BOMBAY TIMES (January 24, 2019)

Cricketers Hardik Pandya and K L Rahul have been making headlines for all the wrong reasons ever since they made an appearance on Karan Johar’s chat show Koffee With Karan Season 6. Since the episode aired, the two have received a lot of flak and criticism for their sexist comments. They have also been suspended, pending investigation. Now, Karan Johar has finally addressed the issue.

In an interaction with ET Now, the 46-year-old filmmaker said, “I have to say that I feel very responsible because it was my show, it was my platform. I invited them as guests and so the ramifications and repercussion of the show are my responsibility. I have had so many sleepless nights, wondering how I can undo this damage, who is gonna listen to me. It’s now gone into a zone which is beyond my control.” He added, “I regret what has happened to them. And, then there was talk about me actually enjoying the TRP, I don’t care about the TRPs.”

Saying that he is not trying to justify the comments made on the show, he added, “I am just saying that I think that perhaps things were said that may have crossed boundaries and I apologise because it was my platform from where it happened. I feel the boys have paid the price for it already.”