Filmmaker Karan Johar has officially opened up about why Koffee With Karan is concluding after its ongoing ninth season, bringing a 22-year television and streaming legacy to a close. Speaking in a recent interview with Anupama Chopra for The Hollywood Reporter India, the Udta Teer producer explained the reason behind his big decision.
Speaking about why season 9 is the last season of Koffee With Karan, the filmmaker said he took this decision for a couple of reasons.
Sharing the main reason behind the decision, Karan said it has become increasingly difficult for celebrities to sit on the couch and speak freely as they once did. According to the filmmaker, intense media scrutiny, relentless trolling, and the backlash that follows harmless remarks have stripped away the show’s spontaneous spirit.
He admitted the atmosphere has grown awkward, noting that what was meant to be lighthearted, candid conversation is now often perceived as him trying to instigate controversy. However, the filmmaker clarified that in all the previous episodes that went viral, he never intentionally provoked anyone—remarks were simply blown out of proportion online.
Expressing empathy for his guests, Karan said no celebrity deserves the level of personal backlash they face today, citing Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul as examples. Taking responsibility as the host, he noted that guests were no longer arriving in the spirit of open self-expression—the show’s core essence—prompting him to call it an end.
Revealing the second season, Karan said movie stars don’t want to go out, noting that stars aren’t giving interviews or coming out. He also added that actors today prefer quiet, controlled film promotions over traditional long-form interviews, making it much harder to get stars to open up or put together exciting guest pairings for the show.
Beyond the changing landscape of celebrity interviews, the filmmaker shared that he wants to dedicate the next phase of his career to storytelling behind the camera. Now 54, the director revealed that he has set a personal goal to direct at least three feature films before he turns 60.
Koffee With Karan Season 9 is currently streaming on JioHotstar.
