Why Karan Johar Says Virat Kohli Will Never Sit on Koffee With Karan

After the explosive 2019 episode with Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul, Karan Johar reveals why he’s decided to keep all cricketers — including Virat Kohli — off his famous couch.

Filmmaker and talk show host Karan Johar has finally revealed why star cricketer Virat Kohli has never appeared on Koffee With Karan. Speaking with tennis legend Sania Mirza on her podcast Serving It Up With Sania, Karan explained that the controversy surrounding the 2019 episode featuring Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul still lingers, influencing his decision to steer clear of inviting any cricketers to the show.

“I have never asked Virat. And now, I am not asking any cricketers after what happened with Hardik and Rahul,” Johar said, adding that he’s avoided extending invitations to certain public figures he believes wouldn’t be comfortable appearing on the show.

The infamous episode in question saw Pandya and Rahul make comments that were widely condemned as sexist and inappropriate. Pandya’s remarks about his relationships and how he “talked openly about women” drew massive backlash on social media, forcing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to issue show-cause notices and temporarily suspend both players. The incident became one of the biggest off-field scandals in Indian cricket, and the backlash extended to Johar himself, who later admitted that he lost sleep over the controversy and felt responsible for the fallout.

Since then, no cricketers have appeared on Koffee With Karan. Despite the show continuing to host Bollywood’s biggest stars and exploring bolder formats and games, Karan has chosen not to revisit the idea of blending cricket and coffee again.

As for Virat Kohli, fans might never see the cricketing icon on KJo’s iconic couch — a decision that seems final for now.

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