Karan Johar defends Vijay and Rashmika after show backlash
- Karan Johar defended Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna following online criticism.
- The couple faced significant backlash after appearing on Koffee With Karan Season 9.
- Viewers criticized Vijay's remarks regarding his marriage to Rashmika.
- Johar condemned the attacks on the couple's families and personal relationship.
- The couple married in February 2026 after a long-standing friendship.
Karan Johar has publicly broken his silence to defend actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna after they faced intense online criticism following their appearance on the ninth season of his show, Koffee With Karan. Johar stated that while everyone is entitled to an opinion, he has a problem when viewers attempt to dictate the couple's relationship dynamics.
He questioned the authority of those commenting, asking if they are counsellors, lawyers, or family members. Johar insisted that critics should not demean the families of the stars because their relatives were not present on the couch during the filming. This intervention follows a period of intense public scrutiny regarding the couple's private lives.
Social media criticism of the couple's episode
Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna faced intense trolling after their first joint appearance on the ninth season of Koffee With Karan. Clips from the episode circulated widely on social media, sparking public debate regarding the nature of their relationship.
Many viewers expressed disapproval of Vijay’s behaviour, with some describing his remarks towards Rashmika as arrogant or disrespectful. The couple faced particularly heavy criticism following the broadcast of the programme.
Relationship history and professional collaboration
The couple first became a popular on-screen partnership with the 2018 film Geetha Govindam. Outside of their professional commitments, they maintained a close friendship, with Rashmika frequently seen visiting Vijay's family home or exercising with him.
Fans also noted the pair taking a low-key holiday together prior to their marriage in February 2026. Most recently, the couple worked together on the historical period action drama Ranabaali, directed by Rahul Sankrityan.
Details of the marriage proposal revealed on air
On Koffee With Karan, Vijay revealed that Rashmika had asked him to marry her 100 times over the course of a year before he considered the marriage. Vijay displayed the ring he gave her and explained that he only knelt during the pre-wedding celebrations.
Johar's stance on boundaries and family involvement
Karan Johar said he has a big problem when people start telling the couple how to run their relationship. He asked, "Who are you? Are you a counsellor? Are you a lawyer? Are you a member of their family?".
NDTV and The Times of India both reported that while anyone may hold an opinion about a celebrity, they should not disparage the celebrity’s family. Johar stated that viewers have no right to tell the couple how to run their marriage or involve their families in the debate.
Johar called the reaction "downright regressive". He said the couple are "beautifully in love" and "good actors in love with each other", and that their honesty should be appreciated.
Historical context of show controversies and social media reactions
Johar mentioned that a comparable controversy happened when Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh were featured on Season 8 of the programme. He pointed out that his own comments on the show have frequently been examined in detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Karan Johar Defends Vijay Deverakonda-Rashmika Mandanna After Koffee With Karan Backlash: 'Who Are You?' (ndtv.com)
- Karan Johar STANDS BY newlyweds Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda after 'Koffee With Karan 9' trolling: 'Don’t demean their families; their families weren't on that couch' (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
- Mrunal Thakur (Wikipedia — background) (en.wikipedia.org)
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