Karan Johar

Johar sued YouTuber CarryMinati/Ajey Nagar and other defendants following the release of Coffee With Jalan, a parody inspired by Koffee with Karan which he alleged contained vulgar and defamatory remarks. A Mumbai court temporarily ordered the removal and non-distribution of certain content.

State of the evidence

Legal action and interim injunction documented

Attribution

Johar as claimant in a dispute over a parody targeting him

Dharma Productions announced in 2021 that Dostana 2 would be recast although Kartik Aaryan had already filmed part of the movie. The episode prompted reports of conflict, "unprofessional behaviour", camps and the exclusion of an outsider.

State of the evidence

Official recasting and subsequent statements documented

Attribution

Direct professional responsibility as head of Dharma

Divya Khossla accused Jigra of being an unauthorised copy of Savi and also alleged box-office figure inflation. Johar responded with a cryptic post about "silence" in the face of "fools", triggering another public confrontation.

State of the evidence

Public allegations and responses from director/producer documented

Attribution

Producer directly targeted by the controversy

An old video in which Johar explained that he had initially tried to discourage Aditya Chopra from casting Anushka Sharma in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, joking that he wanted to "murder her career", went viral in 2023 and reignited accusations of gatekeeping.

State of the evidence

Video of a public statement and backlash documented

Attribution

Direct personal responsibility for a retrospective admission of casting preference

Screenwriter Vishal Singh accused Dharma of using his story Bunny Rani for JugJugg Jeeyo after receiving it by email. He sought an injunction and ₹1.5 crore in damages; the court ordered a screening of the film before its release.

State of the evidence

Civil action, court screening and interim ruling documented

Attribution

Producer/Dharma directly targeted

A video filmed at Johar's home showing several celebrities was presented by some politicians as evidence of a "drug party". It resurfaced during the NCB case linked to Sushant.

State of the evidence

Video, complaints and responses from Johar/NCB documented

Attribution

Host of the party; illegal drug consumption unproven

Following Sushant Singh Rajput's death, Johar became a central target of campaigns accusing Bollywood of nepotism and exclusion of outsiders. His programme, old jokes and casting choices were revived as symbols of this system.

State of the evidence

Public backlash and international coverage documented

Attribution

Reputational and industry responsibility, not causal responsibility for the death

A lawyer sought the registration of a case against Johar and other Bollywood figures, alleging that they had deprived Sushant of opportunities and contributed to his suicide.

State of the evidence

Complaint and dismissal order documented

Attribution

Alleged criminal responsibility not examined on its merits in these proceedings

Madhur Bhandarkar accused Johar and Dharma of using a variation of the title Bollywood Wives after his request to transfer the title had been refused. Several professional organisations sent notices to Dharma, and Bhandarkar denounced conduct he described as "morally and ethically" wrong.

State of the evidence

Public allegations, professional organisations' notices and apology documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility as producer

The episode featuring Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul caused a crisis following remarks considered sexist, misogynistic and racially insensitive. The players were suspended by the BCCI, and the BCCC considered that certain remarks should have been removed from a pre-recorded programme.

State of the evidence

Broadcast, BCCI sanction and BCCC notice documented

Attribution

Editorial responsibility as presenter/producer of the programme, without being the author of the most serious remarks

On Koffee with Karan, Kangana Ranaut accused Johar of being the "flag-bearer of nepotism" and a symbol of the "movie mafia". Johar responded that she was playing the victim card and that he was free to choose whom he worked with.

State of the evidence

Statements by both parties documented

Attribution

Reputational and industry responsibility

At the IIFA Awards, Johar, Saif Ali Khan and Varun Dhawan joked about nepotism and chanted "nepotism rocks", in a segment widely perceived as a dig at the absent Kangana.

State of the evidence

Public segment and apologies documented

Attribution

Direct personal responsibility

Following India-Pakistan tensions, the MNS threatened to block Ae Dil Hai Mushkil because of Fawad Khan's presence. Mediation involving the Maharashtra government led to controversial commitments, including a demand for a ₹5 crore contribution to an army fund.

State of the evidence

MNS threats, government mediation and statements documented

Attribution

Producer/director directly targeted by a political campaign

At the Jaipur Literature Festival, Johar stated that freedom of expression was "the biggest joke" and democracy the second, explaining that he feared complaints and prosecution when speaking out. The remarks fuelled the nationwide controversy over "intolerance".

State of the evidence

Recorded public statements and political reactions documented

Attribution

Direct personal responsibility for a public statement

Karan Johar took part in the AIB Knockout Roast, a deliberately vulgar show that prompted several complaints and FIRs for obscenity and offensive language. The Bombay High Court temporarily prevented the police from arresting him and other participants.

State of the evidence

FIRs and Bombay High Court orders documented

An organisation brought proceedings against the Student of the Year team, arguing that describing the mythological figure Radha as "sexy" in a song offended religious sentiments. An FIR was registered against Johar and others following a magistrate's order.

State of the evidence

Private complaint, magistrate's order and FIR documented

Attribution

Director directly named

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists disrupted screenings of Wake Up Sid because the film used the name "Bombay" rather than "Mumbai". Johar met Raj Thackeray, apologised and promised a disclaimer/correction.

State of the evidence

Disrupted screenings, meeting and public apology documented

Attribution

Producer directly involved in responding to the campaign

Biswaroop Roy Choudhary, who had applied to register the title Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna as a trademark, attempted to prevent Johar from using it for his film and sought an injunction and an account of profits.

State of the evidence

Delhi High Court judgment documented

Attribution

Direct defendant in trademark litigation