Cinema VinesOn a recent episode of “India’s Got Latent” Season 2, comedian Samay Raina’s playful exchange with former Season 1 contestant Sharon Verma sparked a wave of dating rumors on social media. The banter, which included jokes about each other’s regional roots—Raina teasing Verma’s Bihari background while she counter‑ed with remarks about his Kashmiri heritage—was accompanied by eye contact that fans interpreted as flirtation. The couple’s on‑screen chemistry quickly turned into a series of romantic edits shared across Instagram, prompting speculation about a budding romance.
In response, Raina took to Instagram on Wednesday to clear the air. During an AMA session, he encouraged fans to submit “genuine questions only.” When a follower asked whether he was dating Verma, Raina replied, “No brother, just internet doing its thing.” The comedian made it clear that the two are not in a relationship and that the hype is merely online speculation.
Raina’s remarks have not escaped political scrutiny. BJP MLA Ram Kadam from Maharashtra criticized the comedian for what he called “ridiculous remarks” about Kashmiri Pandits, arguing that such comments should not be treated as harmless jokes. Kadam stated, “There are certain forces in society that deliberately make controversial statements simply to gain publicity. Their sole objective is to become famous.” He further warned that such provocations can be offensive and that apologies are insufficient once the publicity has been achieved.
Raina has faced dating rumors with other personalities as well. He has been linked to Bollywood actor Medha Shankar, whom he referred to as his “sabse acchi dost” during a panel episode featuring Varun Dhawan. His perceived leniency towards Shankar during the roast fueled additional speculation about a possible relationship.
The comedian’s show, “India’s Got Latent,” has a history of controversy. Season 1 was marred by remarks from Ranveer Allahbadia about parents and sex, leading to FIRs against him, Raina, and the program. After the fallout, Raina removed all Season 1 episodes from YouTube. Despite criticism that Season 2 is more polished and less raw, the new season has drawn large audiences, with one episode reportedly amassing over 4 crore views within 24 hours.
