Mumbai: Habitat Studio, the well-known venue for stand-up comedy shows, on Monday, has decided to shut down following vandalism by Shiv Sena workers. The attack was reportedly in protest against comedian Kunal Kamra’s jokes targeting party leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
In a statement posted on its official Instagram handle, Habitat Studio announced that it would remain closed "till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy."
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Expressing shock and distress over the incident, the studio stated, "We are shocked, worried, and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us. Artists are solely responsible for their views and creative choices. We have never been involved in the content performed by any artist, but the recent events have made us rethink how we get blamed and targeted every time, almost like we are a proxy for the performer."
Studio distances itself from Kamra’s content
Before the vandalism, the studio had clarified on social media that it was not involved in the making of Kunal Kamra’s latest video and did not endorse the views expressed in it. It had also issued an apology, stating, "We extend a sincere and heartfelt apology to all those hurt by this video."
The attack on the venue followed a protest by a group of Shiv Sena workers who stormed the premises in Khar and damaged property. Their actions were reportedly in response to Kamra’s remarks against Eknath Shinde.
Kunal Kamra’s controversial performance
The controversy erupted after a clip of Kamra’s performance criticising Shinde surfaced on social media. The video was shared on X by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who captioned it, "Kunal Ka Kamal."
During his show, Kamra mocked Shinde using a modified version of a popular Hindi song from the movie Dil To Pagal Hai, which elicited laughter from the audience.
Political reactions and complaints
Reacting to the controversy, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske accused Kamra of being a "hired comedian" who was making remarks against the party leader for money.
MLA Murji Patel also filed a complaint against Kamra at the MIDC police station, demanding strict action against him. Patel warned that he would raise the issue in the assembly and request the state home minister to take action if Kamra did not apologise within two days.
FIR filed against Shiv Sena leaders
Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against Shiv Sena Yuva Sena’s (Shinde faction) General Secretary Rahool Kanal and 19 others on Monday for allegedly vandalising the Habitat stand-up comedy venue in Mumbai.
Previous controversies
This is not the first time Habitat Studio has been in the news. Earlier, it was at the centre of controversy over the ‘India’s Got Latent’ episode featuring YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, which also sparked heated debates.
The studio further emphasised its commitment to free expression, stating, "We invite all artists, audiences, and stakeholders to discuss and share their views freely and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers' rights."
(Agency inputs)
Published: 24 Mar 2025, 10:12 am IST
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