Karan Johar reveals the real reason why he has never invited Virat Kohli on Koffee With Karan: ‘After what happened…’

In 2019, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul faced backlash on social media after they appeared on Karan Johar’s chat show. And the filmmaker still feels responsible.

Published on: Nov 10, 2025, 07:52:10 IST

By Sugandha Rawal

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Filmmaker Karan Johar’s hit talk show Koffee With Karan has hosted many stars, but one big name still missing is Indian cricket star Virat Kohli. While Anushka Sharma has appeared multiple times, Karan has revealed that Virat’s absence traces back to the infamous Hardik Pandya–KL Rahul controversy.

Karan Johar has revealed he is not in favour of inviting cricketers to his chat show now.

KJo looks back

Recently, Karan sat down with Sania Mirza on her podcast, Serving It Up With Sania where he revealed why he has never invited Virat, who is married to actor Anushka Sharma, to the show.

During the conversation, Sania asked him about the celebrity he wishes to have on the show “who keeps refusing,” Karan named Ranbir Kapoor. He shared, “He’s come before, but for the last three seasons, he’s said no.” Ranbir’s last appearance was with Ranveer Singh in 2016.

When Sania asked Karan to name someone who’s never made it to the Koffee With Karan couch, the filmmaker paused to think. As she mentioned Virat, Karan admitted that he’s never actually invited the cricketer to be 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. There are many who I just felt wouldn’t come, so I never asked them in the first place,” Karan revealed.

About the infamous episode

Back in 2019, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul faced massive backlash on social media after they appeared on Karan Johar’s chat show. Many called out their sexist comments and called them disrespectful towards women.

Amid controversy over the ‘inappropriate’ comments made by cricketers Hardik and KL Rahul on Koffee With Karan (KWK), their episode was pulled down by Disney+ Hotstar at that time. Both of them were suspended before India’s first ODI against Australia despite their apologies. Karan had also added that he felt responsible for what the cricketers had to go through.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sugandha Rawal
Sugandha Rawal has been writing about entertainment and lifestyle for over 13 years, and if there's one thing that's kept her going, it's a genuine love for storytelling. She completed her graduation in Journalism from the University of Delhi and went on to earn her Master of Media from IP University. Beginning her career in the fast-paced environment of news wire reporting, she learned the art of accuracy, speed, and storytelling under pressure. She later expanded her horizons in print journalism, where she honed her feature-writing skills and developed a keen eye for detail and narrative depth. These days, she's firmly rooted in digital journalism, adapting and evolving with a media landscape that never sits still. Over the years, Sugandha has covered everything from Bollywood and celebrity culture to wellness trends and lifestyle shifts. She enjoys spotting the drama behind headlines, the emotion behind interviews, and the details that others might miss. When she is not chasing the latest entertainment update or lifestyle trend, you will find her observing the cultural shifts that shape the stories we consume every day.Read More

Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.

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