Mumbai’s Habitat studio is a location where many stand-up comics choose to perform their sets. After the recent Kunal Kamra and India’s Got Latent controversies the studio is shutting down indefinitely. It announced its decision after Shiv Sena workers decided to vandalize the premises after Kunal Kamra’s stand-up video targeting Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena, and NCP went viral.
The studio via its official Instagram handle, The Habitat said that they have decided to shut down the place till they find the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting their property in jeopardy.
The Instagram post read, “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 about how we get blamed and targeted every time almost like we are a proxy for the performer.”
The studio further said, "We are shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy. We invite all artists, audience, and stakeholders to discuss and share their views freely and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers' rights."
Earlier the studios via social media said that it was not associated with the making of Kunal Kamra’s video and it does not endorse the views expressed over the video. The post read, "We extend a sincere and heartfelt apology to all those hurt by this video."
They issued this apology after a group of Shiv Sena workers vandalized the property.
Kunal Kamra, who is well-known for being vocal about his political beliefs and comedic performances, made fun of Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde by parodying the hit song "Bholi Si Surat," which is taken from the 1997 hit film Dil To Pagal Hai. When the Shiv Sena leader organised an uprising against Uddhav Thackeray in 2022, he used the 'gaddar' (traitor) jibe to fracture the party and overthrow his government. The comedy has been the subject of several FIRs, one of which was prompted by a complaint made by Minister Pratap Sarnaik.