Bollywood’s very own nepotism mafia Karan Johar on Wednesday took to social media platforms to play the old marketing trope of ‘shock value’ to gain momentum for his rag of a show, “Koffee with Karan”. Announcing that the gossip show will not return for another season, Karan initially remarked that after six seasons – it was time to pack the bags.
He said, “Koffee with Karan has been a part of my life, and yours, for 6 seasons now. I would like to think we have made an impact and even found our place in pop culture history. And so, it is with a heavy heart that I announce that Koffee With Karan will not be returning.”
However, just when people started celebrating that the Indian audience had finally gotten rid of a wannabe, trash show that only thrived on tomfoolery and gossip– Karan returned and specified that the show is not returning on television but will soon stream on OTT.
Karan wrote, “Koffee With Karan will not be returning…on TV! Because every great story needs a good twist, I am delighted to announce that Season 7 of Koffee With Karan will stream exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar!”
He further added, “The biggest movie stars from across India will return to the couch to spill the beans while drinking some koffee. There will be games, there will be rumours put to rest – and there will be conversations that go deep, about love, loss and everything we’ve all been through over the last few years. Koffee With Karan, ‘streaming’ soon, only on Disney+ Hotstar. Toodles!”
Why take the show to OTT? Failing TRP ratings?
It is imperative to note that Koffee with Karan has largely been targeted and slandered by a significant section of the population, owing to its vane, pretentious and gimmicky style that often relies on asking deeply problematic misogynistic questions and digging into the personal lives of morally corrupt Bollywood stars.
However, taking the show from its parent source, that is television to OTT also suggests that the ratings had already started to crumble during the show’s last run in 2019. Barring the episode of Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul which landed both in hot waters – Koffee with Karan season 6 was largely forgotten by the audience.
And as we understand, OTT platforms in recent times have become a dumping yard of poorly crafted content which apparently Koffee with Karan epitomises. Moreover, the show, which was launched in the early 2000s has seen its audience grow, mature and reject below-par content. The same audience that innocuously indulged in Karan’s vanity as it appeared cool is now openly calling him out.
The generation that watched the show is calling it out
The generation that watched Koffee with Karan when it launched is now in their late 20s and early thirties. They despise Karan and his entire brand that only indulges in circle-jerky behaviour — partially because they can see through the facade and understand how problematic of a person Karan Johar is on the show.
Thus, by taking the show to an OTT platform like Disney+ Hotstar – Karan is attempting to seek a new target audience. For this particular demography, Karan is the old sleazebag of the industry who will do anything to market his show. They’d rather watch new-gen actors that are known for their acting chops such as Rajkumar Rao, and Pankaj Tripathi than indulge in shows that provide nothing in return at the end of the day.
The Indian audience is evolving
The age of blind celebrity worship and fandom is slowly seeing a shift in India. The demigod status of Indian stars is getting reduced. While Shahrukh may have thousands standing outside his home on the occasion of Eid – it may still not guarantee him a fiscally successful movie which he hasn’t had in a long time.
A similar yardstick can be applied to Koffee with Karan and its host. In the day and age of streaming, television is fast becoming redundant – especially when the show has nothing significant to offer. OTT is the last ditch effort to revive the toxic show which is on its last legs and the shock marketing tactics just prove that.
Koffee with Karan – a platform for Karan’s gossiping and problematic behaviour
Actress Kangana Ranaut time and again has mentioned that Karan Johar spearheads the grotesque culture of nepotism in the industry through this particular show. In an interview on Karan’s show, Kangana called him the ‘torch-bearer of nepotism’ and the ‘snooty’ Bollywood mafia.
Read More: Karan Johar is Bollywood’s cockroach, the one that can survive anything
Karan Johar on several occasions has confessed that he is part of several Bollywood WhatsApp groups that are formed solely with the purpose to manufacture gossip and leak it into the media. And that about summarises the role of Karan in the modern media landscape. He is the neighbourhood Aunty who only props up her relatives and plies her trade by exchanging gossip.
Koffee with Karan may be returning to OTT but the audience should teach the Bollywood nepotism mafia leader that he will not have his way by entirely boycotting his show. It’s high time that we as a modern, civilized society refuse to be part of such clown behaviour and rag of a show.