Karan Johar opens on the harsh criticism of 'Nadaaniyan': "words can also be violent, shouldn't be acceptable"

Renowned filmmaker Karan Johar has finally spoken out about the ongoing criticism surrounding his latest production, Nadaaniyaan. The film, which premiered on Netflix earlier this month, has been met with widespread negative reactions from both critics and audiences.

Johar, who has remained silent on the matter until now, addressed the issue during the trailer launch event of his upcoming film Akaal, starring Gippy Grewal. When asked about the backlash surrounding Nadaaniyaan, he responded with a famous line from an old Bollywood song: “Kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna… chhodo bekaar ki baatein, beet na jaaye raina.” He implied that criticism is inevitable and should not be taken too seriously.

Further defending the film and its actors, Johar expressed disappointment over the harsh reviews, particularly one where a critic stated that they wanted to “kick” the film. He strongly condemned such language, saying,

“I have no problem with opinions, criticism, or social commentary, but such statements are not a reflection of the film, rather, they reveal the mindset of the person making them.”

- Karan Johar

He went on to say that people who consider themselves intellectual cinema lovers should exercise sensitivity.

“Nobody wants to be kicked. Kicking is a form of violence, and words can also be violent. Just because it’s not physical doesn’t mean it should be acceptable."

- Karan

Despite the intense trolling and criticism, several members of the film industry have come forward to support Nadaaniyaan and its young lead actors, Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor. Many have pointed out that newcomers should be given time and opportunity to grow instead of being torn down. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta described the criticism as excessively harsh, suggesting that the filmmakers themselves should take responsibility for setting up young actors for failure.

Actor and director Sonu Sood also indirectly addressed the situation in a social media post, urging kindness towards debutants, though he did not name any specific actors. Meanwhile, director Vikram Bhatt praised Ibrahim Ali Khan’s performance, predicting that he has the potential to become a big star in the industry.

Nadaaniyaan boasts an impressive ensemble cast featuring Archana Puran Singh, Meezaan Jafri, Dia Mirza, Jugal Hansraj, Suniel Shetty, and Mahima Chaudhry. While the film has struggled to win over audiences, it continues to spark conversations about nepotism, talent, and the pressures faced by young actors in Bollywood.