Karan Johar to start another Koffee With Karan-like chat show after finale

Filmmaker Karan Johar is reportedly planning a new celebrity chat show after the ninth season of Koffee with Karan, even as he prepares to bring the long-running series to a close. A recent report said the 54-year-old is working on an original format under his production banner. The move is expected to give him more time for filmmaking and allow his production house to own the rights to the new format.There has been no official announcement on the reported new show so far. However, the development comes alongside Johar’s confirmation that the upcoming ninth season of Koffee with Karan will be its last, marking the end of a talk show that has remained a major part of Hindi cinema’s pop culture conversation for more than two decades.According to a Mid-Day report, Johar’s reported decision to end Koffee with Karan may not be linked only to his plans to direct more films. The report said he is also exploring a new chat show that would allow his banner to own the rights to the format, instead of continuing with an established property.The broad idea for the new show is said to be in place, though details about its format remain unclear. The platform, launch timeline and overall structure of the reported series have not been disclosed in the public domain. The report also noted that several shows now begin on YouTube, build an audience there and later move to a streaming platform. A new celebrity chat show could allow Johar to follow a similar path while creating an original property under his own banner.All we know about the final seasonEven as speculation continues around what may come next, Johar has already confirmed that Koffee with Karan is entering its final chapter. In a newly released promo for the ninth season, the filmmaker addressed the camera directly while taking phone calls and said, “You heard it right. It is going to be my last season of Koffee With Karan. I'm not acting, I'm not pretending. It is my last.” Replying to a caller who says the show should have ended a decade ago, Johar responded, “Thank you for asking, but I haven't invited you for eight seasons, so I don't plan to invite you for the ninth.”He also addressed speculation around the guest line-up in the teaser and said, “No, no, no, cricketers are not invited. They are also not coming.” The line referred directly to the fallout from Hardik Pandya and K L Rahul’s 2019 appearance on the show, which drew widespread backlash and led to brief suspensions for both cricketers.Johar closed the promo on a tongue-in-cheek note, saying, “Darling, it's my last season of Koffee With Karan. Why would I do anything controversial?”A long-running pop culture fixtureKoffee with Karan first premiered in November 2004 and went on to become Johar’s flagship celebrity chat show. Built around a couch-style format, the series mixed celebrity gossip, industry conversations and confessional moments, along with segments such as the “Rapid Fire Round”.Across its 22-year run, the show moved from cable television to digital streaming and repeatedly generated entertainment headlines as well as wider debate. It has been associated with major industry conversations, including discussions around nepotism, and has remained one of the most recognisable celebrity talk show brands in Hindi entertainment.While the guest list for the final season has been kept under wraps, Season 9 of Koffee with Karan is set to begin streaming on JioHotstar from October 14.- Ends