The final season of ‘Koffee With Karan’ has made a strong start, trending at No. 1 on JioHotstar across India, the UK, Canada and Singapore following its premiere episode featuring Salman Khan and a surprise appearance by Karisma Kapoor.

The ninth season of the Hotstar Specials chat show has also generated significant engagement on social media, with episode discussions trending in the entertainment category on X and Instagram seeing a wave of reaction reels, reviews and fan posts.

Streaming exclusively on The Peacock Hub on JioHotstar, the final season is releasing new episodes every Wednesday at 7pm.

The premiere departed from the show’s familiar format, with Salman Khan occupying the couch as its sole guest. Known for his candid and often unpredictable responses, the actor opened up about his personal life, future plans and memories from his career.

During the conversation, Salman revealed that he would like to have children someday and explained why he prefers to keep his personal life private. He also spoke about sharing his bedroom with what he described as a mysterious, other-worldly “presence”.

Recalling his association with filmmaker Yash Johar, Salman said he had offered to appear in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ without charging a fee because of the affection he had for Johar, who treated him like a son.

However, the episode’s biggest surprise came with the entry of Karisma Kapoor, who joined the show to host the rapid-fire round. Salman, who has worked with Kapoor in more than 10 films, affectionately referred to her as his “longest living affair”.

The two revisited memories from their years of working together, including a prank during a shoot that reportedly left Kapoor in tears. Their easy banter and shared history struck a chord with viewers, prompting calls from fans for the actors to reunite on screen.

For audiences familiar with their collaborations through the 1990s, the reunion brought a strong dose of nostalgia to the koffee couch.

Alok Jain, Head of Hindi and English Entertainment Business across streaming, television and studios at JioStar, said the show’s performance reflected the strength of Indian entertainment franchises that retain their cultural identity while connecting with audiences internationally.

“Koffee with Karan is a powerful example of what a homegrown IP can achieve when it stays true to its voice. Built in India with an unmistakably Indian sensibility, the show has earned a loyal audience at home and is finding resonance with viewers across markets,” Jain said.

He added that the opening performance reinforced the company’s belief that culturally rooted franchises can travel across markets, making investment in iconic Indian intellectual property central to building lasting engagement on JioHotstar.

Season 9 also marks a milestone in the platform’s international content partnerships. It is the first Indian collaboration for The Peacock Hub and the first time NBCUniversal and JioHotstar have partnered on a homegrown show.

Host and creator Karan Johar said opening the final season with Salman Khan and Kapoor’s surprise appearance felt like revisiting the show’s history.

“Koffee with Karan has always been about nostalgia for me. It is a show that has grown up alongside its audience, and opening the final season with Salman, and Lolo walking in as a surprise, felt like flipping through an old family album,” Johar said.

He said the response from international viewers had made the final chapter particularly meaningful, with audiences in the UK, Canada and Singapore taking the show to the top of JioHotstar’s rankings and sharing their reactions online.

“There’s plenty more brewing this season, so keep your cups ready!” Johar added.

With its combination of celebrity conversations, unexpected appearances and nostalgic moments, ‘Koffee With Karan’ has opened its final season with a strong cross-market response. The show continues to stream exclusively on The Peacock Hub on JioHotstar, with fresh episodes arriving every Wednesday at 7pm.