Celebrated Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has opened up about a deeply personal chapter of his youth, revealing that he underwent two years of training to adopt a more traditionally masculine tone and walk after being mocked for his feminine mannerisms.
In a candid interview, Johar admitted that during his childhood and teenage years, his speech and gait were often compared to that of girls, which led to bullying and ridicule. “People laughed at the way I spoke, but it was my father who supported me and helped me through that difficult phase,” he said.
Recalling his school days, Johar revealed that a teacher once warned him that continuing to speak in a soft, feminine tone might create obstacles in the future. It was then that he was advised to train his voice and demeanor to appear more conventionally masculine.
“I enrolled in classes to change my speech and body language. For two years, I practiced speaking in a deeper tone and walking more assertively,” he explained. Interestingly, Johar said he told his father he was taking computer classes at the time to hide the real reason behind his training.
“After three years of effort, there was a noticeable change in my voice and body language, and even my family acknowledged the transformation,” he added.
Despite this past struggle, the 52-year-old filmmaker emphasized a powerful message of self-acceptance today: “If someone asks me now, I’ll say—be who you are. Don’t change yourself for anyone.”
Karan Johar, who has never married, is a proud single father of twins, Yash and Roohi, born via surrogacy. He named his son after his late father, Yash Johar, and his daughter’s name is inspired by his mother, Hiroo Johar.
