Pranit More under scanner: List of comedians who 'crossed a line' with humour

The latest controversy involving comedian-turned-Bigg Boss 19 contestant Pranit More has again put the focus on stand-up acts and crowd work that draw backlash online. At a recent show, an audience member recounted a ‘date’ story in which he said he wanted to ‘recover’ Rs 360-370 spent on a chicken biryani from a woman.

The clip drew criticism on social media, with users calling the exchange offensive and disgusting, while More described it as ‘Peak Gurgaon content’. He later issued an apology note.

The episode brought attention back to a series of recent cases involving comedians and content creators such as Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahabadia, Munawar Faruqui and Kunal Kamra. In several instances, the backlash led to complaints, FIRs, protests and court proceedings. In some cases, apologies were issued, but the criticism continued.

Let's reflect on some instances where comedy led to controversy.

Samay Raina and Ranveer Allahabadia

One of the most discussed recent cases involved comedian Samay Raina and podcaster Ranveer Allahabadia, who is known more as a YouTuber and podcaster than as a comedian. Allahabadia faced heavy criticism over remarks on parental sex during Season 1 of India’s Got Latent, a show backed by Raina. The controversy led to online outrage, FIRs, arrests and eventually reached the Supreme Court.

Months later, in his comeback comedy special Still Alive, Raina said Allahabadia had made the ‘parents’ joke eight times and that he had kept only one instance in the final edit.

He said, ‘Main tumhe maa ki kasam sach batata hoon. Uss episode main Beer Biceps ne voh sawal 8 baar poocha tha. Aur iske alawa bhi kayi ant shant sawaal poochhe the usne. Toh ab jab maine edit dekha na, maine kaha, ‘Yeh toh bohot gandi baatein kari hain isne. Chalo ek rakh deta hoon, baaki sab hata deta hoon’.’

Translated to: "I swear on my mother, I am telling you the truth. In that episode, Beer Biceps asked that question eight times. And apart from that, he also asked a lot of random, nonsensical questions. So when I saw the edit, I said, ‘He has said some really inappropriate things. Alright, I’ll keep one and remove all the rest’.’ Raina said that, from his perspective, he had removed ‘99 per cent of the inappropriate content."

Munawar Faruqui

Comedian Munawar Faruqui has also faced repeated controversy. In 2021, he came under scrutiny after it was alleged that he had hurt Hindu sentiments and made objectionable remarks about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a show in Indore. He later denied making any such comments.

In 2024, Faruqui was criticised again for remarks about the Konkani community during a performance in Taloja, Mumbai. He said, "Konkani log chu**** banate hai", translated as, 'Konkanis fool others.' He later apologised on social media and said the joke was part of a crowd work show, where he interacts with members of the audience.

The same crowd work format has now landed More in trouble as well. Read his apology note here.

More recently, a complaint was also filed against Faruqui over his show Hafta Vasooli for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, while the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti posted on X seeking a ban on the show.

Kunal Kamra

The comedian's work, which has long centred on political satire, has also repeatedly drawn controversy over the years. His jokes and remarks have often become flashpoints, especially when directed at political figures.

Most recently, Kamra faced fresh trouble over comments aimed at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a stand-up performance. The row intensified after workers vandalised the venue where the show had been recorded. Kamra, however, refused to apologise and said political satire was a legitimate part of comedy.

These are just a few instances in the public eye.

These cases remain among the more visible examples of the scrutiny surrounding comedians and live acts in India. With comedy venues expanding across the country and new performers entering the space, the recent controversies have kept attention on satire and on where the line is drawn when jokes provoke backlash.