Karan Johar recently addressed a wave of criticism accusing him of nepotism, sparked by an interview with Jigra director Vasan Bala. In a viral clip, Bala explained that Karan had shared an incomplete version of his script with Alia Bhatt. Bala admitted he was initially upset, saying he would have polished the draft had he known Alia was receiving it. Social media, however, misinterpreted this comment, and many began accusing Johar of promoting nepotism once again.
In response to the growing chatter, Karan took to Instagram to share his thoughts. He posted a quote by Salmiah, which read: “We have to be strong to ensure our life is stable enough to shut some negative people’s mouths.” He then elaborated on his position, writing, “Twitter became X and became my X a while ago… I broke up with the nauseous noise and muted the unwarranted angst … but social media is like the Loch Ness monster—it gets to you even when you can’t see it.”
Johar expressed frustration at how the situation had spiralled, explaining that the misinterpretation of Bala's comment, specifically about him sharing the script with Alia without grammar checks, had initially seemed ridiculous. However, the filmmaker admitted that the constant misreading had now begun to irritate him. Karan emphasised his ongoing respect for Bala, describing him as one of his "most talented and wonderful collaborators."
He urged his followers and critics to be more thoughtful, adding, "I fold my hands and tell everyone please hear and read entire interviews before making clickbait assumptions. ! Loads of Love to all of you …."
In the original interview with Tried and Refused Productions, Vasan Bala revealed that he had sent Karan a "very kacha pakka email," filled with rough ideas and stream-of-consciousness thoughts. He recalled, “I had written a very kacha pakka email, stream of consciousness thoughts… sent it to Karan and 6-7 hours later, he called saying that I have already sent it to Alia and I was really not happy with it.” Bala added, "I was like I would have at least done some spell check, grammar check, hygiene, written some very nice hero entry."
Despite his initial reservations, Bala expressed his gratitude toward Karan for his faith in the project. Talking to X, the director reposted the interview snippet, writing, “Karan knew better and can’t thank him enough for the rest of my life for trusting his instincts. It’s the most magnanimous gesture anyone can do to help someone make a film…Trust!”
Talking about the film Jigra, Starring Alia Bhatt, is slated for release on October 11 and will be available in both Hindi and Telugu. The film is produced under the banner of Dharma Productions in association with Viacom18 Studios and Eternal Sunshine Productions. Jigra is directed by the talented Vasan Bala. The film is expected to appeal to Hindi and Telugu audiences of India simultaneously.
