Karan Johar hasn’t forgotten Kangana Ranaut’s comment on nepotism on his show “Koffee With Karan”. The director who had received the Rangoon actress’ sharp matter-of-factly comments coolly on his show, brought it up again on Sunday’s IIFA awards. And who joined in on him but for Saif Ali Khan, Kangana’s co-actor from Rangoon and Varun Dhawan.
The ceremony's hosts – Johar and Saif Ali Khan – took a dig at the actress when Varun Dhawan joined them on the stage to receive the award for the best performance in a comic role for Dishoom.
Saif raked up the nepotism issue when he joked that the actor had made it big in the industry because of his father, director David Dhawan.
“You are here because of your pappa,” Saif Ali Khan quipped. To which Varun replied, “You are here because of your mummy (referring to Sharmila Tagore).” Soon, Johar joined them and said he was in the industry because of his father, filmmaker Yash Johar.The trio then shouted, “Nepotism rocks”.
Saif and Varun then sang "Bole chudiyaan" from Johar's film "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..."
But the director quickly reacted, saying, "Kangana nahi bole toh achha hai (It's good you didn't say Kangana)." Kangana had fuelled the nepotism debate when she appeared on the "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" director's chat show.
She had referred to Johar as "the flag bearer of nepotism", which had not gone down well with the director.
Johar had kickstarted careers of several kids of Bollywood, including Varun Dhawan. Karan recently tweeted images of Raj Kapoor’s grandson Aadar Jain who will soon be seen in a new Yash Raj Productions film. The director tweeted images of Aadar which marketed him as a bearer of the Kapoor genes that has been dominating Bollywood. In the photos, Raj Kapoor’s face was literally projected on Aadar’s tee shirt.
Varun Dhawan who has been vehemently denying that nepotism thrives in Bollywood was not only launched by Karan Johar. He also later went onto acting in two films directed by David Dhawan Tu Mera Hero, Judwaa.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)