In a harsh year-end reflection that has sent ripples through the film fraternity, filmmaker Karan Johar took to social media on Tuesday to call out what he describes as a “complete loss of grace” within the industry and among the public. The director-producer’s long-form note, captioned “Happy 2026,” arrives as his latest Dharma Productions venture, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, faces a challenging uphill battle at the box office.
The film, a romantic comedy starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, released on Christmas Day but has struggled to find its footing against the massive “Dhurandhar wave.” As trade analysts reported lukewarm collections, the social media discourse turned sharp, with many mockingly using the film’s lyrics—”Tu meri main tera, main tera tu meri”—to highlight its commercial shortcomings.
Without naming his critics directly, Johar’s Instagram post served as a philosophical defense against the culture of taking joy in others’ misfortune. He questioned if the industry has moved into a dark era where failure is celebrated more than success. He said “Grace… Is this now an alien phenomenon? Have we as a race completely lost our ability to be good old fashioned graceful?” Johar wrote.
He specifically targeted the trend of “failure celebrations,” asking, “Are we not able to celebrate other people’s successes and can we stop celebrating their failures? Can we praise wholeheartedly and can we criticise without bias, anger and rage?”
Johar did not stop at the industry’s reaction; he also critiqued the behavior of the average user on social media. He described platforms like Instagram and X as becoming a “dumping ground of our own failings, shortcomings or inner darkness.”
The filmmaker urged his followers to stop acting as the “moral police” and to refrain from taking their “rotten moods” out on others. He noted that the “gyaan givers” (advice-givers) of the world often fail to be “gyaan executors,” highlighting a hypocrisy he feels has permeated modern communication.
The timing of Johar’s post is significant. Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri (TMMTMTTM) reportedly collected approximately ₹25.25 crore in its first five days—a figure far below expectations for a high-profile holiday release. Meanwhile, the spy-thriller Dhurandhar continues to dominate the screens, reportedly crossing the ₹1100 crore mark globally.
Industry insiders suggest that Johar’s outburst is a result of the mounting pressure on Dharma Productions, which has seen a string of underwhelming theatrical runs in 2025, despite its recent Oscar shortlisting for the film Homebound.
Closing his note on a hopeful yet somber tone, Johar called for a collective resolution for the new year. He further said, “Let’s not bury grace… let’s revive her from the ventilator she’s been on for decades,” he concluded. To know such latest updates, stay tuned to tellyboosters.com Thank you!
