In a significant legal victory for Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar, a Mumbai court has restrained popular YouTuber Ajey Nagar (CarryMinati) from creating or circulating “objectionable or defamatory” content targeting the director. The ruling, delivered on Monday, February 9, 2026, follows a defamation suit filed by Johar regarding a roast video titled “Coffee with Jalan.”
The court’s decision marks a rare instance of judicial intervention in the popular “roast” culture on Indian social media, specifically addressing the use of vulgar language and personal attacks under the guise of entertainment.
The Legal Ruling
Judge Pandurang Bhosale issued an ad-interim order, noting that the content in question appeared to be prima facie defamatory. Key takeaways from the injunction include:
- Immediate Takedown: The court ordered the immediate removal of the offending videos and specific URLs from all social media platforms.
- Broad Restraint: CarryMinati, his manager Deepak Char, and Meta Platforms are barred from posting, re-posting, or communicating any derogatory remarks or videos about Johar until the case is resolved.
- John Doe Order: The injunction also applies to anonymous users (“John Does”) who might attempt to re-circulate the content or snippets of it.
“Prima facie, it appears that Ajey Nagar and Deepak Char… have made defamatory statements and used vulgar language against the plaintiff,” Judge Bhosale stated.
The Dispute: “Coffee with Jalan”
The legal battle stemmed from a parody video modeled after Johar’s famous talk show, Koffee With Karan. Johar’s plea argued that:
- The video used abusive language to target him personally.
- It maligned his reputation by focusing on narratives around nepotism and “insider culture” in a slanderous manner.
- Despite the video being taken down by Nagar, it had already amassed millions of views and continues to be shared via reels and shorts, causing ongoing damage.
Context: Karan Johar’s Next Moves
While the legal proceedings continue, Johar is shifting focus to his professional projects. His next production, “Accused,” directed by Anubhuti Kashyap and starring Konkona Sen Sharma and Pratibha Ranta, is set to premiere on Netflix on February 27, 2026.