Sidharth Malhotra takes a dig at Kartik Aaryan’s PR budget

Mumbai: Karan Johar’s popular celebrity chat show Koffee With Karan 9 is grabbing attention once again, and this time, it is Sidharth Malhotra’s remark about Kartik Aaryan that has become a talking point. The latest episode, featuring Sidharth and Kiara Advani, saw the actor opening up about Bollywood’s growing obsession with paid PR, image building and the pressure to maintain a certain perception in the industry.

However, it was his response to a question involving Kartik Aaryan that stood out, especially considering the much-discussed equation between Kartik and Karan Johar.

Sidharth Malhotra’s dig at Kartik Aaryan

During the rapid-fire round, Karan asked Sidharth what he would take from Kartik Aaryan. Without much hesitation, Sidharth responded, “The PR budget that he has.” Karan simply reacted with an “Okay” before moving ahead with the conversation.

While the remark appeared to be a cheeky dig at Kartik, Sidharth’s larger conversation about the current state of Bollywood made the response even more interesting.

The actor spoke about the industry’s increasingly aggressive paid PR culture, where building perceptions around celebrities has become a significant part of the business.

He also discussed how stars are increasingly focused on creating a particular public image rather than allowing their performances and box office numbers to speak for themselves.

His comments highlighted the growing debate around Bollywood’s publicity machinery and whether manufactured popularity is beginning to overshadow genuine audience appreciation.

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Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan’s equation

Interestingly, Sidharth’s comment came in front of Karan Johar, whose professional relationship with Kartik Aaryan has made headlines several times.

For those unaware, Kartik was initially supposed to star in Dharma Productions’ Dostana 2 alongside Janhvi Kapoor. However, his sudden exit from the film in 2021 sparked widespread speculation about a fallout between the actor and filmmaker.

The controversy became one of Bollywood’s most talked-about industry disputes, with questions surrounding Kartik’s relationship with Dharma Productions.

However, the two eventually appeared to bury the hatchet, with Karan publicly acknowledging their past differences and praising Kartik’s work. The actor is also associated with Dharma Productions’ Naagzilla, indicating that their professional relationship has improved.

Against this backdrop, Karan’s brief reaction to Sidharth’s comment added an interesting layer to the conversation.

While Sidharth did not directly accuse Kartik of manipulating public perception, his remark about the actor’s PR budget, followed by his broader observations about Bollywood’s publicity culture, has certainly given viewers something to discuss.

The latest episode of Koffee With Karan 9, featuring Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, is streaming on JioHotstar.

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