh wrote, "Samay Raina tu sirf gadhe par baithne ke layak hai voh bhi muh kala karke (Samay Raina, you're only fit to sit on a donkey - and that too with your face blackened)."
He went on to add, "The whole country has scolded him and condemned him. Yet he has come back shamelessly. Now only one thing remains⦠blacken his face, parade him on a donkey through the cities of the country, and shower him with insults. Let children throw eggs and tomatoes at him because he has insulted their superhero Shaktimaan."
