Bullied or Greedy? Twitter on KJo’s Plea for ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’

Twitter debates if KJo was pressurised or it’s just his fear of the film not doing well because of the controversy.

Karan Johar recently said in a video he put out that he will not engage with talent from the “neighbouring country” in future. His statement came after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and a few single screen theatre owners threatened to ban his upcoming movie ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ from screening.

Karan Johar added that for him, his country comes first and nothing else matters. But he appealed that since this movie was filmed last year, when relations between India and Pakistan were good, the hundreds of Indians in the movie’s crew shouldn’t be made to suffer.

As soon as KJo made this statement, the social media was, obviously abuzz with reactions. While some welcomed his comments, but most people thought that he has succumbed to pressure from protesting groups.

Here are some of the reactions to Johar’s statement on Twitter:

KJo Bullied?

Filmdom has repeatedly bowed to religious and regional bullies. But a Karan Johar video spun into nationwide Modi-era intolerance narrative

— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) October 18, 2016

Ashamed that we as a society have bullied @karanjohar into having to prove his patriotism. Anti national has become the label of the Mob

— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) October 18, 2016

Very very sad that a personality like @karanjohar is being bullied into this! Let's go out and watch #AeDilHaiMushkil in large numbers!

— ilika s thapa (@ilikasrivastava) October 18, 2016

Sad that a citizen of a democracy is bullied into doing a video to emphasise his patriotism to pseudo-patriotic political thugs @karanjohar

— T.A.N.U.J. G.A.R.G. (@tanuj_garg) October 19, 2016

The way Karan Johar is being bullied for doing his job by the countries' scum in name of Nationalism while the govt stands by is shameful.

— QS (@QuantumSingh) October 18, 2016

What is the procedure to change the nation? #AeDilHaiMushkil @karanjohar i wont watch your movie but you have every right not to be bullied.

— Sudharshan Venkatesh (@Sudvenk) October 18, 2016

All Part of An Act

Many said that all his words were just part of an act since there are just less than 10 days left for the release of the movie.

Watte an actor #KaranJohar is! In the given circumstance did he act this move better or direct this move better? Diplomatically 'scripted'!

— Bhavyatejj (@bhavyatejj) October 18, 2016

This user pointed how KJo’s earlier statement contradicts his current one.

Karan Johar: Artists should not be targeted.
bhakts: shame on you traitor
KJ: won't work with pak actors
bhakts: such greed for money

— Sayan Basu (@SayanBasuTweets) October 18, 2016

Karan Johar realized Country Comes First after 30 days of Uri, 20 days of Surgical Strike and 10 days before release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) October 18, 2016

#KaranJohar haha ...so it wasn't the martyrdom of soldiers which changed his heart but the prospect of his movie bombing at the boxoffice!

— St Whimsy 🇮🇳 (@Neera_26) October 18, 2016

Only 1 thing I can make out of @karanjohar's teary eyed video, do not let my financial interest suffer because I casted a Pak actor in ADHM.

— Devika (@Dayweekaa) October 18, 2016

While Some Think He Did The Right Thing

Great initiative taken by Karan Johar for #UriAttacks Hatts Off to you sir https://t.co/tNi2tvNn12

— Being Salman (@salman3126) October 18, 2016

After the huge hue and cry that has surrounded this movie, let’s see how it fares at the box office after it’s release next week.