Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna is facing intense online criticism after starring in a mobile phone advertisement with comedian Samay Raina. Netizens have labeled the Shaktimaan star hypocritical, pointing out that he had recently insulted Raina publicly and demanded severe social punishment for his comedy style.
NEW DELHI — Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna has found himself at the center of a severe social media backlash following the release of a new promotional advertisement on June 21, 2026. The commercial features the Shaktimaan star sharing screen space with stand-up comedian Samay Raina. The unexpected professional pairing has stunned digital audiences, coming just months after Khanna launched multiple scathing public attacks against the internet personality, demanding he be publicly humiliated for his comedic style.
The visual collaboration has quickly gone viral across Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), triggering a wave of trolling aimed at the 67-year-old actor. Netizens have pointed out the stark contradiction between Khanna’s highly publicized moral stances on cultural values and his willingness to participate in a commercial brand deal alongside his foremost digital adversary.
From Public Feud to a Viral Brand Deal
The promotional video, shared directly on Samay Raina’s social media channels, opens with the comedian discussing the return of his highly debated reality series India's Got Latent. Moments later, Mukesh Khanna makes a dramatic entry wearing his iconic red-and-gold Shaktimaan costume. In a direct nod to their real-life friction, Khanna delivers the line, "I am here to put you in line, Samay Raina," before referencing the multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) and controversies that have shadowed the comedian's career.
The scripted exchange proceeds to mock the generational divide between the two performers, with Khanna criticizing Raina’s "American-style" jokes before transitioning into a coordinated pitch for a new mobile phone. The sketch concludes on a lighthearted note as the two share a laugh, but the commercial nature of the video has failed to amuse the actor’s traditional baseline of fans.
Context Behind the 'Kutte Ki Dum' Fallout
The intense public animosity between the two public figures ignited in April 2026, when Samay Raina addressed the societal backlash toward his comedy in his stand-up special, Still Alive. During the routine, Raina took several direct swings at Khanna's historical television character, questioning the moral high ground of an older generation whose media properties occasionally depicted dangerous behavior, such as children jumping off buildings attempting to mimic Shaktimaan.
Khanna retaliated with extreme hostility online, uploading a heavily edited graphic depicting the comedian on a donkey with his face blackened. In the accompanying statement, Khanna referred to Raina as a "roasted creature" and "kutte ki dum" (a dog's tail that can never be straightened), stating:
"The only way now is to blacken his face, make him sit on a donkey, and parade him across cities, where kids would throw tomatoes and eggs at him because he's insulted their superhero Shaktimaan."
Khanna subsequently gave multiple television interviews doubling down on his stance, asserting that modern stand-up acts were "corrupting the youth brigade" and that regulators should halt the premiere of India's Got Latent Season 2.
Impact on Audience Perception and Content Creators
The rapid pivot from aggressive moral outrage to commercial partnership has drawn criticism from audiences, brand strategists, and digital media commentators:
For General Audiences: The incident has led to disillusionment among older viewers who supported Khanna's cultural critique, with many expressing that the actor's stated principles appeared negotiable for financial compensation.
For Digital Consumers: Gen-Z and millennial users have weaponized the advertisement as proof of legacy stars engineering fake moral controversies purely to manufacture algorithmic relevance and secure lucrative brand campaigns.
For Corporate Advertisers: The incident showcases a growing commercial trend where marketing agencies actively leverage real-world public disputes and negative PR to craft highly engaging, viral promotional material.
Official Sources Section
The timeline of the dispute, specific quotes, and visual details from the commercial are sourced from the verified broadcast assets uploaded to Samay Raina’s official Instagram profile and Mukesh Khanna's public microblogging accounts. Additional contextual statements regarding television broadcasting ethics and season renewals were cross-referenced with archived media interactions published by the Hindustan Times and Zoom.
Public Reactions
Social media platforms have been flooded with sharp sarcasm and memes tracking the collaboration.
"According to officials and public observers online, the situation has become a textbook case of hypocrisy," noted digital commentators. Across user forums, prominent comments include, "Shaktimaan bik gaya, paisa bolta hai" (Shaktimaan has sold out, money talks) and "Their values are strictly reserved for free advice, but capital will make them dance to any tune."
Why It Matters
The widespread backlash against Mukesh Khanna demonstrates the volatile nature of celebrity brand equity in an era dominated by instant digital accountability. When legacy actors establish themselves as rigid moral gatekeepers, their commercial choices are subjected to intense scrutiny. By immediately monetizing a feud with a creator he publicly labeled a threat to societal values, Khanna has diluted his long-standing reputation for integrity. For the wider entertainment industry, this scenario highlights how internet subcultures can co-opt legacy mainstream media symbols, transforming intense institutional criticism into highly profitable, viral marketing assets.
Key Facts at a Glance
The Partnership: Actor Mukesh Khanna appeared in full Shaktimaan attire inside a promotional commercial alongside digital comedian Samay Raina.
The Irony: The commercial debuted just weeks after Khanna publicly called Raina "kutte ki dum" and demanded he be publicly paraded on a donkey for insulting his television legacy.
The Narrative Pivot: The script of the mobile phone advertisement directly self-references the duo's real-life public feud and legal controversies for comedic effect.
Public Backlash: Social media networks have widely panned Khanna, labeling the veteran performer hypocritical for prioritizing corporate revenue over his stated cultural principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What initiated the initial dispute between Mukesh Khanna and Samay Raina?
The conflict began in April 2026 when Samay Raina performed a stand-up routine mocking the cultural impact of Shaktimaan, accusing the show of influencing children to perform dangerous roof-jumping stunts. Khanna responded with public posts demanding severe social punishment for the comedian.
What happens during their joint advertisement?
The video features Khanna arriving in costume on a rooftop to playfully confront Raina about his controversial comedic style and past FIRs. The confrontation is then revealed to be a structured skit designed to advertise a new smartphone.
Has Samay Raina collaborated with other vocal critics in the past?
Yes. Prior to this commercial with Mukesh Khanna, Samay Raina successfully orchestrated a similar marketing campaign and television appearance with veteran comedian Sunil Pal, who had also spent months heavily criticizing contemporary digital comedians.
Source: Samay Raina Official Instagram Portfolio, Mukesh Khanna Verified X Feed, Hindustan Times Entertainment Desk
