Comedian Pranit More is preparing for his return to the live stage following a self-imposed hiatus triggered by an intense online fallout earlier this year. After facing widespread backlash over the infamous ₹370 biryani controversy in June, the stand-up artist has officially announced his new solo special titled 'Ghayal'. While the announcement has brought excitement to his dedicated audience, it has simultaneously reignited debate on social media, with critics pointing out striking similarities between his comeback strategy and that of fellow comedian Samay Raina.
Poster Reveal and Tour Commencement
Pranit More announced his return by releasing the official promotional poster for 'Ghayal' on his Instagram account. Accompanied by a reflective note, More acknowledged that while he cannot alter past occurrences, he retains control over how those experiences shape his character going forward. He described 'Ghayal' as an artistic exploration of that personal journey, revealing that the live performance tour will officially launch in Mumbai. The post immediately drew massive engagement across various social media platforms.
Parallel Draws to Samay Raina and Online Criticism
Following the reveal, online opinion quickly polarized into two distinct camps. A significant section of social media users began comparing More's return to the comeback trajectory of comedian Samay Raina. Back in February 2025, Raina found himself at the center of a major national controversy when YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia made a contentious comment on his show 'India's Got Latent'. That incident led to formal police complaints, prompting Raina to pull down all published episodes of the show. Raina subsequently orchestrated his comeback through a stand-up special titled 'Still Alive' before launching the second season of his original show.
Detractors have accused More of adopting a similar template to navigate his own controversy. One social media critic commented, "You are not Samay Raina, stop trying to copy him." Other users questioned the trend of public figures creating controversies only to launch comeback shows with expectations of immediate forgiveness. Conversely, several commentators defended More, arguing that the context surrounding Raina's situation was fundamentally different from More's circumstance.
Supporters Welcome the Comeback
Despite the wave of criticism, loyal fans expressed enthusiasm over More's return to the stand-up comedy circuit. Comment sections under his announcement were filled with supportive messages from viewers eager to see him back on stage. One enthusiastic fan commented, "Missed you so much bhau, so happy to see you back after so long." Another follower reassured the comedian, stating that his audience remains firmly behind him as he steps back into the spotlight.
Origins of the ₹370 Biryani Controversy
The controversy stems from an incident during a live show in Gurgaon this past June. During a crowd-work segment, an audience member named Himanshu Jangra shared an anecdote about a date, revealing he had spent approximately ₹370 on chicken biryani for a woman. Jangra recounted that when she asked for a ride home, he felt entitled to 'recover' the financial cost of the meal. Rather than challenging the statement, More laughed along and labeled the exchange as "peak Gurgaon content."
Once footage of the interaction circulated online, it provoked intense outrage over issues of personal consent and women's safety. As public pressure mounted, More issued a formal apology, admitting that he should have called out the audience member's behavior instead of reacting with laughter. The National Commission for Women (NCW) subsequently intervened in the matter, leading to police complaints registered by both the Gurgaon Police and the Maharashtra Cyber Police.
