Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan have finally put their past conflicts behind them. Not only are they working together on a new film but they also took center stage as co-hosts at the recent IIFA Awards. One of the highlights of the evening was a rap battle between the two, where they playfully exchanged barbs about each other’s work before teasing their upcoming collaboration.
During his rap, Karan Johar confidently declared, “Tum ho naye student main evergreen faculty, let me introduce you to the real real royalty. Khans and Kapoors are still the OG guys, aaj kal ke hero dekho stealing their franchise!” He even went on to call himself a ‘Kingmaker’ in Bollywood, reinforcing his legacy in the industry.
Kartik Aaryan, however, was quick to respond. He pointed out that he achieved success in Bollywood as an outsider and made a sharp comparison between their films, noting that while his Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 became a hit, Karan Johar’s Student of the Year 2 failed at the box office. The evening turned even more special for Kartik when he won the Best Actor (Male) award for his portrayal of Rooh Baba in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Kartik reflected on his struggles and uncertainties in the industry during his acceptance speech. He shared how his journey with the Bhool Bhulaiyaa franchise had been “full of thorns”, recalling the skepticism he faced when first cast in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. Despite the doubts, his performance proved his critics wrong, solidifying his place among Bollywood’s top stars.
