'Threw me off, was scared': Karan Johar opens up on controversy after KL Rahul & Hardik Pandya's KWK episode

Filmmaker and producer Karan Johar has revisited the controversy surrounding a 2019 episode of his talk show Koffee With Karan that featured cricketers KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya, which happened to be one of the most discussed controversies of that year. Their appearance led to strong public criticism over comments made during the show, which were seen as inappropriate. Following the backlash, both players were suspended and dropped from an ODI series by the BCCI.

In a recent podcast with Raj Shamani, Johar revisiting the controversy said he was unsettled by how things unfolded. He said, “What I felt terrible about, it happened to Hardik and Rahul, that really threw me off… I hoped there is no damage to anybody.” He also added that both players have since recovered from the episode and are doing well in their careers. “They are national treasures,” he said, expressing relief that the controversy did not have long-term consequences for them. Johar admitted that while he doesn’t follow cricket, he started watching matches to see how the two were doing after the incident.

What I felt terrible about, it happened to Hardik and Rahul, that really threw me off… I hoped there is no damage to anybody.

- Karan Johar

After the 2019 Koffee with Karan controversy, where Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul faced backlash for their sexist comments, both cricketers faced temporary suspensions and underwent public scrutiny. However, they made significant efforts to rebuild their careers and public image. Hardik focused on his fitness and performance, eventually becoming a key all-rounder for India and captaining the Gujarat Titans to an IPL title in 2022. KL Rahul, known for his calm demeanor, continued to grow as a dependable top-order batter and took on leadership roles, including captaining India in various formats. Both have since maintained a lower media profile and emphasized professionalism on and off the field, regaining trust among fans and selectors alike. Meanwhile, in 2024, KL Rahul shared his side of the story during an appearance on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast. He said he underestimated the impact of social media criticism. According to him, the trolling was constant — “I sat, I got trolled, I stood, and I got trolled after the interview,” he said. Rahul admitted that although he previously didn’t take online reactions seriously, the experience after that episode made him reassess his views.