No, India’s Got Latent Season 2 Is Not Releasing On May 9

After months of speculation and silence following the India’s Got Latent controversy, comedian and content creator Samay Raina is now making headlines for his comeback with his latest stand-up, Still Alive. But if that wasn’t enough, Raina’s friend and founder of The Habitat, Balraj Ghai, went viral for allegedly claiming that the controversial comedy show will return on May 9 this year.

In a clip that has since gone viral, Ghai appeared to hint that Season 2 could drop on May 9. Speaking in what seemed to be a podcast appearance, he said, “Honestly speaking, I am so grateful right now. I am so happy that everything is falling back into place. Sab sahi ja raha hai, finally. And ab bas main May 9 ke liye ruka hun, second season drop hoga aur phir uske baad duniya bhaai jo…”

The clip quickly went viral across social media platforms, with fans treating it as an accidental reveal ahead of an official announcement.

Except that none of this was true in the first place. Yes, an India’s Got Latent season 2 is in the works, with auditions and audience registrations already in the works, but Balraj Ghai’s viral video was a hoax.

Hours after the video made headlines, Ghai took to his Instagram stories to reveal that the video was planted as part of a brand deal to promote a sale on an e-commerce platform, which is supposed to begin on May 9. 

The clarification immediately divided social media users, with some calling the campaign clever marketing while others criticised it for intentionally misleading fans who had been waiting for updates on the show’s return ever since the controversy forced it offline. Since India’s Got Latent was removed from YouTube earlier this year, every small hint surrounding the show has managed to trigger massive online discussion, which explains why the clip spread as quickly as it did.

The controversy surrounding the show earlier this year had brought intense scrutiny on Samay Raina and several creators associated with the series after guest panellist Ranveer Allahbadia made an offensive remark during an episode. The backlash led to multiple FIRs, widespread online outrage, and the eventual removal of all episodes from Samay’s YouTube channel. Fellow creators including Ranveer Allahbadia, Ashish Chanchlani, and Apoorva Mukhija also faced criticism online, with Apoorva later revealing that she had received death threats during the fallout.

Since then, Samay has largely stayed away from the noise surrounding the show and shifted focus back to stand-up. His recent comedy special, Still Alive, marked his return to the public spotlight and was widely viewed as his first major step back after months of controversy. Now, with India’s Got Latent seemingly preparing for a second season, the attention around the comedian appears to have fully returned.