Summary
- Alia Bhatt is being praised online for her reaction during the season two premiere of India’s Got Latent, after she chose not to laugh at a joke many viewers found deeply distasteful.
- The joke drew laughter from Raina and the rest of the panel, but Bhatt remained visibly silent and did not laugh along.
- A number of comments specifically credited Bhatt for what they saw as a small but telling gesture, with one viewer writing that her refusal to laugh showed more integrity than the rest of the panel combined.
Alia Bhatt is being praised online for her reaction during the season two premiere of India’s Got Latent, after she chose not to laugh at a joke many viewers found deeply distasteful.
The show, hosted by Samay Raina, returned to Netflix and YouTube on Friday, June 20, with Bhatt appearing on the panel alongside her Alpha co-star Sharvari Wagh, stand up comedian Ashish Solanki and Balraj Ghai. Bhatt and Wagh are currently promoting their upcoming film Alpha, set for release on July 3, and used the appearance as part of their promotional run.
During the episode, comedian Avinash Agarwal performed an impersonation of US President Donald Trump and delivered a series of pointed jokes aimed at the panel. At one point, after Raina asked for oil as part of a bit, Agarwal referenced Jeffrey Epstein’s Little St James Island, saying that anyone wanting oil should come to the island because there was plenty there.
The joke drew laughter from Raina and the rest of the panel, but Bhatt remained visibly silent and did not laugh along. Her reaction quickly became the most talked about moment of the episode, with viewers praising her for not engaging with a joke referencing a place widely associated with serious crimes involving exploitation and abuse.
Reactions online were strong. Several viewers criticised the rest of the panel for laughing, with one commenting that the joke trivialised the cruelty inflicted on children and women linked to the island. Another wrote that jokes about Epstein Island would never be funny. A number of comments specifically credited Bhatt for what they saw as a small but telling gesture, with one viewer writing that her refusal to laugh showed more integrity than the rest of the panel combined.
This is not the first time Raina’s show has generated controversy. Its previous season was banned last year following backlash over controversial skits, which led to serious legal trouble for the host. Season two, which premiered with a mix of unscripted banter, emotional moments and surprise giveaways for contestants, marks his return to the format after a year away.
Beyond the controversy, the episode also gave Bhatt and Wagh a platform to promote Alpha, which also stars Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and is directed by Shiv Rawail. Bhatt used part of her appearance to interview India’s fastest athlete, Gurindervir Singh, as part of the film’s promotional rollout. Hrithik Roshan is also expected to make a surprise appearance in the film.
