Why Karan Johar won't invite cricketers on 'Koffee With Karan'
What's the story
Filmmaker Karan Johar has revealed why he doesn't invite cricketers on his chat show Koffee With Karan anymore. He made the decision after the controversy involving Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul's appearance on the show in 2019. Speaking to tennis star Sania Mirza, Johar said, "I have never asked Virat Kohli." "And now, I am not asking any cricketers after what happened with Hardik [Pandya] and [Rahul]."
Details
'There are many who I just felt wouldn't come...'
Johar further said, "There are many who I just felt wouldn't come, so I never asked them in the first place." The 2019 episode featuring Pandya and Rahul had sparked a nationwide controversy due to Pandya's comments about women. Though Rahul largely refrained from objectionable comments, Pandya was caught in the eye of the storm.
Controversy details
What did Pandya say?
During the controversial episode, Pandya made several inappropriate comments about women. He said, "When I lost my virginity, I came home and said, 'Main karke aya hai aaj (I had sex today). At a party, my parents asked me 'acha tera wala (woman) kaun sa hai...they were like 'waah...proud of you beta." "I like to watch and observe how they (women) move. I'm little from the black side so I need to see how they move."
Aftermath
Aftermath of the incident
The repercussions were swift, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issuing show-cause notices to the players. In the wake of the controversy, Pandya issued an apology, admitting he got "carried away with the nature of the show." Kohli also distanced the national team from their comments, stating that such inappropriate remarks are not supported by the team. The scandal had far-reaching consequences for both players, including temporary suspensions and missed matches.