Karan Johar is facing criticism for his remarks regarding the box office performance of "Homebound," while director Neeraj Ghaywan appears to have taken a subtle dig at Johar's "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari" (SSKTK).

Karan Johar's "Homebound" Comments Spark Controversy

Karan Johar's recent comments about the commercial performance of "Homebound" have stirred controversy online. In an interview, Johar stated that while "Homebound" received critical acclaim worldwide and was selected as India's official entry for the Oscars 2026, he was unsure if he would make similar decisions in the future. He attributed this to his deal with Adar Poonawalla's Serene Productions, where he sold 50% of Dharma Productions. Johar explained that growth comes from profit, making profitability a key consideration in his creative decisions. He emphasized the importance of being commercial alongside artistic.

These remarks have been met with criticism from netizens, who argue that "Homebound" was not given adequate screen time or promotion. Some users pointed out that Johar's production house released "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari" just a week after "Homebound," overshadowing the latter. One user posted, "'Homebound' needed more screens and promotion. Instead, Karan gave preference to SSKTK". Critics suggest that even big-budget films require proper promotion to succeed. Despite critical recognition and its status as India's Oscar entry, "Homebound" seemingly didn't receive the necessary support.

Neeraj Ghaywan's Subtle Critique

Adding to the situation, "Homebound" director Neeraj Ghaywan seemingly took a dig at "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari". Ghaywan reshared an Instagram story that highlighted the limited screenings for "Homebound" compared to the numerous shows for "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari". The story read, "And yet, this important piece of work gets only 3 showings a day while the no-brainer SSKTK has almost 100! Tells you everything doesn't it??", implying that "Homebound" was not given a fair chance in theaters.

Interestingly, both "Homebound" and "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari" are produced by Karan Johar and feature Janhvi Kapoor. This has led to speculation that Ghaywan is displeased with Johar's apparent prioritization of commercial success over critical acclaim. Some social media users have reacted to Ghaywan's story, with one commenting, "He must be pissed with KJo!".

"Homebound" and "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari" at the Box Office

"Homebound," despite being India's official entry for the Oscars 2026, has struggled at the box office. Released on September 26, 2025, the film has collected approximately Rs 3 crore domestically. In contrast, "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari," released on October 2, 2025, has earned over Rs 35.37 crore in its first five days. However, "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari" has also not reached the expected mark, earning just Rs 3 crore on Tuesday, bringing its six-day total to Rs 36.25 crore. The film faced stiff competition from "Kantara Chapter 1," which earned significantly more. Janhvi Kapoor starred in three films this year, "Param Sundari", "Homebound", and "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari", but none have performed well at the Box Office.

Background on "Homebound"

"Homebound" is directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, known for his critically acclaimed film "Masaan". The film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor. The film received a 9-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival.

The clash between critical acclaim and commercial viability continues to be a topic of discussion in Bollywood, with the "Homebound" and "Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari" situation highlighting the challenges filmmakers face in balancing artistic vision with financial considerations.