<p class="bodytext">The word nepotism has been following Karan Johar around like a shadow, the director said today, adding that despite his best efforts, he has not been able to get rid of it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 45-year-old filmmaker was described as the "flagbearer of nepotism" by actor Kangana Ranaut on his popular chat show earlier this year, triggering a row in Bollywood between those with a family background in cinema and those without. Johar's father, Yash Johar, was a well-known producer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Can we just put a hold on this word 'nepotism'? ... It haunts me. It has become like 'mera saaya' (my shadow). I told somebody that I have developed 'nepospasm'," he said, tongue firmly in cheek. The word, he rued, had become a trending topic.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It has been following me everywhere. Suddenly, it has become fashionable. Can we just get rid of it and start focussing on good content," he asked.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kangana's comment snowballed into a huge controversy with Karan and actors Saif Ali Khan and Varun Dhawan taking potshots at her at this year's IIFA Award function. The trio later apologised for their remarks later.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Karan, who was at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI), also aired a grouse against live tweet reviews. "I am tired of these live tweet reviews... How can they review when they are not watching the film and are on their phones? I plead for a ban on this," he said.</p>
<p class="bodytext">The word nepotism has been following Karan Johar around like a shadow, the director said today, adding that despite his best efforts, he has not been able to get rid of it.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 45-year-old filmmaker was described as the "flagbearer of nepotism" by actor Kangana Ranaut on his popular chat show earlier this year, triggering a row in Bollywood between those with a family background in cinema and those without. Johar's father, Yash Johar, was a well-known producer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Can we just put a hold on this word 'nepotism'? ... It haunts me. It has become like 'mera saaya' (my shadow). I told somebody that I have developed 'nepospasm'," he said, tongue firmly in cheek. The word, he rued, had become a trending topic.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It has been following me everywhere. Suddenly, it has become fashionable. Can we just get rid of it and start focussing on good content," he asked.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kangana's comment snowballed into a huge controversy with Karan and actors Saif Ali Khan and Varun Dhawan taking potshots at her at this year's IIFA Award function. The trio later apologised for their remarks later.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Karan, who was at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI), also aired a grouse against live tweet reviews. "I am tired of these live tweet reviews... How can they review when they are not watching the film and are on their phones? I plead for a ban on this," he said.</p>
