Salman Khan Set for Rare Solo Appearance on Koffee With Karan Season 9 Premiere
Salman Khan is reportedly returning to the couch of Koffee With Karan as the first guest for Season 9, and this time he is expected to appear alone—without a family member or another celebrity by his side. The report, which was carried by Free Press Journal and The Times of India, cites a source who told Variety India: "Salman has confirmed his presence to Karan Johar for the premiere episode. While other details are being ironed out, they are in agreement that Khan should appear solo this year."
The new season is scheduled to begin streaming around October-November 2026, during the Diwali season, according to Variety India. The show will air on JioHotstar, the platform created after the merger of Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema.
A Departure from Earlier Appearances
Salman Khan's history with Koffee With Karan makes the reported solo appearance particularly notable. He stayed away from the show during its first three seasons, then made his debut in Season 4, joined by his father, veteran writer Salim Khan. He later returned in Season 5 with his brothers Sohail Khan and Arbaaz Khan, in an episode that marked the show's 100th episode. A solo episode would mark a departure from his previous visits, where he was accompanied by family members.
Friendship and Memories from 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai'
Salman Khan and Karan Johar have shared a close friendship for years, dating back to Johar's directorial debut, 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' (1998), in which Salman played the role of Aman. Johar has shared an amusing memory from the film's production: he recalled being extremely nervous about directing Salman for the first time. On the first day, Salman suggested wearing jeans and a T-shirt for a sangeet sequence, which made Johar emotional—he cried in Salman's vanity van, worried about the outfit choice. Salman eventually reassured Johar and agreed to wear a suit, leading to the shooting of Johar's first-ever sangeet song sequence.
New Format, Broader Guest List
Karan Johar has indicated that the show will return with a "new syntax," including shorter segments and changes to its format. The guest mix is also expected to be broader this time, possibly including stars from South Indian films, OTT actors, and digital creators, beyond the usual leading names from Hindi cinema.
A tentative guest list has been circulating on social media, initially shared by a Reddit user. It includes names like Vicky Kaushal, Diljit Dosanjh, Aamir Khan, Akshaye Khanna, Saif Ali Khan, Samay Raina, Farah Khan, Ahaan Panday, Aneet Padda, Jaya Bachchan, Kajol, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani, Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna, Lakshya, Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday, and Shanaya Kapoor. However, this list has not been officially confirmed, and the complete guest lineup for Season 9 remains under wraps.