Samay Raina Reveals OTT Plans Never Happened Due To IGL Controversy; Says, “Wanted To Do Shows With Deepak Kalaal, Puneet Superstar”

Samay Raina reveals how the ‘India’s Got Latent’ controversy derailed his ambitious OTT plans, including bizarre shows with Puneet Superstar and Deepak Kalaal, and shook his creative momentum. With his new stand-up special, Still Alive, Samay returned to the stage and revisited the fallout of the IGL controversy that briefly halted his momentum last year. The controversy, which erupted in February 2025 after YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia made an objectionable joke on Raina’s show, led to multiple FIRs and intense scrutiny online. While Raina has addressed the incident in his special, he recently opened up about the ambitious plans he had set in motion before the controversy brought everything to a halt.

Samay Raina On How His OTT Plans Failed Due To IGL Controversy

In a conversation with Chalchitra Talks, Raina revealed that before the controversy, he was actively building what he envisioned as a creator-led OTT ecosystem. “I had planned a lot of shows. I was on my way to making an OTT platform of crazy content. I had even built an app, and I had started YouTube memberships. I had gained a huge number of members, and even YouTube was surprised. They had no idea a creator would monetise memberships like this. I was like, I can now make an OTT,” he said.

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At that point, things were moving quickly. The audience was growing, the system was working, and Raina was ready to scale. “I hired five people to create shows. I had started calling everyone — you make this show, you make that show, make a poetry show, make a rap show — I will fund it, it will go on my YouTube members-only. My YouTube membership would become like an OTT. I will make an app — if you have YouTube membership, you click on that app, and now you are on my OTT platform.”

Samay On Developing Content

He then described the kind of content he was developing — unconventional, chaotic, and designed to go viral. “I was going to make very funny shows on it. Like, I wanted to do a show with Puneet Superstar — ‘Decoded with Puneet Superstar’. Puneet Superstar would be with four people, and in every episode, four people would come and teach him something. Like in the first episode, LGBTQ people would come and teach him about the importance and the movement.”

Samay added,“Puneet Superstar would listen to everything, and then he would have to give a speech in a 500-seater about what he learned about LGBTQ. So Puneet Superstar decodes.”

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Another concept leaned heavily into real-life chaos. “Another was ‘Deepak Kalaal ka Insaaf’. Deepak Kalaal and I would sit on a panel, and real property dispute cases would come in. I had even spoken to a lawyer. Whatever crazy cases you have, give them my number, tell them to call me. I will pitch them this idea, we will pay them well. And we will bring out their real conflicts and solve them together. A viral show.”

Content creators Deepak Kalaal and Puneet Superstar are known for their eccentric, often cringe-style content.

Samay’s OTT Ideas

But just as these ideas were taking shape, the controversy struck, and everything paused. “I had 8–10 ideas like this, and then this happened. It took away my motivation at that time. I want to do something for them (members) sooner or later because they really supported me.” Raina said he coped during the controversy by quietly turning to his most loyal audience.

The comedian continued, “During the controversy, I didn’t post anything — I would just drop a heart on members-only. My mental state was very bad at that time. I just wanted something positive. I would post a heart just to read the comments, and people would give me love.”

That small gesture became a lifeline. “I used to feel that there is love for me, because in your weakest moment, you just need some hope that everything is not lost, that people are there for you. Whenever I felt low, I would drop a heart so people would comment. And I could read them and feel better.”

He also teased the upcoming second season of India’s Got Latent.

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Also Read: Samay Raina Calls Sunil Pal ‘Frustated Man’ Without Mental Peace Over IGL Controversy; Questions, “Did Kapil Sharma Say Anything Against Us?”

Akankshya Mukherjee

Akankshya Mukherjee is a dynamic and ambitious individual poised to make waves in the realm of Media and Communication. With a passion for creativity and a drive to contribute to forward-thinking organizations, Akankshya embodies adaptability and a hunger for learning. Having already garnered experience through involvement in various organizations, she has honed the skill of quickly adapting to new environments and challenges. She sees each opportunity as a chance for personal and professional growth, eagerly embracing roles in communications and content writing.