‘Koffee With Karan’ is set to bid an emotional farewell to its audience. After more than two decades of celebrity confessions, controversial revelations, rapid-fire answers and memorable conversations, Karan Johar is returning with the ninth and final season of the popular chat show.The makers have now released a special glimpse of the upcoming season, featuring Karan reflecting on the show’s long journey and revealing why he feels it is finally time to say goodbye.‘Koffee With Karan’ first premiered in 2004 and has since become one of the most talked-about celebrity chat shows on Indian television and streaming. Over the years, the couch has witnessed friendships, romances, fallouts, candid confessions and several moments that went on to dominate headlines.Speaking about the final season, Karan Johar, Host and Creator of Koffee With Karan, said, “There are some journeys you don’t plan to end, you simply know, somewhere deep within you, when it is time to let them go. Koffee With Karan has been an extraordinary part of my life. It has given me friendships, memories, moments of complete madness, a lot of love and, yes, its fair share of controversy!”“But through all of it, what has remained constant is the audience. They have laughed with us, debated us, trolled us, celebrated us and, most importantly, kept coming back for another cup. Saying goodbye is emotional, but it also feels right. This final season is my way of raising the mug one last time with gratitude, with love and with everyone who has made Koffee With Karan what it is. So, come have one last cup of Koffee with me. One last time,” he added.In the emotional video, Karan looks back at how the show came into existence and recalls discussing his idea of hosting a celebrity chat show with his late father in June 2004. He says, “It was June 2004 when I told my dad that I really wanted to host a talk show. I wanted to host two celebrities or stars and have an informal, candid chat with them. He told me, ‘Karan, you are going to call your friends, talk to them, something that you do every day anyway. Who will pay you for that?'”Karan further recalled, “He passed away that same month, actually. On 26 June. The very first day I shot for it was 16 August 2004. And I’m here now, eight seasons later, 22 years later, 161 episodes later. A lot happened. I called lovers. I called friends. I called families. I called lovers who went on to become ex-lovers. Some of them even got married. I put an end to the careers of national icons. I am living with the term ‘nepo’ even today. Conjecture became a national word. So much happened.”Looking back at the show’s enduring popularity, he said, “Everywhere I go, fortunately or unfortunately, they always ask me, ‘When is the next season of Koffee With Karan?’ I wonder why they never ask me, ‘When is my next feature film?’ But whatever it was, it gave me so much. I reached a point in my life where I realised all good things must come to an end. This will be my very last season of Koffee With Karan.”Meanwhile, speculation around the celebrity line-up for Season 9 has already been doing the rounds. Names such as Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, along with Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, have been linked to the upcoming season. However, the makers have kept the guest list under wraps so far. The official line-up will be revealed when ‘Koffee With Karan’ Season 9 premieres on October 14.
