BY NAMITA DOGRA SUDAN*
The curtains are officially coming down on one of Bollywood’s most talked-about celebrity chat shows. After 22 years, 262 months, and 162 episodes, host Karan Johar has returned for the ninth and final season of Koffee with Karan.
Streaming on JioHotstar’s The Peacock Hub, the pop-culture phenomenon began its farewell season on October 14, 2026. To mark the occasion, Johar welcomed Salman Khan as his first guest, with a surprise mid-episode appearance by ’90s screen icon Karisma Kapoor.
Season 9, Episode 1: Highlights and Recap
1. The Ghost of Galaxy Apartments
In one of the most unexpected segments of the episode, Salman Khan casually revealed that he believes there is a persistent paranormal presence in his bedroom.
Salman recounted hearing distinct voices, cupboard doors opening and closing on their own, and his music system mysteriously switching on. Far from being terrified, Salman explained that he has learned to live with it.
He hilariously admitted to often asking the entity what kind of music it would like to hear and even laid down a strict ground rule: “Unless you are a beautiful woman, don’t ever show yourself to me!”
While Salman narrated these eerie occurrences with remarkable ease, Karan Johar and the audience appeared visibly anxious, making Salman’s casual attitude all the more amusing.
2. The Legacy of “Mini Salman” and Emotional Wishes
Salman spoke openly about his life, admitting that he would like to have children of his own someday.
The mood in the studio turned emotional when the show aired special video messages from his close industry friends, including Sanjay Dutt, Bobby Deol, and Varun Dhawan.
While everyone praised Salman’s personality, it was Sanjay Dutt’s heartfelt wish that stood out. He said he would love to see a “Mini Salman” running around someday.
3. Karisma Handles the Heat and the Iconic Dulhan Clash
With Salman appearing as a solo guest, ’90s screen favorite Karisma Kapoor, affectionately known as “Lolo,” joined the episode midway to conduct the show’s iconic Rapid-Fire Round with Salman and Karan Johar.
The reunion brought plenty of nostalgia as Salman and Karisma reflected on their 36-year friendship and their long history of working together on 11 films, along with multiple guest appearances.
A major highlight was Karisma recalling a hilarious disagreement on the sets of their 2000 hit film, Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge.
Karisma revealed that she was excited about her outfit for the song “Pyaar Dilon Ka Mela Hai,” but Salman refused to shoot the scene with her. He objected to the dress because he felt it was “too open and clingy.”
Karisma eventually complained to director David Dhawan, asking him to intervene.
Salman quickly offered his side of the story, standing up to demonstrate how her short, sheer skirt kept riding up during the dance steps. He explained that he was simply being protective of her and repeatedly reminded her to “pull it down” before every take.
Ultimately, Salman’s trademark wit won him the coveted Koffee Hamper.
4. The Tables Turn: Karan Johar in the Hot Seat
As Karisma took charge of the rapid-fire questions, she turned the spotlight on the host himself, quizzing Karan about the show’s 22-year legacy.
Karan didn’t hold back, offering some candid answers:
- Favorite Episode of All Time: Karan named the hilarious episode featuring Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif as his absolute favorite.
- Most Controversial Episode: He pointed to the much-discussed episode featuring Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh.
- Guest Who Should Have Thought Before Speaking: Without hesitation, Karan named cricketer Hardik Pandya, referring to the widespread backlash and suspension that followed his controversial appearance.
- All-Time Favorite Guest: Karan named his close friend Shah Rukh Khan as his favorite guest on the couch.
First Episode Review: The “Zen” Evolution of Koffee
For a show famously built on celebrity gossip and controversy, the Season 9 premiere took a surprisingly peaceful turn. The episode was noticeably free of controversial statements and harsh criticism of industry colleagues.
Both Salman and Karan acknowledged that they have reached a different stage in life, describing themselves as more composed, mature, and “zen.”
The usual catty remarks were replaced by genuine warmth, making this a rare, wholesome Koffee with Karan episode that families could comfortably watch together.
Throughout the episode, Salman repeatedly teased Karan, questioning whether he was genuinely ending the show or would eventually return with another season.
Karan Johar stood firm, maintaining until the end: “It’s done, bro.”
Koffee with Karan — the end.
