KJo admits being ‘scared’ for KL , Hardik after KWK

Filmmaker Karan Johar has looked back at the much-talked-about ‘Koffee With Karan’ controversy involving cricketers KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya. Speaking about the 2019 episode, KJo recalled how the two shared open and personal stories from their lives on the show, but ended up facing heavy backlash for their comments, which many slammed as misogynistic.The episode that sparked a national backlashDuring season six of the chat show ‘Koffee With Karan’, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya appeared as guests.

Known for its cheeky and bold questions, the show encouraged the cricketers to speak freely about their personal lives. But some of Pandya’s comments about women and relationships were considered highly inappropriate by the public. The fallout was quick and severe.

‘That really threw me off’: Karan Johar speaks outNow, six years later, the 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' hai director has recalled how deeply the controversy affected him. Appearing on Raj Shamani’s podcast, he admitted that he was genuinely shaken by what followed.

“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,” Karan said.He added, “I was really worried and scared about that, but they both emerged even stronger. I am really grateful.” Karan also revealed that he isn’t much of a cricket fan, but he began following matches just to keep up with KL Rahul and Pandya’s progress after the controversy. “That episode threw me off,” he concluded.KL Rahul had said the incident ‘scarred’ himKL Rahul has also spoken publicly about how deeply the backlash impacted him. On Nikhil Kamath’s podcast in 2024, the cricketer admitted that the experience changed him in ways he hadn’t expected.“The interview was a different world. That changed me. Completely changed me. I was a very soft-spoken person growing up. Then I played for India and became very confident... Now I don't because that interview scarred me massively,” he shared.Talking about the harsh trolling he faced, Rahul said, “I sat, I got trolled, I stood, and I got trolled after the interview.” He also added, “I did not give a f**k about trolls, I always thought that I did not care about it.”