Actor Mukesh Khanna has defended his decision to appear alongside comedian Samay Raina in a mobile phone advertisement, saying the commercial should not be interpreted as an endorsement of Raina or his show India’s Got Latent. Khanna faced criticism after the advertisement surfaced because he had previously spoken against the comedian’s content. Addressing the backlash, the actor maintained that his appearance in the commercial had not changed his position on the show or its content.

Speaking on a podcast hosted by Subhojit Ghosh, Khanna said the project was strictly a commercial campaign and not a collaboration with Raina or India’s Got Latent. He said the brand had spent nearly 10 days persuading him to participate in the advertisement. Khanna questioned why his appearance in a commercial should be viewed as a reversal of his earlier criticism, stressing that he had neither praised Raina nor appeared on his show.

Khanna also rejected suggestions that he had compromised his position for commercial reasons. Responding to people who accused him of having “sold out”, the actor said that if he had actually been influenced to change his views, his conduct would have been different. He pointed out that he had previously maintained his criticism of Raina’s show and had not participated in it. Khanna also recalled that he had criticised the Supreme Court over its decision concerning FIRs connected with Raina.

Also Read: Mukesh Khanna Reveals Why He Rejected Ranveer Singh For Shaktimaan Role Despite Crores

At the same time, Khanna distinguished between his personal interaction with Raina and his opinion about the comedian’s work. Describing Raina as an “enterprising” person, he said he found him pleasant during their interaction and noted that the comedian had told him several jokes. Khanna’s comments suggested that while he could interact cordially with Raina in a professional setting, that did not amount to an endorsement of the comedian’s content or represent a change in his earlier views about the show.

India’s Got Latent returned for its second season after facing significant controversy in 2025. Raina had removed the original episodes of the first season from his platforms following legal scrutiny surrounding remarks made by podcaster Ranveer Allahbadia during an episode of the show. The controversy brought widespread attention to the programme and its participants, while also triggering debates over the limits of online comedy and content.

With the advertisement bringing Khanna and Raina together on screen, the actor’s clarification has sought to separate the commercial appearance from his longstanding criticism of the show. Khanna has maintained that participating in a brand campaign does not require him to abandon his personal views. His latest comments therefore frame the advertisement as a professional engagement rather than a public reconciliation or endorsement of India’s Got Latent.

Also Read: 'Raaz' Fame Malini Sharma Stunned By Fan Calls After Farmstay Video Goes Viral