Karan Johar clarifies his comments on Homebound after backlash: 'I am and will always be exceptionally proud of the film...'

Karan Johar on clarifies his statement on Homebound

Karan Johar has finally broken his silence after facing criticism online for comments he made about Homebound, the much-loved film directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and India’s official entry to the 2026 Oscars.

As one of the producers of the film, Karan found himself at the centre of a social media storm after an interview where he spoke about the challenges of balancing creative satisfaction with financial success.

During his appearance on the Game Changers podcast, Karan opened up about the tough choices that come with filmmaking.

Responding to the chatter, Karan took to Instagram Stories on Friday evening to clarify what he really meant. “I humbly request my friends and members in the media to not misconstrue or misquote my comments on our film Homebound… it was an academic chat on the business of our movies… I am and will always be exceptionally proud of Homebound… it will always shine in our repertoire of films as one of our finest and most sensitively performed and directed films...”

He also added, “We are actively working towards making our film get a large audience and presence on a global stage and are thrilled with the day on day increase in domestic footfalls as well.”

Reflecting on Homebound earlier, he said, “Maine abhi ek film banayi he Homebound, which is very critically acclaimed and we are hoping it finds its limited audience lekin aisi decisions shayad mein future loonga ya nahi loonga ye main aaj nahi keh sakta… bohot dukh hoga lekin I chose this deal for a reason. Profitability dikhana bohot zaruri hai.”

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While his honesty struck a chord with some, others felt it implied a lack of faith in a film that’s earned both critical acclaim and global recognition.

The conversation quickly spread across social media, especially after users pointed out that Dharma’s commercial release Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari—which came out shortly after Homebound—was given significantly more screens.

Starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, Homebound continues to find love in theatres in its third week. And while the conversation around business versus art is never easy, it’s clear that Karan is standing by the film—with both heart and hope.boll