'Our Home, Our Family': Mumbai's Habitat Made Many Artists What They Are Today

For artists, Habitat's destruction stands for something deeper—it is not the destruction of a physical structure.

Habitat Studio, the beloved 'home' for poets, comedians, and filmmakers alike, was allegedly vandalised by a mob comprising Shiv Sena workers on Sunday, 23 March, over a video posted by comedian Kunal Kamra of a stand-up act shot there.

(Photo Courtesy: @indiehabitat/Instagram)

Shubham Shyam, a math teacher-turned-poet from Bihar, still remembers the day he performed at Habitat Studio for the very first time. He was 22 and had only recently moved to Mumbai.

"This was back in 2017. I got overwhelmed on stage and forgot my poem—but instead of heckling me or laughing at me, everyone present clapped, cheered, and hooted to calm my nervousness," Shyam tells The Quint.

This is the tradition at Habitat Studio—you cheer extra for the first timers, and you always encourage people when they falter.

Like Shyam, many emerging artists owed it to this popular performance studio in Mumbai for helping them 'start off'. And for old-timers like stand-up comedian Daniel Fernandes, Habitat Studio is like "our home... It's a place of worship."

This beloved 'home' for poets, comedians, and filmmakers alike was allegedly vandalised by a mob comprising Shiv Sena workers on Sunday, 23 March, over a video posted by comedian Kunal Kamra of a stand-up act shot there.

Following the mob attack—during which "the police remained mere bystanders" as per eyewitnesses—the venue was forced to temporarily shut down on Monday. Soon after, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), too, swung into action and demolished an "illegal" portion of the club.

For artists, the destruction of the studio stands for something deeper—it is not the destruction of a physical structure but of "a safe space for their art where they could not only grow as artists but also find their audience."

The Power of ‘H’

Like Shyam puts it, “The silver 'H' you see in the backdrop (the logo of Habitat Studio, making it easily recognisable in online videos) is the reason behind every successful independent artist.”

Habitat Studio aka The Habitat at Unicontinental Hotel in Mumbai's Khar West was founded by Balraj Singh Ghai in 2016 as ‘Tuning Fork’ because of a lack of spaces where indie artists could showcase their art.

In a conversation with Chalchitra Talks CEO Vaibhav Munjal, Ghai recalled, “When we started, there was one other club that used to exist, and during that time, there was a lot of demand for that club. There were a lot of people who used to go perform there, and they had that backdrop. People would think, 'If the video is coming from this venue, then it’ll be good'."

Like Shyam puts it, “The silver 'H' you see in the backdrop (the logo of Habitat Studio, making it easily recognisable in online videos) is the reason behind every successful independent artist.”

(Photo Courtesy: @indiehabitat/Instagram)

"During that time, we were just blessed to have the right technology, equipment, and people with us, and mainly the artists... What we wanted to achieve matched—I wanted to create a space where indie artists could come and perform.”

Balraj Singh Ghai to Vaibhav Munjal

Over the years, Habitat became a space for creative expression, discourse, and artistic development—making them "more than just a venue," according to filmmaker Kabeer Khurana.

"The demolition feels like an attack on independent voices, reflecting a broader pattern of suppression in India’s socio-political environment. It is not a blow to just artists, but to India’s cultural fabric at large," said Khurana, who is the founder of the Indie Film Circuit, a community of indie filmmaker.

Many of the artists who spoke to The Quint reiterates that the studio played a crucial role in their success as artists.

The studio was the place where Jaabir Ali, an Urdu shayar, performed his first open mic, his first act in a curated line-up, and even his first-ever public performance.

“Habitat is my family, my home—I've made friends from there which is rare in Mumbai. It was not just a studio; it was a community. They have broken the community, they have broken my home,” Ali mourned.

Fernandes added, "Stand-up for me is a sacred experience. I don't take any moment I get on stage on for granted. And, for a lot of us, a space like Habitat is not just a stage."

For Khurana, the loss is "personal and cultural"—not just as a filmmaker but as a "champion of storytelling and free thought." He too owes it to Habitat for helping him 'start off'.

"My journey as a storyteller actually began there. Almost 10 years ago, my first professional short film, ISM, was screened there. An audience member saw potential in me—and became my first investor and producer,” he told The Quint.

"Spaces like Habitat keep the revolution, resistance, and reinvention in a city like Mumbai alive. It embodies everything I stand for—creative freedom, independent storytelling, and a space where artists can experiment without fear. Spaces like this are where fresh perspectives emerge, where art and resistance intertwine, which is something which is deeply resonant with my own approach to filmmaking. Losing it feels like losing a piece of Mumbai’s creative soul," he added.

‘When Your Home is Threatened, You Stand Up For its Safety’

“When Balraj changed the name from Tuning Fork to The Habitat, an incident occurred where a political party's goons vandalised the property—though not to the extent of what has happened now," recalled Faisal, a 27-year-old creative strategist, copywriter, and Urdu poet from Mumbai.

"That attack left a dent in Habitat’s signage on the platform. Balraj, with purpose, chose not to repair it, letting it stand as a testament to what we believe in. It became a symbol of resilience—a reminder that we do not back down but bounce back stronger.”

Faisal adds that performers continued their shows after the attack as a way to show that Habitat Studio was their "home"—and "when your home is threatened, you stand up for its safety, security, and the family it shelters."

Faisal was present at Habitat on Sunday, the day of the mob attack. He recalls seeing a group of unfamiliar people approaching the venue "looking for" Kamra.

“I immediately informed the team to seek protection and address them before they could enter the premises. We tried to reason with them, telling them that Kamra was neither present nor performing any show that day. However, their numbers began to increase—and that was when I urged the management for the second time to call the police and request protection.”

Faisal to The Quint

Faisal alleges a police van arrived when the crowd grew larger but “not to intervene, but to simply stand by and watch the unfolding chaos.”

“Later, the mob moved downstairs to Below The Habitat, where the viral video was shot. The police officials followed them but remained mere bystanders while the karyakartas verbally abused the staff, including a female staff member. Within moments, they smashed the glass bar and ordered all of us to leave,” he recounted to The Quint.

He adds that the people present at the venue stood their ground till the staff requested them to leave as the “number of attackers had grown from 10 to nearly 40".

Mumbai Police personnel guard the hotel that was vandalised by Shiv Sena (Shinde) workers after comedian Kunal Kamras remarks on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, in Khar area in Mumbai, Sunday night.

(Photo: PTI)

“Once they were done vandalising the stage and the studio, they stormed into the lobby and demanded that the staff call Kamra to Habitat Studio. While making their demand, they continued their rampage, smashing everything—from the office front and main entrance to the elevator glass panels.”

A little later, the group left on their bikes and scooters and the first police van followed. Then, a second van arrived to look at the aftermath, Faisal alleged. 

Vanikaa Sangtani, a poet and content creator, who was also present at The Habitat, posted a statement on Instagram, recounting the events of that night. Sangtani recalled that the mob allegedly started breaking glasses on the counter while 80+ people were still seated.

“It was then the staff asked us to leave, putting our safety first – the police that time – were standing and waiting. The Sena was being protected by the police, not us – people who had paid for a show, and just wanted to have a good time.”

Vanikaa Sangtani

“What could we have done?” Sangtani wondered.

“I remember one girl saying, ‘We shouldn’t have moved. They couldn’t have done this in our presence.' To which her friend replied – 'Bhai tu ban deshbhakt, krantikari, mujhe toh zinda rehna hai'.”

Vanikaa Sangtani

The Mumbai Police reportedly arrested at least 12 people in connection with the vandalism. They have now been released. On the allegations against the police's inaction, this article will be updated as and when they respond.

'A Torchbearer of Free Speech'

Bhupendra Singh, a poet and storyteller, has watched Habitat Studio transform from a modest performance space – with approximately 60+ seats – to the space it is today.

“Back in 2017, it used to have different open mics for music, poetry, and comedy in which new artists could be seen every day. Most of them were youngsters, something never seen at traditional kavi sammelans. The poetry community within Mumbai was formed by regular visits to Habitat.” Singh told The Quint.

Singh adds that, on request, Habitat increased the number of open mics and provided some big events free of cost. They also made videos available for artists for free, ensuring that “new artists never had to face a financial burden in a city like Mumbai”.

“If Habitat was not concerned about artists and was just a business, it would never have done all this. My own poem on social consciousness, 'Nari Aao Bolo', reached the world through this platform. Many people who were super conscious of stage before and used to tremble on mic are now delivering brilliant shows which couldn’t be possible without them.”

Bhupendra Singh

Singh’s poem ‘Nari Aao Bolo’ was part of the ‘Aigiri Nandini’ composition by Sourendro-Soumyojit that was performed by Mir and Padmashree Aruna Sairam as part of their World Music Day celebrations in 2024.

Bikram Bamra, a Punjabi Hindustani poet, lauds the Habitat team’s support for a charity event he hosted for those affected by the floods in Kerala. “The staff there and Balraj, the founder, are like family. They always paid more attention to nurturing the artist. No other place can replicate the feeling of performing on that stage."

Talking about the founder, he adds,

“Balraj is such a great torchbearer of free speech. He has no ideology of his own. Those who have attacked him feel that they support Kamra’s statements. It's not like that. Balraj only fosters free speech. They don't have an agenda of their own.”

Bikram Bamra, Hindustani poet

Comedian Kunal Kamra too, penned a note titled ‘To the Mob That Decided That Habitat Should Not Stand’, that reads, “Habitat (or any other venue) is not responsible for my comedy, nor does it have any power or control over what I say or do. Neither does any political party.”

“Attacking a venue for a comedian's words is as senseless as overturning a lorry carrying tomatoes, because you didn't like the butter chicken you were served.”

Kunal Kamra