Karan Johar says he suffers from 'nepo-spasm'

The much talked of Karan Johar and Kangana Ranaut war of words over the issue of nepotism seems to be heading to a closure. Johar and Saif Ali Khan had allegedly mocked Ranaut during the IIFA Awards with their 'nepotism rocks' joke. But now Johar seems no longer keen to keep the controversy alive.

According to the producer-filmmaker, he is now too scared to even use the 'N' word.

Speaking at a master class on ‘How to direct a big Bollywood dream’ at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) on Sunday, 13 August, Johar said that the fear of the word nepotism has led to him getting 'nepo-spasm'.

Johar was speaking on how he would love to direct the likes of Sridevi, Rekha, Deepika Padukone. Here the host of the masterclass, Rajeev Masand, cheekily observed that while Johar may have not directed these stars, he is set to launch Sridevi’s daughter Jhanvi and Shahid Kapoor’s half brother Ishan. “Should we use the nepotism word again?" asked Masand.

“Right before I reached here, my mother called me and said I beg you, do not use the word. Because anything that I say for/against is going to be held against me, I’m not about to be trolled all over again. I have made my mistake of actually stretching this issue and talking about it. I’ve already apologised, I’ve expressed my regret, and now I’m in a condition of nepo-spasm, its actually a fear of the word, I get a convulsion immediately, its called nepo-spasm, fear of the word nepotism,” Johar replied.

In another interesting conversation, Masand asked Johar whether there is anyone whom he wouldn’t like to invite again in the next season of Koffee With Karan, an obvious reference to Ranaut.

“I know what you want to hear. I'm never afraid to call somebody who has given me great content in my show. I'm very selfish about... it's going to make the show great then I will call them back again no matter what they may think of me or say to me, if the show works that's my job. As a talk show host, I have to make the show work. It is not about me, it's about them. If they comes across shining, then my show is done. If you noticed, I talk less than other talk show hosts. It's not about my opinion. It is about them. I would like to call anyone who makes the show rock. Whether its sensational, controversial, supremely out there, it doesn't matter to me as long as the show works,” said the filmmaker.

However, there is still a category of people who Johar wouldn’t like to invite again. “The ones that I may not want to call are really boring and you would know because they won’t be there," he said.

Watch Johar’s masterclass below: