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In 2019, Karan Johar invited Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul on Koffee with Karan, and the massive controversy that erupted after the episode went on air left the host scared forever. Karan Johar decided not to invite any cricketer on his coffee couch soon after the backlash grew, and the streaming platform pulled down the episode. In a candid conversation with tennis star Sania Mirza, Johar talked about his show Koffee with Karan. When the sports star asked if he had ever invited Virat, he shared, “I have never asked Virat. And now, I am not asking any cricketers after what happened with Hardik [Pandya] and [KL] Rahul.” He added, “There are many who I just felt wouldn’t come, so I never asked them in the first place.” Further in the conversation, he spoke about a Bollywood star he keeps calling but who has refused to be on the show, and instantly named “Mukku bhai”, saying, “He’s come before, but for the last three seasons, he’s said no.” About Hardik–Rahul’s Koffee with Karan episode The Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul Koffee with Karan episode sparked a massive controversy in 2019 that shook the cricketing world and beyond. The cricketers appeared on the show hosted by Karan Johar, where Hardik’s brash comments about women, boasting about his sexual encounters, and his alleged “sexist” remarks shocked viewers and triggered nationwide outrage. His comments were widely condemned as misogynistic and sexist, leading to severe backlash not just from the public but also from cricketing authorities. The BCCI took swift action, suspending both players from the Indian cricket team and issuing show-cause notices. The scandal had far-reaching consequences, with both players facing the possibility of missing major tournaments, and it left a lasting stain on their careers. After the incident, Rahul spoke about it and shared that being suspended from the Indian cricket team after the controversy was a huge shock. In a chat on WTF Is with Nikhil Kamath, the Team India cricketer said the interview changed him completely. “The interview was a different world. That changed me. Completely changed me,” Rahul said.
