18 October,2026 03:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Mukesh Chhabra and Samay Raina. Pics via X
Stand-up comedian Samay Raina and casting director Mukesh Chhabra were spotted together at the Khidkiyaan Theatre Festival on Saturday, October 17, with a video of the duo drawing attention on social media. The annual theatre and arts festival, organised by Chhabra's Casting Company, saw several celebrities attend on its final day.
In one clip circulating online, Chhabra is seen holding Raina's hands while the comedian rests them on the casting director's upper arm. Chhabra then lifts Raina's hands and kisses them. Raina appears to show no visible reaction to the gesture in the video.
The interaction has drawn attention online, coming amid the ongoing controversy surrounding India's Got Latent season 2 and a complaint filed against Chhabra over allegedly inappropriate language used during an episode of the show.
The Khidkiyaan Theatre Festival brought together several names from the entertainment industry. Actors Arjun Rampal, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Ravi Kishan, Ayesha Khan, Maniesh Paul, Kunal Kapoor, Abhay Verma and Karishma Tanna were among those spotted at the event.
Videos from the festival have been circulating on social media, including the clip featuring Raina and Chhabra. However, the footage alone does not establish the context behind the gesture.
The interaction comes against the backdrop of a complaint filed by Anurag Shrivastav following an episode of India's Got Latent featuring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bhuvan Bam, Mukesh Chhabra, Kaustubh Agarwal and Samay Raina.
According to IANS, Shrivastav said he watched the episode on Netflix while staying at a hotel in Mumbai on the evening of September 22, 2026. The complaint alleges that Chhabra used sexually suggestive and inappropriate language during the episode.
The complainant cited a remark in Hindi and described it as "highly inappropriate, objectionable, and sexually suggestive". He has sought an investigation into the matter and also raised questions about Netflix India's review and approval process for content made available on the platform.
The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the filing of a complaint does not establish wrongdoing. The video from the theatre festival, meanwhile, has brought Raina and Chhabra back into the social media spotlight as the controversy surrounding the show continues.
