How Samay Raina went from checkmating the internet to winning hearts with empathy-fueled comedy

From roasts that went viral to introspective comedy, Samay Raina's journey has turned a full circle. From being all about his in-your-face punchlines and anarchic humor, the 27-year-old standup comedian is now re-scripting his story not with cacophony, but with sensitivity.

Samay's ascent kicked off in style when he took home Comicstaan Season 2 in 2019. His sarcasm and observational humor appealed to a generation looking for down-to-earth laughter. But it was during the pandemic that he actually made a niche for himself, mixing stand-up with chess streaming. His co-endeavors with grandmasters, comedians, and YouTubers on his channel brought chess into India's entertainment mainstream.

But fame, much like humour, is ephemeral. In 2024, Samay started India's Got Latent, a roast-themed talent show on YouTube. It was new, provocative, and extremely popular until it was not. The show was removed suddenly after a joke sparked an uproar and a lawsuit. The episode escalated a national debate about the boundaries of humor and drew Samay into a storm he had not fully expected.

That was followed by a period of silence and reflection.
And then came a softer transition. On social media, Samay wasn't merely cracking jokes any longer; he was opening up. He talked about anxiety, online hatred, and the burden of having to be funny all the time. He referred to it as his "testing time," but fans noticed something different, honesty. He wasn't the guy who cracked them up any longer; he was the guy who got them.

In May 2025, Samay launched his return tour: Still Alive and Unfiltered. Within hours, cities sold out of tickets. But it wasn't so much the demand that was notable, it was the attitude. The performance promised not only laughter, but stories, openness, and connection. "I'm still the same guy," he said, "just a little more aware of the world I live in."

Samay's humor now is softer, but it is more pointed. He no longer pursues shock; he embraces empathy. His audiences are growing up with him and maybe, yearning for a new type of comedy in an overwhelming digital age.

From pursuing obscenity to opting for vulnerability, Samay Raina is showing that change, too, can be amusing. And this time, the laughter is sticking.