Bollywood director and producer Karan Johar recently opened up about a sensitive part of his life. He shared that during his teenage years, he faced harsh criticism and social pressure because of his feminine behavior and different lifestyle.
In an interview on Jay Shetty’s YouTube channel, Karan spoke about the painful memories of his childhood. He said he always tried to mix with other boys his age but never truly felt like he belonged.
According to Karan, the way he walked, talked, and his hobbies were different from others. This made him a target of jokes and bullying. He wanted to play sports like football and cricket, but people never picked him for their teams because they felt he was not manly enough. These comments hurt him deeply.
He also said that his biggest wish in those days was just to be accepted and be part of a group or team. But no one told him that it was okay to be different and that he was valuable just the way he was.
Karan remembered a moment when he was just 12 years old. He was bullied so much that he wanted to leave school. But his mother gave him strength, helped him stay strong, and encouraged him to go back and face the situation. He didn’t change schools and decided to fight back.
Today, Karan Johar, who once only wanted to be accepted, is a leading name in the Indian film industry. He is the co-founder of Dharma Productions and has made many hit films. Recently, he made headlines as the producer of the upcoming film Dhadak 2, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri. The film, directed by Shazia Iqbal, will release on August 1, 2025.