On the latest Koffee With Karan season 9, Varun Dhawan turned a parenting question into one of the episode’s most relatable moments. He didn’t just praise Ranbir Kapoor as a father to Raha; he admitted the comparison made him feel ‘really ashamed.’
The reason is pure toddler chaos. Varun’s daughter Lara is two, and she fights him over music—she’s stuck on one Michael Jackson song while he insists she listen to more of the singer’s catalogue.
The Koffee With Karan moment
Varun and Janhvi Kapoor were the latest guests on Karan Johar’s show. When the host pointed out that the Student of the Year debutants—Alia Bhatt, Siddharth Malhotra and Varun—are all parents now, the conversation moved to how each is handling the role.
Varun said that when he sees Ranbir as a parent, he finds him amazing. Then came the line that made the moment: Ranbir is so good as a father that Varun feels ‘really ashamed.’ He was quick to clarify he’s good too, but Lara and he get into a lot of fights.
Karan pushed back: how can a two-year-old fight? Varun’s answer was very specific—Lara is hooked on one Michael Jackson song, while he keeps trying to broaden her playlist.
Why this small moment is connecting
This is not a feud; it’s a dad joke with a ring of truth. The playlist battle is something any parent or older sibling can recognise—one song on repeat until the household splits into two camps.
For celebrity watchers, the exchange lands because it places two huge stars in a surprisingly ordinary frame. Ranbir, who usually guards his private life, ends up being praised not for a performance but for the way he shows up as a parent. Varun, usually the energetic one on screen, becomes the frazzled dad losing a music negotiation.
For Bollywood paparazzi readers, the clip is a reminder that the most shareable celebrity moments often have nothing to do with a film release. They are about a universally recognisable tug-of-war, like getting a toddler to listen to anything beyond one song.
- The confession: Varun says Ranbir’s fathering makes him feel ‘really ashamed’ by comparison.
- The reason: Lara, two, wants one Michael Jackson song on repeat.
- The context: Ranbir and Alia Bhatt welcomed Raha in November 2022 and first showed her publicly at Christmas 2023.
What’s next for Ranbir Kapoor
The timing makes the moment extra relevant. Ranbir is gearing up for Ramayana, Nitesh Tiwari’s two-part adaptation of the epic. He plays Lord Rama opposite Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana, with Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The reported budget stands at ₹4,000 crore, and the first part is scheduled for November 5, 2026. A second part is expected around Diwali 2027.
He also has Love & War with Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, set for March 20 next year.
Source: Hindustan Times
Comments