Original Coverage & Source Attribution: theprint.in
New Delhi: Salman Khan is back on Koffee With Karan after a decade, and the Bollywood superstar had plenty to spill — from a haunted bedroom and his 36-year friendship with Karisma Kapoor to his health struggles and his views on paparazzi culture.
Making his third appearance on the celebrity chat show in its 22-year run, Salman kicked off Season 9 on Wednesday, with host Karan Johar introducing him as someone who “speaks his mind, wears his heart on his sleeves, and wherever possible, wears nothing on his chest.”
The episode moved between nostalgia, candid confessions, and some trademark Salman humour. The actor looked back on his first meeting with Karan, their friendship, and the changing dynamics of the film industry. Karisma Kapoor made a surprise appearance to take charge of the rapid-fire round, putting both Salman and Karan in the hot seat. While Salman walked away with the coveted hamper, it was Karan who delivered some of the episode’s most unfiltered answers.
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Here are six highlights from the first episode of Koffee With Karan Season 9.
Salman’s ‘haunted’ bedroom
When Karan recalled visiting Salman’s home to narrate the script of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), he remembered being surprised by how small the actor’s bedroom was. Salman, however, revealed that he was never alone in it. According to him, he could sometimes sense a presence in the room, even when nobody else was around.
“Sometimes it would open cupboards, turn on lights…when I would play music, I could feel it standing behind me,” he said.
Karan was naturally curious about whether the experience had ever frightened him. Salman, being Salman, said, “I would say, if you are a very, very beautiful woman, only then show yourself to me.”
Salman-Karisma’s 36-year-old ‘bro-code’
Karisma, who previously appeared on the show as a guest in Season 2 when her sister Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor graced the couch, returned for the rapid-fire round.
But before the questions, Salman and Karisma offered a glimpse into their long-standing friendship. Having worked together across 11 films and shared years of professional and personal milestones, Salman and Karisma have built a friendship on mutual admiration. Salman even described it as their “longest-living affair”.
One amusing anecdote Karisma shared was from the sets of Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge (2000). She revealed that Salman was not comfortable with her now-iconic two-piece blue outfit and refused to shoot with her.
“It was anyway short, and then when we were dancing it would lift up. I would ask her to pull it down after almost every shot,” Salman explained.
Salman on his health struggles
Salman’s recent appearance on Bigg Boss, during which he removed his shirt, was also discussed on KWK. The actor described the moment as a result of anger and frustration, while talking about a period when he felt he had not been looking after himself.
He spoke about dealing with several health issues, including a “broken head injury, hernia, shoulder problems, knee and back troubles, and trigeminal neuralgia.”
However, Salman was clear that his health struggles were not an excuse for neglecting his well-being.
“It wasn’t fair to my fans. I shouldn’t have let go of my health at that time,” he said.
The conversation also turned to paparazzi culture, particularly videos that focus on actresses’ backsides, with the “Guess who?” caption. Salman criticised the practice, stating that the rise of paid publicity and intrusive photography had changed the relationship between celebrities and the media.
“Ever since PR has come, people pay for sightings. I was speaking for people who don’t want it. Those are bad angles. Jisne phone mai camera banaya hai… he has ruined our lives… ‘Guess who’ always used to bother me,” he said.
Salman’s love life
When it came to the rapid-fire round, Salman largely stuck to his diplomatic approach, carefully avoiding picking favourites wherever possible. But one answer stood out.
Asked which film he was proudest of, the actor chose Maine Pyar Kiya, the 1989 romantic drama that helped establish him as a leading star. He picked the same film when asked to give his love life a title.
Salman was equally guarded when asked to provide a disclaimer that should accompany him. His answer was short and pointed: “There is no claiming here.”
Also read: Rajinikanth talks about how Amitabh Bachchan worked 18 hrs a day to repay debt
Karan Johar’s coffee has been a lie all along
In a revelation that might make viewers reconsider everything they thought they knew, Karan admitted that the coffee in his famous Koffee With Karan cup isn’t actually black coffee.
The filmmaker revealed that his cup has always contained Diet Coke instead. “I don’t drink black coffee,” he said.
Karan also revisited some of his favourite moments from the show’s history. Shah Rukh Khan remains his favourite guest across all seasons, while the episode featuring Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif is his most favourite. He also joked about guests playing it too safe in the previous season. However, he hoped that cricketer Hardik Pandya should have played it safe instead.
KJO’s biggest regret
One actor Karan always wanted to interview but couldn’t was Sridevi.
The filmmaker admitted that he had always been a huge admirer of the late star and regretted never having the chance to direct her, produce a film featuring her or interview her on the show.
“I am her biggest fan,” he said.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
