Months after stepping away from stand-up comedy amid a controversy that sparked widespread online criticism, comedian Pranit More has announced his return to the stage. He unveiled his new stand-up special, ‘Ghayal’, on social media, but the announcement has already triggered comparisons with Samay Raina’s comeback special, ‘Still Alive’.On Wednesday, Pranit shared the first poster of ‘Ghayal’ on Instagram and opened up about the inspiration behind the show. Along with the announcement, he wrote, “GHAYAL. I can’t change what happened, but I can choose who I become because of it. Ghayal is the story of that journey. Beginning in Mumbai.”The post quickly caught the attention of social media users, with many noticing similarities between Pranit’s comeback narrative and Samay Raina’s return after facing public controversy.
Internet remains divided
The announcement generated mixed reactions online. While some users criticised the comedian for allegedly borrowing Samay Raina’s comeback approach, others questioned whether controversial figures should expect audiences to move on so quickly.One user commented, “You are not Samay Raina…don’t try to be him. You are not good at this. Why do people assume that they can spark a trashy controversy, make a comeback, and expect everyone to just forgive and forget?”Another wrote, “Everyone knew he would pull something similar to what Samay did.”Some users also compared the nature of the controversies. One remarked, “Samay’s cancellation was uncalled for. His was valid. ghayal?!” Another added, “He thinks he can copy Samay.”
Fans welcome his comeback
Despite the criticism, several supporters expressed excitement over Pranit’s return to performing.One fan wrote, “Missed you bhau. So happy to see you back after a long time.”Another shared, “Ohhh bhaisahab, finallyyyyy! It’s genuinely so good to see you back. Thank you for coming back. Take good care of yourself. We’ll always be rooting for you and we’re truly proud to be die-hard fans of a true gentleman like you.”A third supporter simply posted, “King is back to entertain.”
Samay Raina’s return after ‘India’s Got Latent ‘
Samay Raina himself faced intense scrutiny in February 2025 after comments made by Ranveer Allahbadia regarding parents and sex during an episode of ‘India’s Got Latent’ led to widespread outrage. FIRs were filed against Samay, Ranveer and others associated with the show, prompting Samay to remove all episodes from YouTube.He later returned to live performances with his stand-up special ‘Still Alive’, where he spoke candidly about the emotional impact of the controversy. He also confirmed that ‘India’s Got Latent’ would return with a second season.
Controversy surrounding the Rs 370 biryani remark
Pranit More’s controversy began during a crowd-work segment at one of his stand-up shows when an audience member, Himanshu Jangra, narrated an incident from a date. He claimed to have spent around Rs 370 on chicken biryani for a woman and later said he expected to “recover” the amount after she asked him to drop her home.Pranit laughed along with the audience and referred to the interaction as “Peak Gurgaon content,” a response that attracted widespread criticism across social media platforms.The viral clip sparked conversations around misogyny, consent and the role comedians play during audience interactions. Pranit later apologised, admitting that he should not have laughed at or encouraged the remarks.
FIR and NCW action followed
The matter eventually moved beyond online criticism. Maharashtra Cyber Police registered an FIR in connection with the misogynistic comments, while the National Commission for Women took suo motu cognisance of the incident, further intensifying scrutiny around the episode.
