Karan Johar reveals he wanted to be a Fashion Designer, not a filmmaker; says 'I'm a part of Bollywood only because of Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan'

Bollywood director and producer Karan Johar opened up like never before to share details about his personal and professional life. In a rather candid revelation, the filmmaker shared that life would have led him down different avenues if not for the persistence of his B-town friends.

In his chat with Raj Shamani, the director shared that his initial aspirations lay not in cinema, but in the world of fashion. During the podcast, Johar said he had never intended to become a filmmaker and credited his entry into Bollywood to two key figures — Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan.

“Some people came into my life who gave me that confidence,” Johar said. “Aditya Chopra was the first. He told me, ‘You’re a filmmaker,’ and I didn’t want that. I wanted to be something else — a fashion designer, a costume designer. But, he said 'No, you're a filmmaker'.”


Johar went on to recall how superstar and BFF Shah Rukh also played a pivotal role in shaping his career. “Shah Rukh told me on set, ‘If you make a film, I will do your first film.’ And then he followed it up,” Johar said, referring to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, his 1998 directorial debut which starred Khan and became a major box office hit.

“I always say that I’m a part of this industry only because of these two people — Aditya and SRK,” he added.

Known today as one of Bollywood’s most influential filmmakers, Johar has directed and produced several blockbuster films under his banner. While he went on to achieve cinematic success, Johar has shown off his fondness for fashion, frequently making headlines for his distinctive style and designer collaborations.