- Tuesday, March 18, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Filmmaker Karan Johar has finally addressed the backlash surrounding his production Nadaaniyan, starring debutants Ibrahimcand Khushi Kapoor. The film, which premiered on Netflix on March 7, has been widely criticized for its dialogues and performances, leading to a wave of online trolling.
During the trailer launch of his upcoming Punjabi film Akaal, Karan Johar was asked about the negativity surrounding Nadaaniyan and the harsh trolling of its lead actors.
Dismissing the criticism, Johar quoted a famous Bollywood song, saying:
“Main bas ye hi kahunga, ek purani film ka alfaaz hai ki kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna… chhodo bekaar ki baatein, beet na jaaye raina.”
(“I would just say this—there’s a famous line from an old film: People will always talk; it’s their job to do so… let go of unnecessary chatter before the night slips away.”)
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Johar acknowledged that critics have a job to do, but he rejected the notion that reviews are part of a conspiracy to bring films down.
“My relationship with the critics never changes according to their reviews. That is their work. I don’t have any conspiracy theory that they are doing it deliberately to bring down the film.”
Addressing social media trolling, Johar expressed sympathy rather than anger.
“Kabhi kabhi trollers karte hain, voh bhi benaam log hain, bechare unka apna problem hai, voh hum par nikal rahe hain. Unke liye mujhe bas taras aata hai aur kuch nahi.”
(“Sometimes, trolls do these things, but they are nameless people, poor souls who are venting their own problems on us. I only feel pity for them, nothing else.”)
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However, Johar drew the line at certain types of criticism, revealing that a film critic wrote they wanted to ‘kick the film’, which he found inappropriate.
“I genuinely respect all critics. But when you read certain things, you think they are someone’s daughter and son, their parents also read those things. A critic wrote, ‘I want to kick this film.’ I have a problem with those people who write this.”
Johar also took a lighthearted approach, playfully referencing his own film titles.
“Aapki raaye hai, hum accept karte hain, humari bhi Nadaaniyan hai, kuch Gustakhiyan hain toh kabhi Gehraiyaan hain.”
(“You have your opinions, and we accept them. We too have our moments of naivety, some missteps, and at times, even deep emotions.”)
Nadaaniyan, directed by Shauna Gautam, is a teen romantic comedy that marked the Bollywood debut of Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor. The film, released on Netflix, received negative reviews, with many criticizing the script, dialogues, and performances.
The supporting cast includes Archana Puran Singh, Meezaan Jafri, Dia Mirza, Jugal Hansraj, Suniel Shetty, and Mahima Chaudhry.
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Johar’s next production, Akaal, is his first Punjabi film as a producer. Directed by Gippy Grewal, the film features Nimrat Khaira, Nikitin Dheer, and Gurpreet Ghuggi in key roles.
Karan Johar took to Instagram to express his excitement about venturing into Punjabi cinema, writing:
“Sacche Punjabi logon ke dil bohot bade hote hain… aur humein iss dil mein aur aapke cinema gharon mein jagah dene ke liye bohot bohot shukriya!”
