Karan Johar Reveals Why Virat Kohli Will Never Be on ‘Koffee with Karan’

In a candid revelation that sheds light on the lingering impact of one of his show’s biggest controversies, filmmaker and host Karan Johar has stated that he has a standing policy against inviting Indian cricketers, including star batsman Virat Kohli, to his popular celebrity chat show, Koffee with Karan.

Johar recently confirmed that the reason for this professional distance traces back directly to the infamous 2019 episode featuring cricketers Hardik Pandya and K.L. Rahul. The controversy from that season had far-reaching and severe consequences for all parties involved, prompting the filmmaker to exercise permanent caution when considering guests from the sporting world.

The Permanent Ban on Cricketers

Speaking to tennis star Sania Mirza during a recent interaction, the host was asked about celebrities who have never graced the iconic Koffee couch. As Kohli’s name was brought up, Johar was unambiguous in his response.

“I have never asked Virat,” Johar admitted. “And now, I am not asking any cricketers after what happened with Hardik [Pandya] and [K.L.] Rahul.”

This decision effectively establishes a ban on inviting cricketers to the show, a move directly influenced by the public outrage and professional fallout that followed the 2019 episode.

A Controversy That Rocked the Cricket World

The episode featuring Hardik Pandya and K.L. Rahul quickly spiraled into a national scandal. During a light-hearted segment, Pandya made several remarks about women, his dating life, and family pride regarding his relationships that were widely condemned as sexist, misogynistic, and inappropriate.

• Public Outrage: The comments sparked an immediate and furious backlash across social media and news platforms.
• BCCI Action: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took swift disciplinary action, issuing show-cause notices to both players.
• Suspension and Apology: Both Pandya and Rahul were temporarily suspended from the national team, missing several matches. While both cricketers issued public apologies, the episode was eventually removed from the streaming platform due to the intensity of the negative reaction.

The controversy was an unprecedented moment for Koffee with Karan, where the show’s signature irreverent tone backfired on a massive, national scale.

Lasting Impact on the Host

The incident did not just affect the cricketers; it left a deep impression on Karan Johar himself. He has since spoken about feeling responsible for the episode’s fallout and the “heat” he faced for comments made by his guests on his platform.

The decision not to invite an icon like Virat Kohli, despite his massive popularity and the fact that his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, has been a guest multiple times, underscores the filmmaker’s commitment to avoiding a repeat of the 2019 media and disciplinary storm. For Johar, the experience cemented a new rule for guest selection, prioritizing prudence over the pursuit of star power from outside the film industry.

The door to the Koffee couch, it seems, remains firmly closed for Indian cricket stars.