'It Can Break His Morale': Neeraj Ghaywan Defends Karan Johar After Controversial Homebound Comments

Director Neeraj Ghaywan has come out in support of Karan Johar, defending the filmmaker after his recent comments about Homebound sparked controversy online. The filmmaker expressed disappointment over how Karan’s comments were “misconstrued” and said it was unfair to question his sincerity towards the Oscar-selected film.

Speaking to Lallantop Cinema, Neeraj said it was “heartbreaking” to see Karan being targeted despite his genuine support for the film. “See, he has such a big production banner, he is such a big producer, he has no need to back a film like this. And he is also aware that the film won’t be a big blockbuster, it won’t earn profits for him. But the emotional ethos of the film had touched him, that’s why he decided to stand by

the film. He used to say that I just want to be a part of it in some way. Now to see people questioning his honesty, casting aspersions on him, it really breaks my heart,” Neeraj said.

He further added that distorting Karan’s words could discourage major production houses from backing meaningful, independent cinema. “Presenting something what he said somewhere by completely misquoting and misconstruing it, that can totally break his morale, this is like undervaluing the contribution he has made to the film,” the director said.

Clarifying what Karan actually meant, Neeraj explained that the producer’s statement was purely about business perspective. “What he said was completely from a business perspective, that perhaps now he will think before deciding what he will make next. He never said he won’t make a film like Homebound again,” he clarified.

Neeraj also credited Karan for standing by the project during its toughest moments. “The final product that you are watching now, after all the negotiations with the Censor Board (CBFC), the credit for all that goes to him,” he added.

Karan’s original remarks came during an interview with Komal Nahta, where he said that while Homebound earned critical acclaim, its box-office performance had made him rethink future financial decisions. The comment drew strong reactions online, forcing Karan to clarify on Instagram that his words had been “misquoted.”

“I am and will always be exceptionally proud of Homebound… it will always shine in our repertoire of films as one of our finest,” he wrote, speaking of his support for the project.