The latest episode of Koffee with Karan Season 8 with Kajol and Rani Mukherjee was a reminder of what Bollywood used to be — extravagant, entertaining, exploitative.
The stars were candid on Karan Johar’s controversial couch, sharing their thoughts on their career highlights, relationships, and the industry at large. But what became explicitly clear through their conversation is just how different things used to be in their day — and how aware they are of it.
While Bollywood of the 1990s and early 2000s was steeped in romantic nostalgia, it was also super problematic. The real question is whether things have changed today.
In an industry that runs on perception, we’re yet to see a celebrity on the couch dissect the ways in which Bollywood is holding itself to a higher standard. Or whether it’s holding itself to a higher standard at all.
All was ‘okay’ back then
The Kuch Kuch Hota Hai era was an exciting time of filmmaking, where anything went. It was a time of chiffon sarees in the Alps, Oxford Street clothes in song sequences, cut-throat competition, and typecasting. Their generation of films held a precarious balance between a traditional and a modern (though still patriarchal) India. This was a Bollywood brimming with promise and potential, a confident industry testing the waters to introduce a whole new cultural generation.
Starving Rani Mukherjee to look ‘hotter’ during Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was just part of the process (now rationalised because it is crystallised in time). This is how things worked in the ’90s, they shrugged. It was even encouraged by her mother, clarified Johar, and Mukherjee quickly testified that she didn’t have a problem with it. Kajol cried foul, jokingly accusing Johar of abuse — while Mukherjee piped up for him, talking about his famed generosity.
Sitting on a couch and reflecting on the film 25 years after it came out leaves the viewer with a sense of relief that the age has ended. But has it really ended? Instead, these stories were dismissed — but not denounced.
It’s swept under the rug as something that could be seen as problematic today but definitely wasn’t back then. The problem is that this kind of thinking still permeates the industry. And going by the fact that Johar never fails to bring up the ruthless nature of cancel culture and the “woke brigade”, talking about such a practice today (even though actors are still under pressure to fit in) is avoided because of the fear of cancellation. Not because it’s wrong.
Ageism and sexism
Both Kajol and Mukherjee exuded confidence on the show, their camaraderie shining through their comfort on Johar’s couch.
Kajol and Johar’s friendship and frequent collaboration is a Bollywood story in itself. Mukherjee, YRF Studio’s “maalkin”, is totally at ease on the show. The three stars were self-assured and honest, sinking into the ease of their bond. The whole episode was a fun celebration of the equation that the trio shared and their hit films, many of which have come to define the way we see Bollywood.
These leading ladies grew up in a Bollywood with different pressures, which they seemed dismissive of. Instead, they brought up important issues with the industry today.
Why can’t there be a mature love story starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol today? Because filmmakers like Karan Johar aren’t making them, quipped Mukherjee — and perhaps because audiences wouldn’t want to watch a film like that anymore. The stars of today are too stressed out, said Kajol, later adding that they should also be unafraid to be themselves and lean into their unique personalities.
Both of these statements give us an insight into the Bollywood of today, especially since Kajol’s 22-year-old daughter has grown up with many leading actors today.
At one point, the conversation veered toward ageism in the industry and how women “mature” faster than their male counterparts. The poignancy of the moment lies in the fact that both women are now working in films and shows with storylines considered ‘age-appropriate’ — like Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway and The Trial — while their male colleagues are still romancing co-stars half their age.
Holding accountable
Koffee with Karan has always been a great window into the lives of stars and their film sets. And this episode was no exception — we learned that Kajol and Rani Mukherjee had an icy relationship for decades, only thawing after the deaths of their fathers. We got some anecdotes from the shoot of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and stories about Aditya Chopra and Ajay Devgn, all peppered through with their inside jokes.
But the show is actually a litmus test for how aware the industry is of itself.
The question of why we can’t have an SRK and Kajol blockbuster today is a very legitimate and layered question, calling to account not just filmmakers but production houses too. It’s not about the “shelf-life” of actors, it’s about what kinds of stories can be told and what kinds of nuance can be unpacked in film today.
But instead of exploring these questions, the show has largely been about stardom within the confines of the industry.
We’ve seen plenty of conversations around cancel culture. We’ve seen conversations around sexism and body image issues, and we’ve also seen conversations around the ways in which OTT is changing things. Nepotism has been a mainstay over the last two seasons especially, with Johar even adopting a more reflective tone to his episodes.
About the one thing she wished her generation could have had, Kajol said it is social media. And that double-edged sword makes all the difference. Today’s stars have their own platform to speak up and speak out, and there’s lots more scrutiny on industry standards.
But we’ve not yet seen a dialogue around changing the industry for the better.
(Edited by Humra Laeeq)