Karan Johar has finally addressed the criticism surrounding his recent production, *Nadaaniyan*, which marked the Bollywood debut of Ibrahim Ali Khan. The film, co-starring Khushi Kapoor, faced significant backlash for its dialogues and performances, with both audiences and critics questioning its quality. During the trailer launch event of his upcoming Punjabi production, *Akaal*, Karan responded to the trolling and criticism, as reported by *The Indian Express*.
When asked about the negative reception of *Nadaaniyan*, Johar referenced an old Bollywood song, saying, “I’ll just quote an old film’s song: *Kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna / Chhodo bekaar ki baatein, beet na jaaye raina*.” He acknowledged that public opinion is inevitable and emphasized that people will always have something to say, regardless of the situation.
Karan also shared his thoughts on harsh reviews from critics and online trolls, stating, “My relationship with critics never changes based on their reviews. That is their job. I don’t believe in conspiracy theories that they are deliberately trying to bring down a film.” He differentiated between professional critics and online trolls, noting that trolls often hide behind anonymity and use social media to vent personal frustrations. “Sometimes it’s the trolls who are behind such comments. They are nameless, faceless individuals, and their negativity is often a reflection of their own issues. I just pity them, nothing else,” he added.
However, Karan drew a line at certain types of criticism. He recalled an instance where a critic expressed an extreme sentiment, saying they wanted to “kick this film.” He strongly disagreed with such remarks, pointing out that actors and filmmakers are human beings with families who also read these comments. “I genuinely respect all critics. But when you read certain things, you remember that they are someone’s daughter or son, and their parents also read those comments,” he said.
In his signature style, Karan humorously referenced some of his past film titles to make a point. “I don’t have a problem with any critics. We accept your criticism, but we have our own *Nadaaniyan*, *Gustakhiyan*, and *Gehraiyaan*,” he quipped, eliciting cheers from the audience. He reiterated that criticism often reveals more about the critic than the film itself.
*Nadaaniyan*, a teen romantic comedy directed by Shauna Gautam in her debut, was released on Netflix on March 7. Despite its star-studded supporting cast, including Archana Puran Singh, Meezaan Jafri, Dia Mirza, Jugal Hansraj, Suniel Shetty, and Mahima Chaudhry, the film received largely negative reviews, with audiences criticizing its dialogues and the lead actors’ performances.
During the event, Karan also promoted his upcoming Punjabi film, *Akaal*, directed by Gippy Grewal. This marks Johar’s first foray into Punjabi cinema as a producer. The film stars Nimrat Khaira, Nikitin Dheer, Gurpreet Ghuggi, and others in key roles.
Announcing the collaboration on Instagram, Karan expressed his excitement, writing, “Our happy faces lapping up all the excitement you showed for our collaboration – *Akaal*! Standing tall on the cusp of changing horizons in films, we mark our entrance into Punjabi cinema with the strongest, kindest, and warmest hands to guide us – Gippy Grewal and team. Thank you for being our pillars of strength. We cannot wait to experience this magic with you. True Punjabis have big hearts. Thank you for giving us a home in your hearts and cinemas. *Akaal* releases worldwide in cinemas on April 10, in Punjabi and Hindi.”
