Podcast or Potshot? Bollywood Bigwigs Call Out ‘Toxic’ Podcast Culture
Karan Johar and Anupam Kher aim at podcasters and astrologers; accuse them of spreading negativity and chasing cheap clicks
Filmmaker Karan Johar has fired a sharp salvo at the mushrooming tribe of podcasters and astrologers who, he says, thrive on gossip, disrespect and sensationalism. Without naming names, Johar used a strongly worded Instagram post to slam platforms that, according to him, offer a stage to “irrelevant guests” who spew venom against respected members of the film industry.
“They invite guests who have nothing to lose, who haven’t been invited since World War 2, and those guests say the most disrespectful things about hardworking and legendary members of our fraternity. This needs to STOP!” Johar wrote, while clarifying that he continues to hold “utmost respect” for credible journalists.
Anupam Kher’s stinging rebuke
Johar isn’t alone in his frustration. Veteran actor Anupam Kher recently took podcaster Raj Shamani to task for what he described as poor preparation and lack of authenticity. Kher recalled asking Shamani during an interview if he had watched his film Tanvi the Great. When Shamani admitted he hadn’t, Kher advised him that a podcaster must always research their guests’ most recent work.
Kher was further irked when this exchange was edited out of the final episode. “A podcaster should always be up to date on the work of the person they are interviewing,” he said, accusing Shamani of cutting out an important lesson in humility.
In focus
Anupam Kher calls Raj ‘fake’ for cutting out his advice on humility: ‘You should always research your guests.’ The actor stressed that podcast hosts — especially those discussing films — must be well-prepared and knowledgeable about their guests’ latest projects.
Industry reacts: Who created the beast?
Not everyone agrees with the outrage. A senior publicist called the criticism “a classic case of the kettle calling the chimney black,” pointing out that actors and filmmakers themselves have flocked to podcasts in recent years. “Ever since podcasters built their brand equity on morsels fed by the industry, they are now being called out. The question is — who created these monsters in the first place?” the publicist asked pointedly.
