Filmmaker Karan Johar has now courted another controversy, this time over his statement about the treatment he gave to Anushka Sharma’s character, Alizeh, in his film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Alizeh, played by Anushka Sharma, dies of cancer in the film. The story had been written by Karan Johar, and he said he killed off Alizeh because she refused to reciprocate feelings of Ayan (Ranbir Kapoor) who loved her unconditionally.

In a recent interview to HuffPost, the ADHM director claimed the film was “flawless”. Karan said he didexpect a “polarised response” but he was still keen to make the film.

“It’s a film I wanted to make because it’s personal and was cathartic for me. Ranbir (Kapoor) played me. I wanted to deal with the injury caused by a heartbreak,” he said.

Speaking about Alizeh, Karan Johar said she died of cancer because it was a “karmic payback”.

“Yes, the last track met with many polarised responses and rightfully so, but I was like she (Anushka Sharma’s character Alizeh who doesn’t reciprocate Ayan’s feelings) didn’t love him, she has to die. He loved her so crazily. She could’ve loved him back, why couldn’t she? So she got cancer and she died,” said the director.

“Well, she got punished, I wrote it. See, a filmmaker is a God, you write, you create and you destroy,” he added.

Further, in the interview, Karan Johar went on to give a bizarre explanation about the cause of cancer.  

“It’s like when you’re inexpressive you can get a tumour, the blocks in your heart or your system, all have something to do with your personal dynamics. It’s emotional, stress levels can cause cancer, a lot of it is related to your mind. Eventually, a clear mind is also a clear body and I believe she was carrying a baggage of love herself which she wasn’t able to express everything and that manifested into the illness,” he says.

Twitter users have called out the filmmaker and accused him of romanticising stalking and harassment.

Check out the reactions here:

Are you kidding me? No wonder sexual assault, harassment (“eveteasing”) and unhealthy emotional dependency is so common. Mainstream Hollywood director celebrating manipulation in relationships. (Not surprised that it’s Karan Johar tho) #Bollywood #karanjohar #misogyny #NoMeansNo https://t.co/7Os9ZlJHdU

— angry asian aunty (@akilaally) January 25, 2019

Karan Johar saying he killed off Alizeh in ADHM because she didn’t love Ayan and chalking it off as karma is disgusting because we still live in a day and age where women are constantly attacked or killed for not reciprocating feelings and we are NOT going to romanticize that

— sai (@Saisailu97) January 24, 2019

Eww that’s disgusting, I honestly thought the movie was good before because I thought it was promoting the idea that a girl doesn’t always have ro love u back and so liked how she didn’t love him at the end

— Trisha (@BeingTrishh) January 24, 2019

“he loved her so crazily. She could’ve loved him back, why couldnt she? so she got cancer and died-well she got punished” validating the craziness jilted lovers/stalkers show when love is not reciprocated-acid attacks/mudering/raping to punish. people look up to you @karanjohar

— Smriti Joshi (@SmritiSawhney) January 25, 2019