Filmmaker Karan Johar recently opened up about struggling with body image issues since childhood. He felt like he had let his parents down and believed they deserved a better son. In a recent interview, Karan shared how he often self-body-shamed and wondered, “Why can’t I be like other boys?”
Speaking on The Faye D’Souza Show, Karan explained, “I felt I failed a lot as a child. I thought I was failing my parents because I was different. I was effeminate and not like the other boys at school and in my neighborhood. I didn’t want to play sports.” He recalled being an introverted and shy kid who preferred books and Hindi cinema. Every time he came home with his report card, he sensed disappointment in his mother’s eyes. “I always went to school with a heavy heart. There was an indifference towards me in school. It didn’t matter if I was there or not,” he said.
Karan shared a childhood memory of participating in a talent competition at age 3. He danced, and he noticed people laughing. His mother was in the audience. When he got home, he closed the door and cried, thinking, “Why can’t I be like other boys.”
To address his body image issues, Karan secretly joined a public speaking class in college. “There was a man there who told me I had an effeminate voice and that life wouldn’t be easy for me. He sent me to a class to make my voice sound deeper. I told my dad I was going to computer classes because I didn’t want to tell them what I was really doing,” Karan revealed.
Eventually, Karan excelled in public speaking and won debate competitions. In 1998, he made his directorial debut with *Kuch Kuch Hota Hai* and has continued to produce successful films. However, he still struggles with body image issues.
“I have body dysmorphia. I feel very awkward about getting into a pool. I don’t know how to do it without feeling pathetic. I try hard to overcome it. I always wear oversized clothes. Even in intimate moments, I turn off the lights,” he admitted.
Karan Johar’s last directorial project was *Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani*. He is now awaiting the release of his upcoming production, *Bad Newz*, starring Vicky Kaushal, Tripti Dimri, and Ammy Virk.
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