Karan Johar: Controversies he has courted

Filmmaker Karan Johar is known for voicing his opinions on social media. He may not name and shame the people he wants to talk about, but he ensures he writes what he feels. In another such post, Karan took to his Twitter account to share his thoughts. He wrote, “Dear Ambition...if you have to achieve your full potential stay away from your arch nemesis....Comparison!”


While these could just be words of wisdom, rumour mills went into overdrive trying to decode the subject of this tweet. Reportedly, Telugu superstar Prabhas, who made waves around the country with his stellar performance in the ‘Baahubali’ films, was supposed to make his Bollywood debut under the aegis of KJo, but the latter backed out. It was reported that this was apparently due to Prabhas's demand for a fee of Rs 20 crore, which is a staggering amount for a debut in the Hindi film industry.

Kangana Ranaut has been enjoying her time in the limelight with her explosive interviews about her former flames apart from talking about the nepotism and sexism prevalent in the film industry. Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Karan Johar has been droppings shade in the form of cryptic tweets. The director, who has been on warring paths with the ‘Queen’ star, recently took to his social media account to tweet, “Dear talent ...I wish you would stay away from overconfidence and delusion....they are constantly conspiring against you...don't you see it?”

While many are still wondering who this tweet was aimed at, the director was at it once again when he posted another “Dear Love” tweet asking the subject of his sly tweets not to try to “hire ownership and entitlement”. “Dear Love....you are extremely wealthy and flourishing...so please don't try and hire ownership and entitlement....they want to stay away,” he wrote.

Would you say that Karan’s tweets are sly digs at a certain celebrity or just hues of a creative flair for writing?

Stars, directors or subsequent members of the showbiz society are constantly under scrutiny for their movements in and out of the country. While some go to enjoy vacations overseas, others tend to conduct hush-hush meetings. Whatever it may be, it does entice fans and media to talk about the same. So recently Karan Johar made a secret visit to Lisbon where Shah Rukh Khan is shooting for his Imtiaz Ali flick tentatively titled 'The Ring' with Anushka Sharma. Popular reports suggest that Kjo took off secretly to avoid the controversy of the ban on Pakistani actors and technicians in the country. Moreover, political parties threatened to stall the release of his upcoming film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ for employing a Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. Reportedly Karan set out to Lisbon to meet King Khan and divert himself from the current controversy.

Scroll down to know more.

Salman Khan is amongst the wittiest and funniest actors we have in Bollywood not just on screen but also off it. Karan Johar recently said that Bollywood focuses on stars more than content. When the Dabangg Khan of Bollywood was asked to comment on this, he looked rattled. In a report on Pinkvilla.com, he has been quoted as saying that, “Who is Karan Johar? Is he the spokesperson for the industry?” He further stated that actors achieve stardom due to the audience and that they become huge because the audience and fans can connect with them. The superstar even said that it took him a good 20 years to reach the heights of stardom. Reminiscing his old days, Salman said that when Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, Aamir Khan and he had entered the industry, they looked like boys and that if they had done action films, people would have said that they were trying to be like Amitabh Bachchan.

This isn’t the first time when Karan Johar is in news for all the wrong reasons. A few days ago, he lashed out at some Twitter trolls. Read on to know more…

Karan Johar lashes out at Twitter trolls


While the entire world was busy celebrating the US Supreme Court's decision declaring same-sex marriage as legal nationwide, some tweeters decided to pull a joke on filmmaker Karan Johar. However, Karan did not bow down to this narrow-minded thinking and decided to give it back. Here's how the filmmaker reacted to the Twitter trolls. He tweeted, "it's so sad and disgusting when a major breakthrough movement is made into a mockery by some on Twitter!! Shame!!!." [sic]

While Karan Johar has strongly reacted against the Twitter trolls, read on to know why people think that intellectual cinema is not his cup of tea...

Karan Johar, who recently made his acting debut with Bombay Velvet, is disappointed as independent and intelligent filmmakers show a lack of interest in him. At the 17th Mumbai Film Festival, the director stated that people thought that anything that was cerebral or intelligent was not his cup of Koffee. He further elaborated by saying that independent filmmakers did not knock on his door and that they'd rather approach Kiran Rao for such kind of films. In a candid confession, KJo also stated that he did not have a life, a spouse or children and that he is married to his company and cinema.

Read on to know the latest buzz surrounding the Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham director's equation with King Khan and why Karan finds himself embroiled in controversies...

There has been a buzz about Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar's friendship having gone sour. However, according to a report on Bollywoodlife.com, the two have patched up and are back to being friends. Shah Rukh was present for the dinner party organised by Karan Johar. Reportedly, the two, along with actresses, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, spent a lot of time together. Their banter was apparently just like the good ol' days.

While SRK and Karan seem to have patched up, another Khan isn't all too happy with Karan. Read on to find out...

Salman Khan has opted out of Karan Johar's Shhuddhi, and Bollywood is busy talking about Salman's decision. After announcing that her was no longer a part of the project, Salman also congratulated Varun Dhawan , who was signed on for the film. However, the rumour mill is abuzz with reports that Karan's equation with Salman has soured after he opted out of the film. In a report on Bollywoodlife.com, a source was quoted as saying that Salman and Karan’s equation hasn’t changed and not doing Shhuddhi was totally a professional call. There was lot of discussion between the actor and the filmmaker before the decision. Salman opted out due to date issues.
However, there’s another theory for the reason behind Salman’s decision or so claim the gossipmongers. Read on to find out what that is...

Salman Khan's admission that he was no longer a part of Karan Johar's Shhuddhi was immediately followed by Karan Johar's announcement that Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt had been cast in the film. While there was no explanation for Salman's decision to quit the project, the rumour mill was abuzz with speculation. However, a DNA report claims that Salman had opted out of the project months ago. Reportedly, Salman wasn't too happy with Karan Johar's participation in the infamous AIB Roast. Apparently a lot of jokes at the do were cracked at Salman's sister, Arpita's expense. Reportedly, he had opted out of Karan's project immediately after but maintained his silence till the time KJo had his cast in place. The decision was taken amicably.

Read on to know about how Karan Johar had almost sabotaged Anushka Sharma's Bollywood debut...

While Karan Johar is often credited with introducing new talent in the industry, he has confessed that he had almost sabotaged chances of Anushka Sharma's Bollywood debut. In an interview with Bombay Times, Karan has revealed how he questioned Aditya Chopra's decision of casting Anushka Sharma for Band Baaja Baaraat and insisted that he select the other actress who was shortlisted, along with Anushka, for the role. However, he adds that Aditya was insistent on Anushka as he was impressed by her acting skills. Karan asserts that he had tried his best to convince Aditya of the other girl but to no avail. He admits that he let go of the guilt by apologising to Anushka for coming in the way of casting her in her debut. Karan also raved about Anushka in the interview, terming her sense of honesty to be rare.

Read on to find out what did Karan have to say on being cast as the villain in Bombay Velvet...

In an interview with Pinkvilla.com, Karan Johar has revealed that Anurag had discussed Bombay Velvet with him, seeking feedback from a fellow filmmaker. He confesses that her was blown away by the concept of the movie since the ‘60s was his favourite era but what he didn't know was that Anurag wanted him to play the part of Kaizad Khambatta. Although skeptical, Karan agreed to do the part because even the worst possibility wasn't the worst. He went with his gut and tried to learn as much as possible on an Anurag Kashyap set. Upon being asked about his character, he explained that all the respective alter egos are Khambatta. He added that there’s a second part of our personality that wants to manipulate; wanting to be evil and scheming. We get these dark, deep thoughts all the time. He further reasoned that it is the coating of humanity on all of us actually makes us not act on that part. Karan Johar has mentored 13 directors in Bollywood and described that a certain amount of manipulation always happens in the profession since most of it involves handling people and their sensitivities, egos and insecurities. He continues by saying that half lies are what most of us say. Or rather half-truths is what we live on!

Read on to find out which actor dissed Karan Johar over Bombay Velvet...

Kamaal R Khan aka KRK has found himself in yet another controversy. The Deshdrohi actor had his own bit to say regarding Anurag Kashyap's upcoming release, Bombay Velvet. KRK claimed he was threatened by Anurag and filmmaker KJo, who makes his Bollywood debut with this ambitious project. He further stated that KJo offered him 25 lakh to give a 4-star review to Bombay Velvet. At the second trailer launch of the film, Kashyap, along with Karan Johar was present at the event when a journalist asked the latter what he had to say about KRK's comments. While Anurag chose to answer instead of KJo, Karan had to finally answer the journalist and he replied by asking her if she believed what KRK said was true. When she replied in the negative, Karan replied, "I rest my case." The actor took to Twitter to clarify things, "Those all media ppl are biggest idiots who are writing wrong story. Anurag Kashyap gave me challenge n I accepted. I didn't give challenge."

At the same event, KJo was asked about Salman Khan's legal case. Read on to know what he had to say...

As the judgement day in Salman Khan’s 2002 hit-and-run case draws closer, Salman's fans and well-wishers are praying for his acquittal. During the trailer launch of Bombay Velvet, Karan Johar was asked to comment on Salman’s legal issue and he had some kind words to say. While Karan refrained from commenting on the legal aspect of the issue, stating that since it was legal, it would not be right to comment on it, he did say that they, referring to the industry, stood by Salman Khan. While the filmmaker chose his words carefully this time, he hasn't been as diplomatic always. Read on to know about the controversies that Karan Johar has courted...

Karan Johar: Would like to pen book on film industry

According to a PTI report, Bollywood director-producer, Karan Johar says the stories that take place behind-the-scenes are far more interesting than the movies that are being shot. He has confessed that he would love to narrate them some day in a book. He was quoted in the report as saying that, "I feel telling a story about making movies will be interesting, not the journey, but what happens behind-the-scenes because the biggest part of making films is handling people and ego management... I feel what happens behind the scenes would be a far more interesting read than what really happens on the sets. An insider telling the other side of the films will be really interesting." The 42-year-old Student Of The Year filmmaker, however, joked that he was too young to write something now. "I would love to write one but I am still very young to write something like that and I would like it to come out when I am long gone," he said.

Read on to know why Karan Johar will never speak about his personal life...

According to a report in Pinkvilla.com, Karan Johar has been quoted in an interview as saying that he is aware of the jokes on his sexual orientation on the micro-blogging site, Twitter. He said he wouldn't answer the question with validation. He also has said that there was a lot of conjecture about his sexuality and he had no problems with people's conjecture. He asserted that he will never speak about his personal life or clarify if he is a heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual or asexual. Karan was also quoted in the report as saying that he is aware of the fact that Twitter was full of nonsense about his orientation and confessed that he keeps getting hate tweets, love tweets, blasphemous tweets, objectionable, and controversial tweets.

We take you through Karan Johar’s life - from his childhood embarrassments to the many controversies the filmmaker has faced in the industry.

KJo’s first love: While Karan Johar proudly wears the tag of being single, the filmmaker has confessed to having fallen in love once. While speaking to Akshay Kumar on his talk show, Koffee with Karan, the filmmaker confessed, "The only woman in my life who I thought I was in love with was your wife. I was madly in love with her. I named my character in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai after her because I was in love with her.” Karan had even offered Twinkle the role in KKHH but the actress turned it down saying there already were many big names in the star cast of the film. Twinkle later told KJo that she was a terrible actress and that he was saved by not having her in the film.

KJo’s childhood embarrassment: As a child, Karan Johar reportedly had a major 'oops' moment. The filmmaker had once shared an instance of being embarrassed at a friend’s birthday party. Karan Johar dressed up in a kid Superman costume and was all excited and happy. However to his embarrassment, it was not a theme party. Reportedly the filmmaker stopped attending parties for two years after the incident.

Karan Johar and his personal life: A lot has been said and a lot has been written about Karan Johar's sexual orientation. While Karan has shied away from answering anything about his sexual orientation, he spoke about it on Simi Garewal's talk show, Rendezvous. Karan had said then, "If you are single and 39, then obviously there will be conjectures about your sexual orientation. I am not worried about that, I am comfortable with all of rumours. I am comfortable with their perception of my sexual orientation. Nobody knows what I stand for in my personal life and I like to keep it that way."

When KJo distance himself from SRK: Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan have been thick friends in Bollywood. But of late, alleged cracks have appeared in the relationship. It all reportedly began with Salman Khan getting close to Karan on the small screen. Rumours were also rife that Karan is planning to make a film with Salman. In Koffee With Karan's last season, Salman Khan was the first guest, but Shah Rukh Khan who has been a regular on the show, decided to give it a miss.

Karan Johar and Priyanka Chopra: Karan Johar is a sensitive person and took things to heart when rumours about Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra's affair spurred up. Taking Gauri Khan's side, KJo retorted on social networking site where he wrote, "Using their hired PR machinery and hiding behind so called "friends" to get news into tabloids is nothing but spineless and lame!!" He added: "Some people need to wake up and smell the KOFFEE!!! Get a reality check before it's too late!!! Grow up!!! and don't mess with goodness." However with time, things cooled off and Karan Johar played the mature card and sorted things out.

Karan Johar and Ram Gopal Varma: Karan Johar and Ram Gopal Varma have been fighting in the virtual world. Karan and RGV make films in different genres, but while putting up their opinions, the two industry men had a tussle. RGV took a dig at KJo's film Student of the Year, "If someone takes off from Karan Johar's 'Student of the year' and makes Teacher of the year it will become the Disaster of the year." Taking the comment to heart, KJo retorted back, "Disaster of the year is your territory Ramu...no one can ever replace the comfortable place you have made for yourself there."