New Delhi: Karan Johar has announced Koffee With Karan Season 9 as the final season of the popular celebrity talk show. The director-producer shared what he described as an “emotional message rather than a professional announcement” about the show, which he started nearly two decades ago.
“I reached a point in my life where I realised all good things in my life must come to an end. This will be my very last season of Koffee With Karan,” he said in an Instagram post.
How It Started
The 54-year-old recalled how he started the talk show in 2004. He first shared the idea with his father, Yash Johar, telling him that he wanted to speak to two celebrities or stars of the time and create a talk show.
“He told me, ‘Karan, you are going to call your friends, talk to them, something that you do every day anyway. Who will pay you for that?’” he recalled.
Yash Johar passed away on the first day of the show’s shoot, June 26, 2004. The show premiered on August 16 that year.
The first guests on Koffee With Karan were Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, who appeared to celebrate their long-standing collaboration with Johar and the success of films such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001).
“And I’m here now, eight seasons later, 22 years later, 161 episodes later. A lot happened,” Johar said.
He recalled hosting “lovers who went on to become families, lovers who went on to become ex-lovers”, referencing to some of his guests who eventually got married.
“I put an end to the careers of national icons. I am living with the term ‘nepo’ even today. Conjecture became the national word,” he said.
Over the seasons, Johar has hosted several of the biggest names from Indian cinema, including Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Farhan Akhtar. The show has also brought international celebrities to its couch, including Hollywood actor Richard Gere.
Johar also said that wherever he goes, people ask him when the next season of the talk show will arrive, but rarely ask about his next feature film.
“I wonder why they never ask me, ‘When is my next feature film?’” he said.
Also Read: Salman Khan to make first solo appearance on Koffee with Karan’s new season
Fans React
The announcement prompted fans to question Johar’s decision to end the show.
“Please, we want 104 more seasons,” one user commented.
“Please don’t make this your last season!!! I’m yet to be successful..Please,” another user wrote.
“End of an era. End of our childhood memories almost. Don’t make this your last Karan. We love you, and we love Koffee With Karan,” another comment read.
“It is the last one. Make it as grand as possible. SRK solo episode. Vicky and Kat, RK-Alia and Deepika-Ranveer. Make it as big as possible. I know you don’t like to hear this but I literally grew up with the show,” a user wrote.
The final season of Koffee With Karan will premiere on October 14.
Edited by Maryam Hassan