Karan Johar Bans Cricketers from 'Koffee With Karan' After Controversy

In a recent revelation, filmmaker Karan Johar has shared that he has not invited Indian cricket star Virat Kohli to appear on his popular talk show 'Koffee With Karan'. Johar explained that this decision is directly linked to the backlash the show faced following a controversial 2019 episode featuring cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul.

Johar, who was a guest on Sania Mirza's podcast, discussed his guest selection process and the impact of the past incident. He stated that after the Pandya-Rahul controversy, he has not asked any cricketers to be on the show, including Kohli, whose wife Anushka Sharma has been a guest multiple times. The 2019 episode drew significant criticism on social media due to remarks deemed inappropriate by Pandya and Rahul, leading to consequences for the players.

Reflecting on the fallout, Johar said he began reconsidering inviting cricketers altogether. The controversy prompted the removal of the episode from Disney+ Hotstar, and both players faced suspension ahead of an ODI match. Johar expressed a sense of responsibility for the incident, which has now shaped the show's format to avoid similar controversies in the future.

While 'Koffee With Karan' has featured a range of celebrities, Kohli's absence has been frequently noted by fans. Johar also revealed that actor Ranbir Kapoor, who has appeared on the show before, has declined invitations for the last three seasons.