Karan Johar on Celebrity Trolling: Filmmaker and television host Karan Johar has strongly criticised the online trolling faced by Bollywood couples Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone and Vijay Deverakonda-Rashmika Mandanna. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, the filmmaker opened up about the criticism surrounding the couples’ appearances on Koffee With Karan and described the excessive scrutiny of their personal relationships as “downright regressive”.
Karan Johar, who has hosted several seasons of the popular celebrity chat show, expressed disappointment over how viewers analyse every statement made by celebrities and subsequently pass judgments about their personal lives. He particularly questioned the tendency of social media users to dictate how couples should behave in their relationships.
His comments have once again brought the discussion around celebrity privacy, online trolling and social media criticism into the spotlight.
Karan Johar Defends Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone
During the interview, Karan Johar recalled the criticism faced by Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone after their joint appearance on Koffee With Karan Season 8.
The couple appeared together in the opening episode of the eighth season, where they spoke openly about their relationship, dating experiences and marriage. However, several statements from the episode attracted online scrutiny, with social media users analysing their relationship and questioning different aspects of their personal lives.
Reacting to the backlash, Karan described the criticism as “downright regressive”. He also defended the couple, appreciating their honesty during the conversation.
“They are beautifully in love. Such good actors in love with each other,” Karan said.
He further questioned why the couple’s openness was being judged instead of appreciated.
“They were just being honest about their lives. Since when should honesty be judged? You should be appreciative of someone’s honesty,” he added.
The filmmaker made it clear that celebrities should not have to face unnecessary judgment simply because they choose to share personal experiences on a public platform.
Karan Johar Questions Social Media Users Over Vijay-Rashmika Trolling
Karan Johar also addressed the criticism directed at Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna following their appearance on Koffee With Karan Season 9.
The couple appeared on the show in October 2026, where they discussed their relationship, marriage and journey together. Their conversation attracted significant attention, but some viewers also criticised their interactions and interpreted certain remarks negatively.
Speaking about the controversy, Karan said that everyone has the right to express an opinion. However, he strongly objected to people attempting to dictate how a couple should conduct their relationship.
“Everyone’s entitled to an opinion. But when you start telling them what to do in that relationship, I have a very big problem,” he said.
He then questioned the authority of people making such personal recommendations.
“Who are you? Are you a counsellor? Are you a lawyer? Are you a member of their family?” Karan asked.
His remarks highlighted the difference between expressing an opinion about a celebrity appearance and attempting to control or judge someone’s personal decisions.
Karan Johar Says Families Should Not Be Dragged Into Celebrity Controversies
One of the strongest points raised by Karan Johar during the interview was his objection to social media users bringing the families of celebrities into online controversies.
According to the filmmaker, people are free to discuss public appearances and express their views about celebrities. However, targeting family members who were not part of the original conversation crosses a line.
“You are commenting on their families. You can have an opinion on any celebrity. Don’t demean their families. Their families weren’t on that couch,” he said.
Karan’s statement reflects a broader debate about the boundaries between public interest and private life.
Celebrity interviews often become major talking points on social media, where individual statements can quickly turn into viral discussions. However, Karan believes that criticism should not become an excuse to involve family members or make personal attacks.
Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s Koffee With Karan Controversy
Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s appearance on Koffee With Karan 9 became a widely discussed episode, particularly after their conversation about marriage and their relationship.
During the episode, Rashmika recalled telling Vijay that they should get married. Vijay responded humorously that she would have to ask him 100 times. Rashmika subsequently revealed that she had continued asking him over the course of a year.
The conversation attracted mixed reactions online. Some viewers interpreted Vijay’s remarks negatively, while others viewed the exchange as a personal conversation between two people who were comfortable sharing their relationship story.
Following the episode, several social media posts and videos analysed their interactions, generating further debate.
The controversy eventually prompted the couple to respond publicly. Rashmika defended their relationship, while Vijay shared a message expressing happiness with his married life.
The couple’s responses also became widely discussed across entertainment platforms.
Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda Respond to Online Criticism
After facing criticism following their television appearance, Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda addressed the online discussion through social media.
Rashmika shared a detailed message in which she spoke about the criticism surrounding their relationship. She questioned why outsiders were attempting to define what their relationship should look like.
She also expressed her happiness with Vijay and made it clear that she stood by her decision.
Vijay subsequently shared a message describing Rashmika as his best friend and wife. He expressed that the two were happy together and did not need outsiders to determine the direction of their relationship.
Their responses added another dimension to the discussion, with fans and social media users continuing to debate celebrity privacy and public scrutiny.
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone Also Faced Online Scrutiny
Karan Johar’s comments about Vijay and Rashmika also brought back memories of the online discussions surrounding Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone’s Koffee With Karan Season 8 appearance.
The couple’s conversation about their dating history and relationship attracted considerable attention. Their candid discussion became a subject of social media analysis, with different viewers interpreting their statements in different ways.
Karan believes that the couple was simply being honest about their lives and should not have been judged for sharing their experiences.
By bringing up both couples, the filmmaker highlighted what he sees as a recurring pattern in celebrity culture: public figures share personal stories, and those stories subsequently become subjects of intense online scrutiny.
Karan Johar Talks About Social Media and Monetised Content
Another interesting aspect of Karan Johar’s interview was his discussion about the changing nature of social media content.
He acknowledged that every statement made by celebrities is increasingly analysed and turned into online discussions.
According to him, social media creators and entertainment platforms often examine celebrity conversations because such content attracts attention and engagement.
Karan also acknowledged that online content has become monetisable, which can encourage clickbait headlines and provocative commentary.
He explained that everyone is doing their job, whether it is a filmmaker creating entertainment or a content creator analysing a celebrity interview.
However, he maintained that people should be allowed to have opinions without attempting to dictate personal decisions.
Drawing a comparison with film criticism, Karan explained that he has no problem with critics expressing their views about his movies. His objection arises when people go beyond criticism and attempt to tell others what decisions they should make.
Karan Johar Says Couples Should Decide Their Own Future
Towards the end of the conversation, Karan Johar reiterated that people should not attempt to decide the future of someone else’s relationship.
He said that viewers can analyse celebrity appearances and express their opinions, but they cannot determine how a couple should live together.
“Don’t tell a couple what they should do. You can analyse what you think of them, but you can’t give them their endgame,” he said.
Karan also described both couples as exceptionally happy in their respective relationships.
His comments have sparked renewed conversations about celebrity culture, online criticism and the importance of respecting personal boundaries.
Conclusion
Karan Johar’s latest remarks have brought attention to the growing discussion around celebrity trolling and privacy. By defending Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone and Vijay Deverakonda-Rashmika Mandanna, the filmmaker has questioned the tendency of social media users to judge relationships based on edited clips and public appearances.
His central message is that celebrities can be criticised for their professional work and public statements, but their personal relationships should not become an opportunity for unnecessary interference.
As online discussions continue to influence entertainment news, Karan’s comments have added another perspective to the debate about where public opinion should end and personal boundaries should begin.
