Karan Johar has once again stirred conversation, this time by taking aim at Bollywood’s growing dependence on public relations and image-building. Speaking during a recent interaction with The Week, the
filmmaker-producer responded to a question about the industry’s aggressive publicity machinery and said that actors should focus less on curated perception and more on their actual craft.
Karan Johar On Bollywood’s PR Game
Addressing the issue, Karan said, “I think Bollywood should stop doing PR. It will be much better. They should let their achievement speak for itself because unfortunately all of the PR is now paid PR. If you want to say ‘You are looking gorgeous’, you just have to pay. If you want to say that you are the best actor on planet Earth, you have to pay.”
The comment came in response to an audience question that referred to actors such as Janhvi Kapoor and Shanaya Kapoor. However, Karan clarified that his criticism was not directed at any one person, but at the larger culture of over-marketing that has taken over the industry.
He added, “So I think we are on over drive mode when it comes to PR. So whether they are doing method marketing or not is secondary. They should stop marketing themselves and let their work speak for themselves. I don’t mean the people you are talking about I mean everyone in general. Because I think PR’s becoming into overdrive mode. There’s a certain way of doing it. Publicity, marketing- these are very important work categories and this should be treated in that specific way.”
‘Are People Liking It Or Are They Paid To Like It?’
Karan also spoke about how paid publicity has blurred the line between genuine audience appreciation and manufactured buzz. According to him, the problem arises when everything appears to be available at a price, making it difficult to understand what is truly connecting with people.
He said, “Now everything is available at a price and that is something that could be deeply upsetting because then you really can’t gauge what’s connecting and what’s now. Are people liking it or are paid to like it? I don’t know, I can’t tell half the time. Its confusing me because even I am sometimes paying for it.”
His remarks have sparked debate online, especially given that Karan himself has been one of Bollywood’s most influential producers and has long operated within the ecosystem of film promotions, celebrity branding and media visibility.
Karan Johar’s Work Front
On the work front, Karan Johar also shared an update about his popular chat show Koffee With Karan. The filmmaker revealed that the ninth season of the show is expected to premiere around Diwali 2026.
Karan last directed Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, and continues to back several projects under Dharma Productions.
