New Delhi: The Mukesh Khanna Samay Raina controversy has taken a dramatic turn after comedian Samay Raina mentioned the iconic superhero Shaktimaan in his comeback special, Still Alive. The show, marking Raina’s return nearly a year after the India’s Got Latent controversy, prompted a strongly worded response from veteran actor Mukesh Khanna.
Shaktimaan Actor’s Strong Reaction
On X (formerly Twitter), Mukesh Khanna criticised Raina using a Hindi proverb, writing, “Kutte ki dum tedhi rehti hai, use lakh sheeshiyon mein rakho. bahar nikalo, phir tedhi ki tedhi!” He added, “Samay Raina ki bhi ek dum hai. Kitna bhi maro. Seedha karo. Woh wapas tedhi ho jaati hai.” Translated, Khanna implied that no matter how much one tries to correct Raina, he would revert to his ways.
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Khanna went further, accusing Raina of being shameless and saying, “Woh roasted praani hai. Poore desh ne lataada, maara. Phir aa gaya besharmon ki tarah.” He even suggested that Raina should face public humiliation for allegedly insulting Shaktimaan.
What Sparked the Controversy
The Mukesh Khanna Samay Raina controversy stems from a joke in Raina’s Still Alive performance. At the beginning of his special, Raina referred to the past India’s Got Latent controversy and joked about Khanna’s involvement: “Shaktiman aa gaya tha yaar. Shaktiman se kaise ladenge?” He also referenced the moral outrage over children allegedly imitating Shaktimaan in the 1990s, asking, “Tumne bacche maare hain, aur tum moral high ground lekar baithe ho?”
कुत्ते की दुम टेढ़ी रहती है।
उसे लाख शीशियों में रखो।
बाहर निकालो।
फिर टेढ़ी की टेढ़ी !!
समय रैना की भी एक दुम है।
कितना भी मारो। सीधा करो। वो वापस टेढ़ी हो जाती है।
क्योंकि वो सीधा सादा प्राणी नहीं है।
वो रोस्टेड प्राणी है।
गंदगी की आग में जलाया हुआ।पकाया हुआ।
पूरे देश… pic.twitter.com/SMo4AnA2Is— Mukesh Khanna (@actmukeshkhanna) April 8, 2026
Public Reaction
The incident has reignited the Mukesh Khanna Samay Raina controversy, with fans and media discussing the fine line between comedy and respect for cultural icons. While Raina’s set was intended to address past controversies humorously, Khanna’s reaction highlights the continuing sensitivity surrounding Shaktimaan’s legacy.
As the Mukesh Khanna Samay Raina controversy continues to trend on social media, the debate raises larger questions about satire, public figures, and the responsibilities of comedians when referencing beloved characters. Both the actor and comedian have strong followings, making this an ongoing topic of discussion in Bollywood and entertainment circles.