Stand-up comedian Pranit More has announced his return to live comedy with a new special titled Ghayal, nearly two months after pausing performances following the viral Rs 370 biryani controversy. Sharing the announcement on Instagram, More described the show as a reflection on his personal journey through the backlash. The comeback has drawn comparisons on social media with comedian Samay Raina’s return after the India’s Got Latent controversy, though neither comedian has commented on the parallels.
Pranit More Announces Stand-Up Comedy Comeback With ‘Ghayal’ After Rs 370 Biryani Controversy
Stand-up comedian Pranit More is all set to make a comeback with a new comedy special, Ghayal, almost two months after he quit live shows post the viral Rs 370 biryani controversy, which drew flak from all sides.
After the viral Rs 370 biryani controversy, which was widely condemned, stand-up comedian Pranit More is back on stage after a short break from live shows.
The news was shared on Instagram, with Pranit sharing the poster of Ghayal, along with a note on the controversy. His first show with the new special will be in Mumbai.
In the comedian’s post, he says Ghayal touches upon his own journey post the backlash. I can’t change what happened, but I can choose who I became because of it, he said, calling the show the story of that change.
Pranit More's Ghayal announcement draws comparisons with Samay Raina
Soon after the announcement, social media users compared Pranit More's comeback strategy with comedian Samay Raina, who had previously returned to stand-up after facing controversy surrounding India's Got Latent and his special, Still Alive.
Samay Raina returned to the stage after a break of several months from comedy following a controversy over comments made by Ranveer Allahbadia in an episode of India’s Got Latent. The incident caused a huge public stir and legal examination.
Controversy over the show led to First Information Reports (FIRs) being filed against Samay Raina, Ranveer Allahbadia and others associated with the episode. Samay then went on to perform Still Alive and then announced India’s Got Latent Season 2.
Several users noted the comparable messages in both comeback specials, but neither Pranit More nor Samay Raina responded to the comparisons on social media.
As observed by Sprouts News, the discussions highlight how comedians increasingly address public controversies directly through their performances, using stand-up as a platform for reflection and audience engagement.
Also Read: Maharashtra Bans 114 Publications Allegedly Linked to Terror Groups.
How the Rs 370 biryani controversy unfolded
The Pranit More controversy started with a part of crowd work in one of his live shows, where audience member Himanshu Jangra made comments that went viral on social media as a viral video clip.
“I had spent Rs 370 on chicken biryani on a date and was expecting to ‘recover’ that amount once the woman asked me to drop her home,” Himanshu Jangra said on the interaction.
Pranit More, too, joined the audience in a laugh and called it “peak Gurgaon content”. The clip was posted online, and the reaction was also condemned.
The incident has since ignited a massive public debate on misogyny, consent and the responsibility of comedians regarding spontaneous crowd work in live stand-up shows, with many questioning if such comments should have been challenged at the time.
After the backlash, Pranit More issued a public apology saying he should not have laughed or encouraged the remarks of the audience member. He later withdrew from performing as he struggled with the criticism.
Official action and what comes next
The controversy also provoked official intervention. Maharashtra Cyber Police registered an FIR in this connection on the alleged misogynistic comments made during the interaction while the National Commission for Women (NCW) took suo motu cognizance of the matter.
The developments took the incident beyond the realm of online criticism and into larger conversations around accountability, gender sensitivity and the limits of humor in India’s stand-up comedy industry.
With Ghayal all set to go on the floors in Mumbai, it’s a big moment for Pranit More’s career as he makes a comeback. Whether audiences will take to the new chapter remains to be seen, but the comedian’s return is sure to continue to be closely watched as performances kick off in the coming weeks. Sprouts News will continue to follow the story, and more reactions and developments may follow.
