Karan Johar Discusses Why Virat Kohli Hasn't Joined Koffee With Karan

Post by : Mina Rahman

Koffee With Karan, hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, has welcomed a multitude of Bollywood luminaries, yet cricket superstar Virat Kohli remains notably absent from the show. While his wife, Anushka Sharma, has graced the couch several times, Karan recently shed light on why Kohli has never been invited.

During a revealing conversation with tennis player Sania Mirza on her podcast, Karan delved into the reasons behind the cricketer's absence. When pressed by Sania to name a guest he has always wished to host but hasn't managed to, Karan initially pointed to Ranbir Kapoor, stating, “He has appeared before, but he has declined over the last three seasons.”

On hearing Virat Kohli’s name, Karan confessed he has never extended an invitation. He elaborated, “I have never asked Virat. After the incident with Hardik (Pandya) and (KL) Rahul, I’ve refrained from inviting cricketers altogether. I sensed many wouldn’t accept, so I chose not to reach out.”

The director referenced the contentious 2019 episode featuring Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, which generated considerable backlash due to their sexist comments. The fallout led to the episode being removed, and both players were suspended prior to the ODI series in Australia.

Karan Johar had previously expressed remorse over the controversy, feeling accountable for the backlash and the players' resulting professional harm. In light of this, he has decided to focus solely on inviting film personalities to his show, avoiding the cricketing sphere.

As Koffee With Karan continues to captivate audiences, fans eagerly anticipate the possibility of seeing Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma together on the celebrated couch, although KJo doesn’t seem inclined to make that suggestion just yet.