Karan Johar is preparing to pour the final cup of “Koffee With Karan.” The Indian media personality’s celebrity chat show will return for its ninth and last season on JioHotstar, with streaming set to begin Oct. 14.
The farewell will close a 22-year run that began in 2004. Across its first eight seasons, “Koffee With Karan” produced 161 episodes and became a platform where major Indian stars discussed friendships, relationships, breakups and marriages. Those candid exchanges frequently traveled beyond the show, going viral or generating headlines of their own.
For Johar, the decision to leave the couch behind is tied to a shift in his creative priorities.
“‘Koffee With Karan’ has been such a large part of my identity in the entertainment industry… I still can’t believe it’s been 22 years and now this will be my ninth season,” he said.
Johar described hosting the series as deeply rewarding, but said he wants to devote more of the coming years to filmmaking.
“I want to spend the next decade of my life directing more movies… telling many more stories… so with a heavy heart I am making this season my last,” he said.
From Star World to streaming
“Koffee With Karan” premiered on Star World in 2004, welcoming Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as its first guests. Other pairings during the inaugural season included Amitabh Bachchan with his son Abhishek Bachchan, as well as Aishwarya Rai with Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
The program remained on Star World for six seasons through 2019. Its second season was also simulcast on Star One in 2007, while episodes from Season 6 were available on Hotstar. Both the channel and the streaming service were owned by Star India. Kareena Kapoor and Kajol became two of the show’s most frequent guests.
The series also weathered controversy. In January 2019, a Season 6 installment featuring cricketers Hardik Pandya and K.L. Rahul prompted an uproar over remarks Pandya made about women. Hotstar removed the episode, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India issued show-cause notices to both players and briefly suspended them from the national team.
A major change followed in 2022, when Johar posted a statement that appeared to suggest “Koffee With Karan” had come to an end. Hours later, he clarified that the show was leaving television rather than concluding altogether. It subsequently moved to Disney+ Hotstar as a streaming exclusive.
Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment assumed production duties from SOL India for Season 7, which debuted that July. Season 8 began in October 2023 with Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. Disney+ Hotstar later merged with JioCinema in February 2025 to create JioHotstar, which will now carry the farewell season.
An emotional goodbye
Johar acknowledged the personal weight of ending a program so closely associated with his public identity, including its mix of revealing conversations and contentious moments.
“This will be the last time I will be on a couch that has been synonymous with conversations, candor and well… controversies… the decision is emotional and personal to me,” he said. “But I am hoping the legacy of love the show has given me continues to brew in people’s hearts.”
Alok Jain, who leads JioStar’s Hindi and English entertainment business across streaming, television and studios, credited the series with bringing prominent celebrities into viewers’ homes and offering audiences an “intimate, irreverent and often unexpected glimpse” into their lives.
“As Karan raises the coffee mug one last time, we celebrate the extraordinary legacy of a show that has consistently delivered great content and created a lasting connection with audiences,” Jain said, adding that JioHotstar was delighted to present the show’s final chapter.
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step is Season 9, which begins streaming on JioHotstar on Oct. 14. Beyond the show, Johar has made clear that he intends to focus more heavily on directing movies and telling additional stories over the next decade.
Johar heads Dharma Productions, and his directing credits include “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” and “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.” While “Koffee With Karan” is heading toward its final sign-off, Johar’s stated plan places filmmaking at the center of his next creative chapter.