Dhadak 2 trailer launch: Karan Johar BREAKS silence on stopping press screenings: “Not afraid of criticism but I was upset that the embargo was being broken…agar sab promise karte hain that…”

By Fenil Seta -

July 11, 2025 - 6:11 PM IST

Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and director Shazia Iqbal attended the launch of the trailer of Dhadak 2 at a multiplex in Mumbai. Last year, Karan Johar took a significant decision of not having screenings of his films for the press before the release. It raised a lot of eyebrows since KJo had always shared his film with the members of the media beforehand. Karan Johar was asked about it at this event and whether he’d like to have a change of mind.

Dhadak 2 trailer launch: Karan Johar BREAKS silence on stopping press screenings: “Not afraid of criticism but I was upset that the embargo was being broken…agar sab promise karte hain that…”

Karan Johar began by saying, “Everybody knows that we at Dharma Productions have always shared our films. We have always had press screenings a day before release; sometimes even before that, even though we are in turbulent times today and we do not know of the authenticity levels social media has to offer. Yet, I believe in the power of the media. I am supportive of the media. I am a member of the media myself since I have a talk show. I have full faith and I know the power of change that they can bring.”

He added, “My big issue was when you have a certain kind of embargo when you have seen the film. What I was noticing was that on social media, that embargo was being broken. People were writing very subtly about the film or indicating something they thought. Even if it was not a proper review, it was an indication and suggestion. In a sense, that also implies breaking the embargo. That’s what really upset me on a personal level and as a studio head.”

KJo further said, “I don’t want to be fixed on that all through my career because I believe that the movies should be shown to the media. Criticism is something I am not afraid of. Just how we have a right to tell our stories, a critic has a right to criticize us or dislike what we have done. It’s just that we want to show our film to you all. Can you please protect the film till the film is released? Then, write whatever you want to write on the morning of the release.”

Karan Johar continued, “If I go back (to having press screenings before release), it will be with the hope that everybody keeps that embargo alive. Agar sab promise karte hain that there will not be those leaks or there will not be those visuals put out or there would be no subtle lines about our film, I would love to share Dhadak 2 and every Dharma Production film before its release.”

Dhadak 2 releases in cinemas on August 1.

The concept of embargo

For those who are not familiar, those attending the press shows are often asked that there will be an embargo on the review or social media reaction. For instance, if the film releases on a Friday and the press show is held on Wednesday or Thursday, the journalists are informed by the film’s PR team that their review can come out on the day of release at a certain time, which is usually early morning. They are requested not to share anything about the film in public before the lifting of the embargo.

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