Open Letter to Karan Johar regarding Kangana Ranaut

Karan Johar: Please learn the definition of nepotism and reflect on yourself before asking outsiders like Kangana to leave the industry!

Dear Karan Johar,

I have always admired your honesty. But recently your attack on KanganaRanaut statements on your show Koffee with Karan with respect to nepotism, proves that you are in fact incapable of any constructive criticism and are precisely the movie mafia that she alleges you to be, given your threat and extreme reaction to her points, asking her to leave the industry if she is unhappy! For one, you claim Kangana does not understand the definition of nepotism, countering her valid arguments with infantile claims that hey, at least you haven't launched your sisters, cousins and relatives. Well, Karan, if you had the good sense to at least look up the definition of nepotism, you would realize that it is not Kangana who fails to understand the meaning of the term, but you! Nepotism is not limited to relatives alone! It extends to friends and acquaintances and people close to you, who benefit from their close association with you. In terms of actors in your films, you have worked only with your friends and the sons and daughters of industry folks. These are people whom you know, children you have seen grown up in front of your eyes.

All your movies starting from the very first have friends like Shahrukh Khan, Kajol (your then friend), Saif Ali Khan, Kareena, Hrithik, Amitabh Bacchan and family in them. The first time you decided to cast newcomers, you reflect your nepotistic tendencies as among the thousands that auditioned for Student of the Year, its' alarming that you only found Alia Bhatt (daughter of Mahesh Bhatt) and Varun Dhawan (son of David Dhawan) suitable for the movie and worthy to be cast in the film. Yes, Siddharth Malhotra is a supposed 'outsider.' However, he was your Assistant Director on the film 'My Name is Khan.' Unlike Aditya Chopra, you have never made any effort to honestly cast actors with no links to you in the industry through the fair and transparent audition process. Now, that is completely your choice and prerogative. However, to deny that by naming directors who you have given a break to, is ridiculous. And further to plead innocent is even more pathetic. In terms of actors, you are a nepotistic and Kangana (as an actor herself) was commenting on that very fact. So, just own who you are! Say to yourself, yes I practice nepotism and if you are proud of it, then have the guts to say it loud and clear.

Further, to call out Kangana by saying she is playing the woman card and victim card is sexist and bigoted! When has she been playing the victim card, unless you are referring to the case with Hrithik Roshan? It's well known you are close to Hrithik (he is your childhood friend), and if that is your reference then why not be open and say it, rather than making sly digs at her with respect to that case.

It is obvious you dislike Kangana and have made fun of her accent publicly and possibly mocked her in private over the years, yet for promotions and ratings, you were compelled to bring her on your show as you know she makes bold statements that give you TRPs. She does not like you either. I suppose you just didn’t expect her to target her bluntness at you and turn the tables. And I guess it didn’t help to read about how people were praising her for showing you the mirror. But then if you indeed think this show is lighthearted and not to be taken seriously, then get over it or you should have had the guts to rebut her to her face what you thought when she was on your show. Instead, what do you do? You ruminate on it for weeks, formulate your nasty and below the belt comeback and attack her. Wow, way to display your cowardice and vindictiveness publicly.

And what was most shocking and ridiculous was that you actually insinuate that she was saying you are nepotistic as she was desperate to work with you and she felt jilted that you haven't given her a chance--when did she say or imply that she (a three time national award winner) would care to work with the likes of you! She made it clear she has no interest in working the Khans. Then why would she cater and beg to work with someone like you, who by his own admission isn't proud of any one of his films, apart from KabhiAlvia Na Kehnaa—and that too you compromised your own vision on.

You are a sell out. Point, blank, period. You don’t have the courage to make what you really believe in, as you are too busy grovelling to earn other’s appreciation and approval. Hence youwill never earn the credibility and respect that other directors have in this industry that you publicly admire, but internally loathe so much. You know that well and in fact have mocked yourself for it. Then why get offended now? Why turn around with a bitchy and catty response by saying you do not wish to work with Kangana?

Also by saying Kangana is playing the woman card and victim card, you are insulting women and yourself. Haven't you played the gay victim card many times? Haven't you played ‘the poor director who wanted to cast Pakistani artists and was then bullied by politicians to apologize for his views’ card before? Remember AIB? Remember Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and claiming how you had an invisible gun to your head and felt victimized and humiliated? Who was playing the victim then Karan? Haven't you run down your once upon a time best friend/family Kajol and her husband Ajay Devgan in interviews for your autobiography without giving them a fair chance to defend themselves, in a timely attempt order to promote your own book? Didn't you repeatedly project yourself as the victim there? So, you are no less a victim, talking about your tragedies and how you have been hurt by others! You admittedly said you are an attention seeker and any attention is worthy of your time and for that you are willing to stoop to any and all levels. Now, suddenly when someone else is standing up for her own truth, you call it playing the woman card and victim card! Don’t throw stones when you live in a glass house!

Finally, before you call others names and ask someone to leave the industry, maybe you should leave or at least retire! If people like you leave or retire, then perhaps other producers Aditya Chopra who truly cast outsiders and give them a chance, would be able to bring new talent into the industry.

And yes, Karan if you want to learn what is not nepotistic, take a leaffrom Aditya Chopra's book. YRF unlike Dharama Productions has launched new talent in the industry year after year. Actors like Ranveer Singh (whom you now praise but used to mock, maybe still do) and Anuskha Sharma (someone you openly admitted to making every effort to sabotage her career before it started) are now household names thanks to your friend Adi Chopra, who unlike you is not nepotistic and makes every effort to bring new talent to the industry.

Truth be told Karan, you have the guts to only bully people and mock women like Kangana who are standing alone in their fight. I used to root for you so much, given your struggles as a closeted homosexual in India and all the other challenges and flak you get. But not anymore.

Face it, Kangana represents everything you will never be able to achieve in this life and you detest her for that. She did it on her own, you didn’t. She has a sister who was the victim of an acid attack and they both are proudly making it big in the industry, you have no such real scars apart from losing a parent. She has been abused by industry men and has stood up to them and called them out on it, instead you have groveled and given into pressure and catering to other people’s whims and insults time and time again losing your own dignity and self-respect in the process. She is talented and the winner of three national awards, while you have never achieved that level of recognition and respect for your work. So, yes, she represents everything you will continue to hate but will not be able to deny!

Yet it is sad to see someone of your fame stoop so low and feel so outraged at being challenged that you ask someone to leave the industry in your vitriol and vindictiveness. It’s sad and yet, I am also glad that you are showing your true colors! I just hope having children now will make you a better person someday...let’s hope!

By: Madhurima Bhattacharyay