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In 2019, filmmaker Karan Johar invited cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul on his chat show Koffee with Karan. While the episode initially seemed as lighthearted as any other, it soon sparked a major controversy that resulted in severe repercussions for the two players. The backlash was so intense that the episode was eventually removed from the streaming platform. Since then, Karan has refrained from inviting cricketers to the show. In a recent conversation, he mentioned that he has no plans to invite Virat Kohli either, citing the experience he had nearly six years ago.
The filmmaker made the revelation during a candid conversation with tennis star Sania Mirza for Myntra’s Glam Stream. The two discussed various aspects of Karan’s life — from his childhood and battle with body dysmorphia to his iconic chat show — during a rapid-fire segment. When Sania asked him about the celebrity he wishes to have on the show “who keeps refusing,” Karan instantly named Ranbir Kapoor. He added, “He’s come before, but for the last three seasons, he’s said no.” Ranbir has appeared on the show on three occasions, and his last appearance was with Ranveer Singh in 2016.
When Sania asked him to name someone who has never been on the show, Karan thought a bit more. As Sania brought up Virat Kohli’s name, Karan said that he has never asked the cricketer to appear on the show. “I have never asked Virat. And now, I am not asking any cricketers after what happened with Hardik [Pandya] and [KL] Rahul.” He added, “There are many who I just felt wouldn’t come, so I never asked them in the first place.”
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In 2019, a then 25-year-old Hardik Pandya faced intense backlash after his appearance on Koffee With Karan. During the episode, Pandya made comments that were widely deemed misogynistic and inappropriate.
At one point, he said he had learned how to “treat women” by observing “West Indian players and black culture.” In another segment, he recalled telling his parents about losing his virginity, saying, “When I lost my virginity, I told them, ‘Aaj mai karke aaya!’” He also spoke about pointing to a group of women at a party and telling his parents he had “a history with all of them,” to which he claimed they reacted with pride.
The remarks drew widespread criticism, prompting the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to seek an explanation from Pandya and Rahul. Pandya later apologised on Instagram, saying he had “got a bit carried away with the nature of the show.”
Despite the apology, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) charged both players with misconduct and indiscipline under Rule 41 of its constitution, resulting in temporary suspensions and missed matches.
At the time, Indian captain Virat Kohli also distanced the national team from their comments, stating, “From the Indian cricket team’s point of view, any inappropriate comments made in that scenario are something we definitely don’t support. The two concerned players understand what went wrong and the magnitude of it. These are purely individual opinions — we, as the Indian cricket team, do not support such views.”
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