A PROLIFIC cinema journey has turned Karan Johar into one of the most influential Bollywood filmmakers of this generation. The producer, director and writer has also carved out a thriving career on TV as a judge and successful talk show host. The creative talent affectionately known as K-Jo turns a year older on May 25 and celebrates his 52nd birthday.
Eastern Eye decided to mark the occasion with an in depth A to Z about his action packed life. The filmmaker started his career as a child actor in 1989 serial Indradhanush on Indian national TV channel Doordarshan. He later played small supporting roles in films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), before a full-fledged character in Bombay Velvet (2015).
He was born in Mumbai on May 25, 1972 to film producer Yash Johar and Hiroo Johar. His father being part of Bollywood with his Dharma Productions company meant Johar was brought up surrounded by cinema. D is for Debut: After working as an assistant on Diwali Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995), he made a winning directorial debut with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), which broke multiple box-office records across the globe.
E is for Excellence: Johar has won multiple awards as a writer, director and producer across his career. In 2020, he was given a Padma Shri award, which is India’s fourth highest civilian honour. Although he has never made an official announcement, it has been acknowledged for a long time that the filmmaker is gay.
He has introduced the theme of homosexuality in mul.