Karan Johar recently responded to a troll who called him "nepo kid ka daijaan" after he praised the performances of debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda in the film Saiyaara. The film, directed by Mohit Suri, has been receiving positive feedback from audiences and critics alike.
Johar shared an emotional post on Instagram, calling Saiyaara "magical" and the "best work" of director Mohit Suri's career. He expressed being deeply moved by the film, stating that he was brought to tears. "Saiyaara is a celebration of love on the silver screen that brought me to tears. I don't remember the last time I felt like this after watching a film – tears flowing and yet immense joy. A love story has conquered the screen and made the nation fall in love again," he wrote.
In his post, Johar lauded Ahaan Panday's debut, describing him as "spectacular" and saying his performance both "broke his heart and yet energised me as a filmmaker". He also praised Aneet Padda, calling her "lovely" and "amazing," and highlighting her "silences" and emotional depth. He added that both actors were "beyond magical". Johar also applauded Mohit Suri's direction and the film's music, calling it "not just a pillar but a character in itself". He also credited YRF and producer Aashish Widhani for backing the film and expressed pride in being a part of the YRF family.
In response to Johar's heartfelt review, one user commented, "Aa gaya nepo kid ka daijaan," implying that Johar was simply promoting actors with connections to the film industry. Johar, known for usually ignoring such comments, responded sharply, "Chup kar! Ghar baithe baithe negativity mat paal. Do bachon ka kaam dekh aur khud kuch kaam kar!" This translates to "Shut up! Don't breed negativity sitting at home! Watch the work of the two kids! And do some work yourself!".
Johar's response received support from other fans and social media users, who appreciated the performances of the newcomers and criticized the unnecessary focus on nepotism. One user commented, "Every time it's not necessary to point out nepotism. If people are talented, they should be appreciated". Another user wrote, "Only once in a while a movie like this comes out – heart-shattering yet uplifting".
Saiyaara, despite lacking major star power or a franchise tag, has reportedly performed well at the domestic box office, collecting Rs 83 cr so far. The film is a romantic drama that tells the story of Krish (Ahaan), an aspiring singer, and Vaani (Aneet), a lyricist. Vaani is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
