Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan has spoken out in defence of producer Karan Johar, who recently faced backlash for his comments on the film Homebound. The controversy began when Karan, during a conversation with Komal Nahta on his YouTube channel Game Changers, discussed balancing creativity and profitability in filmmaking. He mentioned that while Homebound earned global acclaim, he now prioritises financial growth with every project he undertakes.
Following his remarks, many criticised Johar for allegedly valuing commerce over creativity. Addressing this, Neeraj Ghaywan, in an interview with Lallantop Cinema, expressed disappointment over the misunderstanding. He clarified that Karan’s words were made purely from a business perspective and were never meant to imply that he would not support films like Homebound again.
Ghaywan explained that Johar had backed the film despite knowing it wouldn’t be a blockbuster, purely because he was emotionally moved by the story. “He didn’t need to take this project, but he did it from his heart,” Neeraj shared. He also praised Karan for giving him complete creative freedom during the making of the film.
Urging people to avoid misinterpreting the statement, Ghaywan added that such reactions discourage producers from supporting meaningful cinema. “We should celebrate collaborations like these instead of questioning them,” he said.