Karan Johar ghosted Varun Dhawan after film clash, actor told him to 'grow up'

A release-date clash between Varun Dhawan and Karan Johar led to an unexpected fallout, with the actor telling the filmmaker to “stop acting like a child” after the two found themselves on opposite sides of a film release dispute. On the latest episode of Koffee With Karan Season 9, Karan opened up about the disagreement, admitting that he was deeply hurt by Varun and his other protege, Janhvi Kapoor, during a period when he stopped speaking to both actors.The conversation unfolded as Karan, Varun and Janhvi discussed their personal disagreements on the show. Karan brought up his own fallout with the two actors, asking, “What about when I fought with both of you?” Varun was quick to recall how Karan had stopped communicating with them. “Oh yeah, by the way, everyone should know this. In this room, there are two people who Karan stopped talking to,” he said.Karan acknowledged the incident, while Varun added, “He just ghosted us and stopped talking.”The actor said he had not even realised that Karan was upset with him. “She knew you were fighting with her. I didn't know you were fighting with me,” Varun said, pointing towards Janhvi. Janhvi then revealed that she had known Karan was upset with Varun. The actor, however, maintained that he had been unaware of any tension. “For one week, I don't think Karan's capable of fighting with me in my head,” he said.Why did Karan Johar stop talking to Varun Dhawan?The disagreement stemmed from a clash between the release dates of their respective films. Karan said he was upset that Varun had chosen the same date for his film's release. “One minute, I was releasing a film of mine, and you came on that same date,” Karan said, questioning whether he was not entitled to feel hurt. Varun insisted that he had informed Karan about the possibility of releasing his film on that date. “But, Karan, I told you that I might have to come on that date,” he said.Karan, however, said Varun had only mentioned the possibility and had not confirmed the date. With release slots becoming increasingly difficult to secure, he said he had eventually decided to go ahead with his own film.“You said 'might' but you weren't announcing a date. And I had to come, because there are no dates. And then you came on that date, and I was quiet. I didn't reply. I didn't pick up your call. I just didn't reply to your messages,” Karan recalled.The filmmaker said the situation became more hurtful when Varun sent him a message during the disagreement. “Then what got me really upset is when you sent me a message and said, 'Stop acting like a child,'” Karan said.Janhvi burst out laughing as Varun questioned why the message had offended Karan so much. The actor also revealed that Janhvi had told him Karan had called him a child. Varun clarified that he had actually called Karan a child.When Karan attempted to explain why the message had crossed a line, Varun compared their relationship to the one he shared with his parents, saying he could tell them if he felt they were behaving childishly. Karan, however, was firm about the distinction. “You can say what you want to your mom and dad. You can't tell me,” he replied.He went on to explain that, despite the affection and friendship between them, Varun had crossed a boundary. “There is some kind of boundary. You can't. You were not even catching what I was trying to say,” Karan said.Karan Johar and Janhvi Kapoor's fallout felt like a breakupThe conversation also touched upon Karan's disagreement with Janhvi, which appeared to have been more emotionally taxing for both of them. The actor had walked out of Karan's talent management agency, further straining their relationship.“We have behaved like it was a break-up,” Karan said, with Janhvi agreeing. Varun described the two disagreements differently, saying, “I feel yours was a real fight. Ours was a one-sided fight. But it wasn't a fight.”Janhvi admitted that the fallout had caused her considerable emotional pain. “There was a lot of pain,” she said. Karan echoed her feelings, clarifying that their differences were not simply about an argument. “It was never a fight. There was a pain,” he said, adding, “I was hurt with both of you.”Janhvi also revealed that the period when she and Karan were not speaking had affected her physically. She said she had gained six kilograms during that time and began losing the weight after they reconciled.Varun, meanwhile, claimed that he had played a key role in bringing the two back together. “I solved your fight, by the way. I solved that fight,” he said.How Varun Dhawan helped Karan Johar and Janhvi Kapoor reconcileAccording to Varun, Karan's birthday celebration became the turning point in the strained relationship between the filmmaker and Janhvi.Janhvi revealed that she had continued sending Karan laddoos even when they were not on speaking terms. Varun said he was initially not invited to Karan's birthday celebration, but eventually managed to secure an invitation after changing his film's release date.“I changed my release date basically. I changed it. I have a selfless heart,” he joked.Varun said he believed that people who genuinely cared about each other should be able to put their differences aside. He was convinced that seeing Janhvi at the celebration would soften Karan's stance. “And I knew that, if Janhvi shows up and you see her, you would melt,” Varun said. Karan agreed, replying, “Of course, I would.”Varun recalled that Janhvi had been upset about the fallout for a long time and wanted to resolve the differences. When she and Karan eventually met at the birthday celebration, the two became emotional and teary-eyed before finally talking things through.Varun also remembered some of the dramatic remarks Karan had made while he was upset with him. “You said things like: 'It is not going to be the same now. A lot of people have disappointed me. But this, Varun. this hurt. This hurt me,'” he recalled. Varun then joked that Karan had started behaving like Amitabh Bachchan's character in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, saying, “You became Bachchan from K3G.”The episode is now airing on Koffee With Karan Season 9.- Ends