Manoj Bajpayee on Samay Raina immigrant jokes row: 'Learn to laugh at ourselves'
Synopsis
Manoj Bajpayee's response to the 'India's Got Latent' row is worth more than most takes — because it comes with a story. The Bihar-born actor recalls being called out by a Delhi bus driver at 18, and turns it into a case for why laughter across regional lines, when rooted in respect, is a mark of a healthy society, not a slur.
Key Takeaways
Manoj Bajpayee reacted to the controversy over regional and immigrant jokes on comedian Samay Raina 's show 'India's Got Latent' .
Bajpayee said humour between people is healthy as long as it is rooted in mutual respect and genuine ease with each other.
He recalled a personal incident at age 18 in New Delhi , where a bus driver called him out as 'Bihari' — and said he did not take offence.
The actor drew a clear line: banter is fine, but humour that makes a community feel unwelcome crosses into a problem.
The remarks were made during promotions of his upcoming film 'Last Man in Tower' .
Actor Manoj Bajpayee has weighed in on the controversy surrounding comedian Samay Raina's show 'India's Got Latent', where jokes about immigrants and regional identities sparked a public debate. Speaking during promotions of his upcoming film 'Last Man in Tower', Bajpayee offered a nuanced take — one rooted in personal experience rather than outrage.
What Bajpayee Said
'If it is all in jest, I actually don't mind it,' the actor said. 'We should learn to laugh at ourselves and laugh together, laugh at each other and still not be hurt and offended. So, this is what we should learn. We should have humor about ourselves but at the same time we should have respect, not only for ourselves but also for the person that you are sitting with and where that person comes from. It's very very important. If two people are very easy with each other, they always laugh at each other.'
Bajpayee was responding specifically to an episode on Raina's show where Raina and contestant Sharon Verma engaged in a light-hearted exchange mocking each other's regional roots — a segment that drew both laughter and criticism online.
Bajpayee's Personal Story: The Delhi Bus Incident
To illustrate his point, Bajpayee recalled an experience from his early days in New Delhi at the age of 18. 'I was trying to get into a bus from the front door because this was my first time. So, I didn't know the rules of the city. So, the driver looked at me, and shouted, 'Aye Bihari board from the back gate',' he recounted.
'So, he didn't know that I was from Bihar but actually I'm from Bihar. So, for him, every person who was doing that kind of a foolish mistake was from Bihar. I didn't mind it because first, he was right that I was from Bihar. Second, I was not wrong because I was new to the city and I was completely unfamiliar. But when I made friends with people from different states, we used to laugh at each other,' he added.
Where Bajpayee Draws the Line
The actor was careful to distinguish between harmless banter and genuinely harmful prejudice. 'We never got offended or hurt. But yes, there is a problem if somebody coming from somewhere becomes a problem for you or becomes a problem for the community. Then there is a problem,' he said.
'Till then, we should be able to laugh at each other, laugh at ourselves. That's a sign of a very healthy society,' Bajpayee concluded. His remarks position humour as a social bonding tool — but one that requires mutual respect as its foundation.
The Samay Raina Controversy in Context
The debate around 'India's Got Latent' reflects a broader national conversation about the boundaries of comedy, particularly when it touches on regional identity and migration. Critics argue that jokes about immigrants — even when framed as banter — can reinforce stereotypes, while defenders of the show maintain that self-deprecating humour is a sign of cultural confidence. This is not the first time Raina's show has found itself at the centre of a controversy over the limits of stand-up comedy in India.
Bajpayee's intervention, grounded in lived experience as a Bihar-born actor who navigated the complexities of migrant life in Delhi, adds a credible, first-person dimension to the debate that goes beyond the usual social media noise.
Point of View
He earned the right to say 'I didn't mind it.' The harder question the controversy raises is whether that generosity of spirit is equally available to those with less cultural capital or public standing. Comedy that punches laterally — between peers who are genuinely comfortable with each other — is very different from comedy that flows downward onto communities already navigating hostility. The 'India's Got Latent' row is a useful stress test for where Indian stand-up draws that line.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Manoj Bajpayee say about the Samay Raina immigrant jokes controversy?
Bajpayee said that if the humour is in jest and rooted in mutual respect, he does not mind it. He argued that the ability to laugh at oneself and at each other — without hurt or offence — is a sign of a healthy society, but drew the line at humour that makes a community feel unwelcome.
What happened on Samay Raina's 'India's Got Latent' that caused the controversy?
Comedian Samay Raina and contestant Sharon Verma engaged in a banter where they mocked each other's regional roots. The segment drew criticism from those who felt such jokes could reinforce stereotypes about immigrants and regional communities.
What personal story did Manoj Bajpayee share about regional bias?
Bajpayee recalled that at age 18, during his early days in New Delhi, a bus driver shouted 'Aye Bihari board from the back gate' at him for entering from the wrong door. He said he did not take offence because he was, in fact, from Bihar and was genuinely unfamiliar with the city's rules.
Where did Manoj Bajpayee make these remarks?
He made these remarks during the promotional activities for his upcoming film 'Last Man in Tower', speaking to reporters in Mumbai on 30 August.
What is the broader debate around 'India's Got Latent'?
The show has sparked a wider conversation about the boundaries of comedy in India, particularly around regional identity and migration. Critics argue that jokes about immigrants can reinforce harmful stereotypes, while supporters maintain that self-deprecating, consensual humour reflects cultural confidence.
