Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor revisited their fallout with Karan Johar during the latest episode of Koffee With Karan Season 9. The actors opened up about the disagreement that followed Bawaal being scheduled around the release of Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023, with the conversation revealing how the professional disagreement turned into a personal fallout.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Bawaal stars Varun and Janhvi and was originally scheduled to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on July 27, 2023. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, directed by Karan Johar, was scheduled for a theatrical release the following day, July 28.
Varun Dhawan says Karan Johar ‘ghosted’ them
Recalling the disagreement, Varun said, “He just ghosted us and stopped talking. She knew you were fighting with her. I didn’t know you were fighting with me. For one week, I don’t think Karan was capable of fighting with me in my head.”
Janhvi then reminded Varun that Karan had called him a “child” during the disagreement. Varun responded that he had also described Johar as a child and said he still stood by his comment. “I said he was a child, which is nothing to get so offended about. I still stand by that,” Varun said.
Karan Johar explains why he was upset
Karan explained that he felt hurt because he was releasing his own film while Bawaal was initially coming close to its release date. “I was releasing a film of mine and you came on that same date. I am not supposed to be upset,” Karan said.
Varun pointed out that he had informed Johar that Bawaal might have to be released on that date. Karan, however, said the situation became difficult because the date had not been formally announced and he had limited options. “You weren’t announcing your date and I had to come because there are no dates. And then you come on a date and I was quiet. I didn’t reply. I didn’t pick up your call. I just didn’t reply to your messages,” Karan recalled.
He said he was particularly upset after receiving a message from Varun telling him to stop “acting like a child.”
Varun compares their equation to a family relationship
Varun explained that his use of the word “child” came from the paternal equation he shares with Karan. “There is a paternal relationship. I tell my dad also, ‘Dad, you are behaving like a child.’ I tell my mother also,” Varun said.
Karan responded that Varun could speak that way to his parents, while Varun maintained that he viewed their relationship similarly.
Karan also described the fallout with Janhvi as resembling a breakup, saying there had been genuine hurt involved. “Janhvi and I, I behaved like it was a breakup,” Karan said.
Varun described his own disagreement with Karan differently, calling it “a one-sided fight.” Karan, however, maintained that there had been real pain involved.
“There was pain. There was a proper fight. I was hurt with both of you,” Karan said.
Janhvi reveals she gained six kilos during the fallout
Janhvi also spoke about how the disagreement affected her personally. She revealed, “I gained weight when we stopped talking. I became six kilos heavier. I started losing weight after I solved the fight.”
Varun says he changed his release date
The conversation also revealed how the situation eventually began to resolve. Varun said he changed Bawaal's release date and later attended Karan's birthday celebration, where he helped bring Johar and Janhvi back together.
“Karan’s birthday was there, and obviously I was not invited initially. Then obviously I worked my thing, and then I got invited again. I changed my release date basically. I changed it because of my selfless nature,” Varun said.
He recalled believing that two people who cared about each other should be able to move past their differences.
“I just felt that when two people who love each other are having differences, they should just forgive each other and be with each other. And I knew that if Janhvi shows up and you see her, you will melt,” he said.
Varun then encouraged Janhvi to attend the birthday celebration. According to his account, she initially hesitated because she did not feel appropriately dressed, but eventually went after Varun told her he would leave.
Karan recalled what happened when he saw Janhvi at the party: “Then I cried, and she cried and we became okay.”
Varun jokes about Karan's dramatic reaction
Varun later suggested that Karan could be upset with him but should not remain angry. “I don’t think that you should be allowed to be angry with me. I think you can be upset, but you can’t be angry,” Varun said.
He also poked fun at Karan's reaction during the fallout, recalling some of the dramatic things the filmmaker had said.
“Karan, you said very dramatic shit. Like, ‘It’s not going to be the same now. A lot of people have disappointed me. But this hurt. This hurt.’ You became Bachchan from K3G,” Varun joked, referring to Amitabh Bachchan's character in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.
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