iWorld
‘Rangbaaz’ writer Siddharth Mishra to discuss writing for web at Vidnet Masterclass
MUMBAI: Rangbaaz writer Siddharth Mishra will be a part of the exclusive lineup of celebrated writers at the Indiantelevision.com’s Vidnet Masterclasses, being hosted at The Westin, Mumbai, on 4 October. The talented writer will be discussing with the audience how to write the perfect narrative for a successful web series.
An engineer-turned-advertising professional-turned-radio jockey-turned-writer, Siddharth Mishra has dabbled in almost all forms of storytelling in different fields and in different formats. While continuing with his popular radio show on Big FM, he developed a concept which turned into one of the flagship and most talked about shows of Zee 5, Rangbaaz.
Immediately after that, he wrote 377 – Ab Normal, a film on the struggle of 4 persons who created history by compelling the judiciary to do away with the draconian law against the LGBTQ community.
Now, a full-fledged writer, he is writing three web series for different OTT platforms, including the second season of Rangbaaz and a period drama based on the early years of Hindi films and the studio system. He is also working on a film, a political thriller, set against the backdrop of Naxalism in the eastern part of the country.
Other speakers at the Masterclasses include Raghav Subbu, Dhruv Sehgal, Puneet Krishna, and Siddharth Mishra.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
