After a hiatus of seven years, Karan Johar returned as a feature film director in 2023 with the Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt-starrer Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani (RARKPK). Known for creating films with elitist themes that also set unrealistic expectations in romantic relationships, Johar’s movies have frequently been criticised for their perceived cringe-worthiness. However, RARKPK defied expectations, garnering widespread praise. Despite its success, Johar recently admitted to feeling immense apprehension before the romantic comedy family drama’s release, concerned that the social media trolling and criticism he faces could negatively impact the film’s performance.
“I’d seen a lot of nonsense that happened during the Covid time and a lot of the trolling. People had an impression of me through those seven years about things that were coming out. It was a tough time during the Covid when things were happening and Bollywood was being bashed and somehow I had become the poster boy of all that. Then you also begin to wonder if people really dislike you and not know the person you really are and if they do, will they not show up to watch your movie,” he said during a chat with journalist Faye D’Souza on her YouTube channel.
“I never let trolls get to me but this time it had gone too far. You walk in (to your house) and see a news anchor screaming about you and your mother watching it and breaking down every second day. You would expect people to show empathy and compassion and understand the circumstance we’re in. There was one news anchor who was saying like ‘something is wrong, what are you doing Karan?’ I was like ‘but, what has it got to do with me?’ They further would be like, ‘this has gone wrong, that has gone wrong, what do you have to say Karan?’ There are 18,000 other people in the industry, can you ask them? Why is it me who has to do something,” he wondered.
“At one point, my mother said, ‘do a havan (a fire ritual performed by Hindus on special occasions). there’s a lot of negative aura and energy around you.’ Once she just broke down and she said they don’t know who her son really is. Of course my mother will say that about me; but she asked, ‘why don’t they know that you’re loving and giving?’ I really don’t know. Maybe it’s the talk show that makes them believe I am bitchy and catty and sits on some high throne of entitlement, saying ‘make your career or break your career’. So, when Rocky Aur Rani was releasing, I just wanted it to become a success,” Johar added.
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