Comedian halts Ahmedabad plane crash joke on Netflix show

The Cliff News | 6 September 2026

During the latest episode of the Netflix series India's Got Latent 2, comedian and host Samay Raina swiftly intervened when a contestant from Ahmedabad began to make a joke about the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash. The incident occurred while the contestant, Vijay Poriya, was attempting to entertain the panel, which included actor Varun Dhawan.

The show, currently streaming its second season on Netflix, featured Varun Dhawan alongside co-panelists Medha Shankr, Nishant Tanwar, and Sharon Verma. As Vijay Poriya, visibly nervous, tried to deliver dog jokes and other gags, Raina posed a question about his apparent fear of flights. Poriya's response hinted at a connection to his hometown, Ahmedabad, before he launched into a narrative that suggested a joke about the plane crash.

Sensitivity Prevails Over Humor

Recognizing the sensitive nature of the impending joke, Samay Raina immediately stopped the contestant. He politely but firmly requested, "Can you give a different answer that we can keep?" Raina then reiterated his question about Poriya's fear of flying. This prompt redirection led Poriya to humorously shift his answer to the cost of flights, which elicited laughter from the panel and audience, successfully averting a potentially offensive moment.

The Ahmedabad plane crash, which occurred on June 12, 2025, was a significant tragedy. An Air India flight departing from Gujarat for London crashed shortly after takeoff. The accident resulted in the deaths of 12 crew members and 230 passengers, with only one survivor among those on board. Tragically, 19 people on the ground were also killed, and 67 others sustained serious injuries.

Artist Faces Local Restrictions

Following his performance, Vijay Poriya expressed a desire for increased audience support for live comedy shows in Ahmedabad. When he requested a shoutout from Samay Raina, the comedian revealed his own ongoing struggles with performing in the city. "Mera khud ka show nahi ho pa raha hai Ahmedabad main. (I am unable to do shows in Ahmedabad)," Raina stated.

He directly appealed to the authorities in Ahmedabad, saying, "Ahmedabad authorities, if you're watching this, let me do shows in Ahmedabad. I love performing in Gujarat." Varun Dhawan appeared surprised by this revelation and offered his assistance. However, in a moment of comedic timing, Dhawan cheekily added, "To phir chup rehna (Then keep quiet)," implying that Samay should remain quiet about the issue if he wanted help, which drew more laughter.

Past Controversies Shadow Show

This incident also brings to light a previous controversy surrounding India's Got Latent. In 2025, Samay Raina, alongside other prominent personalities including Ashish Chanchalani, Jaspreet Singh, Apoorva Mukhija, and Ranveer Allahbadia, faced legal challenges. They were accused of "promoting obscenity" on the show following a segment where Ranveer Allahbadia and a contestant made jokes involving parental incest.

The allegations led to the filing of First Information Reports (FIRs) and a subsequent police investigation. The matter even gained attention in Parliament, sparking discussions about the regulation of online platforms like YouTube. Consequently, the video and the show were removed from their original platform, only to be revived later on Netflix.

The current season's careful handling of a sensitive topic by host Samay Raina underscores a renewed effort towards responsible content creation, especially in light of past controversies and the potential for humor to inadvertently cause distress or offense, particularly concerning significant public tragedies.