Clips from Kamra's latest stand-up Naya Bharat, available on YouTube, have since gone viral across social media platforms.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Once again, a comedian’s statement have sparked a political slugfest. Kunal Kamra’s joke on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde during a stand-up show triggered party workers who went ahead to vandalise Habitat studio.
State Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanded Kamra to apologise. “There is the right to comedy, but if it is being done to defame our Dy CM Eknath Shinde purposely, it is not right,” he said, as quoted by ANI.
A video of Shiv Sena workers surfaced where they can be seen throwing chairs and breaking the lights in Habitat Studio, a famous venue for stand-up comedy shows in Mumbai.
Police have arrested 11 people in connection with the vandalism at the studio after registering a case against them.
Meanwhile the person who led the mob, identified as Shiv Sena Yuva Sena (Shinde faction) General Secretary Rahool Kanal, to vandalise Habitat Comedy Club went to the police station to file a complaint against Kamra.
Also Read | Studio Vandalised, Threats Follow As Kunal Kamra Drops New Video
Stand-up comedian and former AIB member Rohan Joshi pointed out that the road outside Habitat has been dug up since months but the vandalisers chose to be offended by a comedian’s joke instead of “the state of the city or the blatant corruption they passed by ON THEIR WAY to do this.”
Director, writer, lyricist, and comedian Varun Grover shared the video of party workers vandalising the premises and mockingly wrote, “Skill India. Make in India. Ease of doing business. Mother of Democracy.”
Daniel Fernandes, another comedian known for his smart political comedy, said, “Eknath Shinde making sure The Habitat looks like the rest of Mumbai is peak consistency!”
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“An actual place of employment being made to close operations because of the very real fear of unemployed goons,” observed comedian Raunaq Rajani on Habitat shutting down.
He also added, “It’s called the Streisand effect. Every time they try to silence someone, they just give them more eyeballs. They know this, yet they keep doing it. They’re only pumping up the volume on their critics. If whatever Kamra said is untrue then why did it bother them so much?” he asked in an Instagram story.
“How many shinde goons does it take to fix the roads? Asking for a friend,” posted comedian Siddharth Dudeja.
Writer Anurag Minus Verma posted, “The meaning of a proper standup comedy in India is when you won’t be able to stand up properly post comedy.”
Social activist and advocate Prashant Bhushan shared a clip of Kamra’s latest stand-up show and quoted, “Hum honge kangaal ek din! Mann mein andhvishwaas, haatho mein hathiyaar! Hum honge kangaal ek din (We will be poor one day! Superstition in the mind, weapons in the hands! We will be poor one day!)”
हम होंगे कंगाल एक दिन! मन में अन्धविश्वास, हाथो में हथियार! हम होंगे कंगाल एक दिन!#KunalKamra pic.twitter.com/6lgKMLmbC6
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) March 24, 2025
Expressing his solidarity with him, journalist and fact-checker Mohammed Zubair shared a photo of him with Kamra and wrote, “Kunal Kamra’s bold take on Tanashah and his chamchas needs guts. He released this video even after knowing what’s going to happen to him, specially after how Police, Politicians and Govts harassed several non-political comedians and Pro-Govt Podcaster.”
Kunal Kamra’s bold take on Tanashah and his chamchas needs guts. He released this video even after knowing what’s going to happen to him, specially after how Police, Politicians and Govts harassed several non-political comedians and Pro-Govt Podcaster. #IStandWithKunalKamra pic.twitter.com/hseE0lUWVF
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) March 24, 2025
Short clips from Kamra’s latest stand-up show Naya Bharat, available on YouTube, have since gone viral across social media platforms.
The Habitat’s Response
Mumbai’s Habitat released a statement expressing shock by the acts of vandalism against it. Distancing itself from Kamra’s remarks, it said, “We have never been involved in the content performed by any Artist, but the recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time almost like we are a proxy for the performer.”
Announcing its decision to shut down for now, it said, “We are shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and out property in jeopardy.”
“Violence and destruction undermine the very spirit of art and dialogue,” it added.
Meanwhile, several people criticised the studio for apologising instead of standing up for its artists.
