By RUBY ZAIDI
The panelists of the widely discussed and controversial YouTube show India’s Got Latent—Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahbadia, Apoorva Mukhija, Jaspreet Singh, and Ashish Chanchlani—were summoned by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell on Tuesday.
The five were called in to record their statements in connection with the ongoing inquiry into allegations concerning the use of obscene language and inappropriate remarks on the show.
The investigation marks the latest chapter in the evolving saga of India’s Got Latent, a digital talent show that captured both the imagination of its audience and the scrutiny of critics.
The program, hosted on Samay Raina’s YouTube channel, sparked intense debate online following the airing of certain episodes that some viewers and regulators flagged for their controversial content.
Despite the legal and ethical concerns being raised, India’s Got Latent managed to achieve extraordinary success in the digital entertainment space.
The show racked up over 200 million views on YouTube, cementing its position as one of the most-watched and highest-earning Indian YouTube productions to date.
Financial reports suggest that the show earned approximately ₹45.5 lakh per episode, thanks to both its immense popularity and a series of lucrative brand partnerships.
India’s Got Talent stood out from the typical online content landscape with its creative approach to the classic talent show format. Unlike traditional talent-based competitions, the show implemented a distinctive scoring mechanism that allowed a broad range of performers — from dancers and comedians to coders and other creative individuals — to showcase their unique skill sets.
Interestingly, the origins of the show’s quirky title lie in an unscripted moment. During a lighthearted reaction video on comedian Tanmay Bhat’s YouTube channel, fellow comic Rohan Joshi humorously coined the phrase “India’s Got Latent” as a playful twist on the globally recognized Got Talent franchise.
The name stuck, eventually becoming the official title of the viral series.
In addition to its massive viewership and creative acclaim, the show attracted a host of brand sponsorships. High-profile companies such as Spinny, Veeba, and the apparel startup Vastrado partnered with India’s Got Latent, leveraging its wide digital reach and engaged audience base.
These partnerships played a significant role in boosting the show’s commercial success.
Beyond the show itself, host and comedian Samay Raina also signed multiple endorsement deals on a personal level.
According to reports from Exchange4media, Raina collaborated with several prominent brands including Sony TV, KFC, Amazon Prime Video, and educational platform Unacademy, further underlining the influence and commercial appeal of both his personal brand and the show.
Nevertheless, the show’s success has not been without complications.
Apart from the ongoing cyber cell investigation over alleged offensive remarks, India’s Got Talent has also faced backlash on social media over accusations of content plagiarism and debates around the ethical boundaries of comedy and entertainment.
These controversies have fueled widespread public discussion about the responsibility of content creators in the digital age.
As the legal proceedings unfold and the show’s creators prepare to respond to the allegations, the future of India’s Got Talent remains uncertain.
Whether the show will emerge unscathed from the controversy or see its fortunes change remains to be seen, but for now, it continues to stand as one of the most significant success stories — and cautionary tales — in India’s booming online content landscape.