Filmmaker Karan Johar addressed the Koffee With Karan controversy involving cricketers KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya, recalling how, during the 2019 episode, the duo shared candid details about their personal lives but faced significant backlash for making misogynistic comments. As a result, both players were suspended by the BCCI and dropped from a three-match ODI series against Australia.
Six years later, Johar admitted that the episode really 'threw' him off, adding that he was genuinely 'scared' for KL Rahul and Pandya. Appearing on Raj Shamani's podcast, the director said, "What I felt terrible about, it happened to Hardik and Rahul, that really threw me off, I hoped there is no damage to anybody. But the universe's grace, they are both doing phenomenally, they are national treasures. I can't, a show of mine can't dampen heroes of our nation."
He added, "I was really worried and scared about that, but they both emerged even stronger. I am really grateful."
Karan further mentioned that he is not a cricket fanatic at all, but he started watching matches solely to follow their careers. "That episode threw me off," concluded Johar.
In 2024, KL Rahul talked about the controversy on Nikhil Kamath's podcast, stating that he was brutally trolled after the episode aired. He shared that back in his 20s, he did not give a f**k about trolls and he always thought that he did not care about it. However, after the controversial Koffee With Karan episode, he got exposed to trolling.
"I sat, I got trolled, I stood, and I got trolled after the interview," added the cricketer.
More about Koffee With Karan
Koffee With Karan, is a talk show that debuted in November 2004, and has aired eight seasons over a span of eighteen years.
