Actor Tamannaah Bhatia has spoken highly of filmmaker Karan Johar, calling him a “warm and welcoming” person who not only supports talent within the industry but also gives a platform to outsiders. In a recent conversation with News18 Showsha, Tamannaah praised Karan’s progressive approach towards storytelling, especially when it comes to portraying women on screen.
Karan Johar Champions Talent Beyond Nepotism
While Karan Johar has often been at the center of nepotism debates in Bollywood—especially after actor Kangana Ranaut labeled him the “flag-bearer of nepotism” on Koffee With Karan—Tamannaah shared a different perspective. She emphasized that Karan champions people regardless of their background. “He’s extremely warm and welcoming, and he champions people who’re from the industry and those who aren’t from the industry,” she said.
This praise stands in contrast to the backlash Karan often faces on social media. Recently, he responded sharply to an Instagram user who called him “nepo kid ka daijaan (nanny for nepo kids),” saying, “Chup kar! Ghar baithe baithe negativity mat paal!”
A Consistent Voice for Women in Cinema
Tamannaah also highlighted Karan’s commitment to writing and producing films with strong female characters. “Maybe Karan has an in-depth understanding of women, but he isn’t validated enough for that. He’s consistently done that for many, many years now,” she noted.
She further acknowledged Karan’s ability to balance glamour and responsibility in the industry. “He continues to be the face of great causes while enjoying being in this setup of glamour. He’s a great example of how to take the responsibility of the industry that he belongs to,” she added.
Upcoming Collaboration: Do You Wanna Partner
Tamannaah and Karan Johar are set to collaborate on the upcoming Prime Video series Do You Wanna Partner, which premiered on September 12. The show features an ensemble cast including Diana Penty, Jaaved Jaaferi, Nakuul Mehta, Shweta Tiwari, Neeraj Kabi, Sufi Motiwala, and Rannvijay Singha.
Written by Nandini Gupta, Aarsh Vora, and Mithun Gangopadhyay, the show is co-directed by Collin D’Cunha and Archit Kumar. It is produced by Dharmatic Entertainment, with Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta serving as executive producers. With this project, Tamannaah and Karan aim to deliver an engaging and socially relevant series that reflects their shared creative vision.