KANK at 20: Karan Johar Still Defending His Most Controversial Film

Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna turned 20, and Karan Johar is still defending the film that made India absolutely lose it. As per reports circulating in Indian media, the film’s raw portrayal of infidelity in marriage sparked a full-blown controversy, with audiences and critics questioning whether the filmmaker was glamorizing or endorsing extra-marital affairs. Two decades later? He’s still clearing the air.

In recent interviews, Johar has opened up about the “immense hate” he received for the film. According to industry chatter, some viewers didn’t hold back, directly telling him “Shame on you” for his creative choices. The backlash was intense, personal, and followed him for years.

Here’s the thing though: Johar has consistently maintained that KANK was never an endorsement of infidelity. Reports suggest he’s emphasized this point repeatedly, saying “the film did not endorse infidelity, that was never ever my intention.” Whether audiences were convinced or not, he’s clearly not apologizing for making a complex, provocative film that forced people to think.

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