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Karan Johar reveals celebrities ask for post-edit clearance on Koffee With Karan, says no one wants a PR nightmare

Karan Johar says guests on Koffee With Karan are now more cautious and less candid, fearing that even minor remarks could spark a PR crisis.

Published on: Nov 5, 2026, 17:39:57 IST
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Nostalgia immediately hit fans when Karan Johar announced that the current season of Koffee With Karan, Season 9, would be the last one, as he bids adieu to his much-loved talk show. The show, which started in 2004, has, in many ways, shaped Bollywood pop culture and offered audiences unprecedented access to their favourite celebrities.

Karan Johar had earlier declared that this will be the final season of Koffee With Karan.
Karan Johar had earlier declared that this will be the final season of Koffee With Karan.

However, it has also courted its fair share of controversies over the years, often landing its guests in trouble. From the KL Rahul-Hardik Pandya controversy to Alia Bhatt's rapid-fire answer about India's President, several moments from the show have made headlines.

‘The brew is milder because everyone's very worried’

In a recent interaction with Variety India, Karan shared that, over the years, celebrities have become increasingly conscious of what they say on the show to avoid controversies. He also observed that guests are now less open than they were in the earlier seasons. Karan pointed out that celebrity entourages have grown considerably, with several more team members accompanying guests to the sets.

Karan Johar on celebrities asking for post-edit clearances

Karan also revealed that celebrities now request post-edit clearances before an episode is aired. Acknowledging the high stakes of modern celebrity culture and the possibility of statements triggering a PR crisis, the filmmaker said he understands their concerns and does not mind accommodating such requests.

He said, “And I absolutely respect that because I would do the same if I was invited to ‘Koffee With Karan’ because I don't want to go through a PR nightmare. So while our coffee brew is milder, that's only because everyone's worried,” he laughs.

About Koffee With Karan

The latest episode of Koffee With Karan featured Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan. The season opened with Salman Khan as its first guest. Janhvi Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna have also appeared on the show.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vibha Maru

Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through film reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, celebrity interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, celebrity features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema.

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Get more updates from Bollywood, Taylor Swift, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
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