Director and producer Karan Johar has been candid about why he has decided to keep sports stars, specifically cricketers, off the popular chat show Koffee With Karan, a policy that extends to Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli.
In a recent interaction with tennis icon Sania Mirza for Myntra’s Glam Stream, Karan Johar explained his decision, which stems entirely from the infamous 2019 controversy involving Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul.
Karan Johar: “I have never asked Virat [Kohli]. And now, I am not asking any cricketers after what happened with Hardik (Pandya) and (KL) Rahul.”
He added that there were many celebrities he simply assumed wouldn’t accept an invitation, so he never asked them in the first place.
The 2019 Controversy
The 2019 episode featuring Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul led to one of the biggest controversies in the show’s history due to remarks made by Pandya that were widely condemned as misogynistic and inappropriate.
- Controversial Comments: Pandya’s statements included boasting about his sexual history, recalling telling his parents about losing his virginity with pride, and making comments about learning to “treat women” by observing “West Indian players and black culture.”
- Repercussions: The backlash was immediate and severe. The episode was eventually pulled down from the streaming platform. The BCCI‘s Committee of Administrators (CoA) charged both cricketers with misconduct and indiscipline.
- BCCI Action: The duo was temporarily suspended and ousted from an ODI series against Australia. They were also reportedly fined ₹20 lakh each by the BCCI. Pandya later issued an apology on Instagram, stating he got “carried away with the nature of the show.”
Karan Johar Takes Responsibility
Karan Johar had publicly addressed the controversy at the time, expressing guilt over the career damage faced by the cricketers.
Karan Johar: “I have to say that I feel very responsible because it was my show and my platform. I invited them as guests, and so the ramifications and the repercussions of the show are my responsibility.”
The filmmaker admitted he had many sleepless nights thinking about how to undo the damage done. His current policy of excluding cricketers from the couch is a direct consequence of that incident, prioritizing caution over controversy.