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Renowned filmmaker and talk show host Karan Johar has finally addressed one of the most frequently asked questions surrounding his popular celebrity chat show, ‘Koffee With Karan’ – why Virat Kohli, one of India’s biggest sports icons, has never appeared on the show.
Why Virat Kohli didn’t appear on the Koffee with Karan?
Speaking on Sania Mirza’s podcast, Johar revealed that his decision not to invite Virat was influenced by the controversy that erupted in 2019, following the appearance of cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul on the same show.
The director of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani admitted that the fallout from that episode changed his approach toward inviting sportspersons altogether.
The 2019 episode of Koffee With Karan, featuring Hardik and KL Rahul, made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The cricketers faced severe backlash for their inappropriate and sexist remarks, which many viewers found offensive. The controversy escalated quickly, with social media outrage, public criticism and disciplinary action from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
As a result, both Pandya and Rahul were temporarily suspended from the Indian cricket team and forced to issue public apologies. The episode was eventually taken down by Disney+ Hotstar, and Johar later confessed that the scandal deeply affected him personally and professionally.
Reflecting on that incident, Johar said, “I have never asked Virat. And now, I am not asking any cricketers after what happened with Hardik and Rahul. There are many who I just felt wouldn’t come, so I never asked them in the first place.”
This revelation explains why, despite Anushka Sharma’s multiple appearances on the show, Virat has remained absent from the guest list.
Also READ: 7 controversial statements which Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul made on ‘Koffee With Karan’
“I genuinely felt bad about what happened”: Karan Johar
In his conversation with Sania, Johar admitted that the 2019 controversy left a lasting impression on him. He said that he felt responsible for the incident and its repercussions on the players’ careers.
“I genuinely felt bad about what happened,” Johar said. “I didn’t anticipate that their comments would create such a storm. It became a learning moment for me about the responsibility that comes with hosting a show like this.”
The incident also forced Johar to re-evaluate his guest selection process, opting to avoid inviting cricketers or individuals from non-entertainment fields who might not be accustomed to the spontaneous and often candid nature of the show.
Also READ: Hardik Pandya’s phone wallpaper featuring girlfriend Mahieka Sharma goes viral
