Karan Johar is a popular Indian filmmaker and TV personality. He primarily plies his trade in the Bollywood film industry. He had launched the careers of many successful actors under his own Dharma Productions.
Moreover, he is also the recipient of several accolades including a National Film Award and six Filmfare Awards. He has been honoured with Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award by the Government of India in 2020.
He is the son of producer Yash Johar. Karan made his directorial debut with the romantic comedy-drama Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) which earned him the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, the Filmfare Award for Best Director and the Filmfare Award for Best Screenplay.
For the unversed, the 50-year-old Mumbai-born had ventured into other avenues of the entertainment industry. He also hosts a television talk show, Koffee with Karan, and a dating show What the Love! Apart from that, he has appeared as a judge on competition reality shows Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, India’s Got Talent, India’s Next Superstars.
Karan Johar boldly opens up on being Gay, reveals this hidden secret
Karan Johar addressed the issue in his newly released biography, An Unsuitable Boy. He is quoted as saying, “Everybody knows what my sexual orientation is. I don’t need to scream it out. If I need to spell it out, I won’t only because I live in a country where I could possibly be jailed for saying this.”
He added, “The reason I don’t say it out aloud is simply that I don’t want to be dealing with the FIRs. I’m very sorry. I have a job, I have a commitment to my company, to my people who work for me; there are over a hundred people that I’m answerable to. I’m not going to sit in the courts because of ridiculous, completely bigoted individuals who have no education, no intelligence.”
He further added, “I have become like the poster boy of homosexuality in this country. But honestly, I have no problem with people saying what they want about me. Twitter has the most abuse. I wake up to at least 200 hate posts saying, ‘Get out, you’re polluting our nation, you’re dirtying society’ or ‘Shove [IPC Section] 377 up your arse.’ I get this on a daily basis and I’ve learned to laugh it off? One man came up to me once very cockily at Heathrow airport and said, ‘Is it true that you are a homo?’ He was with his wife and child, and he asked me this. I looked at him and said, ‘Why, are you interested?’ And he said, ‘Hey, what-what what!’ And I said, ‘Don’t what-what me.’ And I walked out.”