Karan Johar has spoken out against the online criticism aimed at Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna after their appearance on Koffee With Karan Season 9. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, the filmmaker and talk show host questioned why strangers feel entitled to tell a married couple how to run their relationship. He also called out those who dragged the couple’s families into the debate, calling the behaviour “downright regressive” when comparing it to the backlash Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh faced in 2023.
What Karan Johar Said About the Backlash
The Koffee With Karan host did not hold back when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India about the reaction to Vijay and Rashmika’s episode. He made a clear distinction between having an opinion about celebrities and trying to control their personal choices.
“Everyone’s entitled to an opinion. But when you start telling them what to do in that relationship, I have a very big problem. Who are you? Are you a counsellor? Are you a lawyer? Are you a member of their family?”
Karan also objected strongly to comments that targeted the couple’s families, who were never part of the conversation on the show.
“You are commenting on their families. You can have an opinion on any celebrity. Don’t demean their families. Their families weren’t on that couch.”
The filmmaker further questioned why viewers were offering unsolicited relationship advice to a couple they do not know personally. He said the criticism had crossed a line from analysis into interference.
The Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh Comparison
Karan Johar pointed out that this was not the first time a couple had faced intense scrutiny after appearing on his show. Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh opened Season 8 of Koffee With Karan in 2023, and their comments about the early days of their relationship led to a similar wave of online criticism.
Calling that reaction “downright regressive”, Karan defended the couple’s honesty.
“They are beautifully in love. Such good actors in love with each other. They were just being honest about their lives. Since when should honesty be judged? You should be appreciative of someone’s honesty.”
The host also noted that he himself has faced scrutiny for things he has said on the show, and that almost every line spoken on Koffee With Karan gets analysed and dissected online.
What Happened on the Koffee With Karan Episode
Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna appeared together on the second episode of Koffee With Karan Season 9, which streamed on October 21, 2026, on JioHotstar. It was the couple’s first joint appearance on the show after their wedding in February 2026, and they spoke openly about their relationship and marriage.
One moment from the episode drew particular attention. Vijay revealed that Rashmika had asked him to marry her nearly 100 times over the course of a year before he agreed. The comment spread quickly on social media, with many viewers calling Vijay a “red flag” and questioning the dynamics of their relationship.
Rashmika had explained on the show that the conversation was never about a number. The couple had discussed marriage over time, with Vijay wanting to be sure about the practical aspects of their future before saying yes.
Rashmika Mandanna’s Response to the Criticism
On October 26, 2026, Rashmika Mandanna posted a long statement on Instagram addressing the backlash directly. She defended her husband and pushed back against what she described as bullying disguised as concern for her well-being.
“Bitch about me all you want. I can take it. But talking about my family without knowing them? That’s not feminism. That’s bullying dressed up as feminism.”
Rashmika clarified that the proposal conversation had been taken out of context. She said she was never asking for a grand gesture, and that marriage for them was about building a life together.
“It’s okay that I knew exactly what I wanted. And it was equally okay that he wanted time to think through the practical things in life and be sure.”
She also made her feelings for Vijay very clear.
“I am OBSESSED with my man. When did that become a bad thing? I would do it a thousand times — 100 is nothing. It’s really that simple.”
Rashmika added that people who were now questioning her relationship had not been there during the difficult moments in her life, while Vijay had stood by her through them.
Cybercrime Complaint Filed in Hyderabad
The couple’s team took the matter beyond social media. On October 26, 2026, a representative of Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna submitted a complaint to the Hyderabad Cyber Crime authorities. The complaint cited alleged false narratives, fabricated content, manipulated screenshots, impersonation and targeted online harassment against the couple.
The complaint sought an investigation into the material being circulated online, with supporting links reportedly submitted for review. This was not the first time Rashmika had dealt with online manipulation — in November 2023, a deepfake video featuring her face led to a police investigation in Delhi.
Who Are Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna?
Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna are two of the most popular actors in Telugu cinema. They first worked together in Geetha Govindam in 2018, a film that became a major hit and made them a favourite on-screen pair. They reunited for Dear Comrade in 2019, and although they did not share the screen again for several years, rumours about their relationship continued to grow as fans spotted them spending time together.
The couple got engaged privately on October 3, 2025, at Vijay’s residence in Hyderabad, with only close family and friends present. They announced their wedding just days before the ceremony.
Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna tied the knot on February 26, 2026, in an intimate ceremony at ITC Mementos in Udaipur. The wedding was a traditional Telugu ceremony followed by a Kodava wedding. Rashmika arrived in a traditional palki, while Vijay waited for her holding a ceremonial sword. The décor was inspired by a heritage theme with earthy tones and terracotta elements.
Rashmika’s wedding post on Instagram crossed 24 million likes, making it the most-liked photo from an Indian account on the platform at the time. Vijay’s post reached 19.3 million likes.
The Ranabaali Connection
The Koffee With Karan episode came at a busy time for the couple. Their film Ranabaali, a period action drama directed by Rahul Sankrityan, released in theatres on October 16, 2026. The film marked their first on-screen collaboration since their wedding.
Set during the Madras Famine of 1876–1878, Ranabaali follows a horseman who rises against British colonial forces in the Rayalaseema region. Vijay played the titular character, while Rashmika appeared as the female lead. The film also featured Arnold Vosloo, known for playing Imhotep in The Mummy franchise, in his Indian debut.
Ranabaali opened with a domestic net collection of Rs 9.25 crore on its first day, but earnings declined in the days that followed. The film’s India net collection stood at Rs 58.95 crore, with a worldwide gross of Rs 80.79 crore. Its worldwide gross was lower than its reported production budget of Rs 120 crore. The film is set to premiere on Netflix on November 13, 2026, in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.
Koffee With Karan Season 9: The Final Season
Koffee With Karan Season 9 is the final season of the long-running talk show, which first debuted in 2004. The season premiered on JioHotstar on October 14, 2026, with Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor opening the season. New episodes stream every Wednesday at 7 PM IST on The Peacock Hub on JioHotstar.
The show has run for 161 episodes across its first eight seasons, becoming one of the most talked-about celebrity chat shows in India.
What Karan Johar Said About Online Commentary
Karan Johar acknowledged that online commentary has become a source of income for many content creators. He said he understood why people make such content, but drew a line at telling couples how to live their lives.
“Don’t tell a couple what they should do. You can analyse what you think of them, but you can’t give them their endgame. Vijay and Rashmika are an exceptionally happy couple, Ranveer and Deepika are an exceptionally happy couple.”
The filmmaker compared relationship commentary to film criticism, saying he does not mind a critic calling a film bad, but has a problem when they tell people not to watch it.
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for more clear, fact-checked entertainment stories that break down what really happened.
Leave a Reply