Karan Johar opens up about battling online hate and ‘Movie Mafia’ label

New Delhi: Renowned filmmaker Karan Johar has candidly shared his experience of facing online hatred and the impact it had on his family, particularly his mother Hiroo Johar. In a recent conversation, he disclosed that over the past few years, he witnessed a surge of negativity directed towards him on social media platforms. He highlighted that this wave of negativity deeply affected his mother, who was exposed to harsh criticisms and unfounded allegations circulating in the media.

Karan Johar’s candid revelations emerged during a discussion with Sucharita Tyagi. He revealed how the barrage of hate affected his mother’s emotional well-being as she encountered disparaging comments and coverage regarding him on television channels and various online forums. Despite this, Johar saw it as his responsibility to remain strong, both for himself and his mother, as the hostility escalated.

In the face of this adversity, Johar chose to stand resilient and face the challenges head-on, acknowledging that he felt vulnerable due to public scrutiny. He expressed, “All I had to be was resilient at that time because I had to be strong for my own mom and for myself. You feel kind of naked after that has happened. Abhi toh kapde utar di hai sabne. Abhi kya chupana? Kisske ladna?” (Everyone has stripped me of my defenses. What’s left to hide? Who should I fight?)

During this period, the term “movie mafia” gained prominence, often attributed to Johar. While not mentioning any names, he addressed the way he was portrayed by some segments of the media and certain individuals, implying that their perception of him was far from his reality. Johar emphasized that people’s assumptions about him were based on hearsay, while they remained unaware of his daily struggles and dedication as a producer.

The label “movie mafia” has often been associated with actress Kangana Ranaut, who has vocally criticized Johar for promoting nepotism within the film industry. Their public sparring escalated after Kangana’s appearance on Johar’s talk show, “Koffee with Karan,” where she dubbed him the “flagbearer of nepotism.” Kangana has consistently used the term “movie mafia” in reference to him in her social media posts and interviews.

In a notable turn of events, Karan Johar recently marked his directorial comeback with the film “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,” featuring a star-studded cast including Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Shabana Azmi, Dharmendra, and Jaya Bachchan. The movie was released on August 28, signifying Johar’s return to the director’s chair after a hiatus.