Karan Johar Says SRK Was First Person To Understand His “Feminine Side”, Made Him Feel Like “Equal”
Karan Johar said his “feminine side” was always met with laughter but the only person who understood him was Shah Rukh Khan.
It is a well-known fact that director-producer Karan Johar shares a deep bond with actor Shah Rukh Khan. KJo, who recently came out with ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’, has often been vocal about his fondness for SRK and how King Khan has shaped his life. In a recent interview, the filmmaker revealed that Shah Rukh Khan was the first man who didn’t make him feel lesser. He also recalled how SRK was his go-to person for whenever he wanted to discuss struggles about his sexuality.
In the latest episode of ‘Be A Man Yaar’ with Nikhil Taneja, Karan Johar said, “I think the first person that made me feel that I was ok was Shah Rukh Khan. He was born and brought up in a very progressive environment. He had come from theater, he had worked with all kinds of people, and I think my parents were not being able to understand things.”
He added, “I felt that the feminine side that I had that was coming out so strongly was only met with laughter or being made fun of. Then when I grew older people got a little quieter about it but I could tell that there was a chitter-chatter around maybe the way I walked, or spoke or things. I remember Shah Rukh Khan was the first man that did not make me feel any lesser.”
The Bollywood filmmaker also said that Shah Rukh made him feel “like an equal” and accepted things about him, which others would mock him for.
“I feel like he accepted what in those days were considered being a pansy, or being effeminate or walking funny and he was just so cool about it, about everything,” KJo said.
“He used to have a lot of open chats with me, and I felt like even when I had to say the biggest thing about my personality and sexuality, I spoke to him first. I felt like he would be that one influence or that one sense of support that even he hasn’t realised that he has been to me. So yes, it was first Shah Rukh and it still remains Shah Rukh,” the director added.
During the episode, Karan Johar also recalled how when he pretended to be in love with a girl in 10th standard, he got his first “reality check”.
Karan Johar said, “She was the Head Girl. Everybody in the 10th standard was crushing on some girl, so I thought I should join this bandwagon otherwise how do I… So I pretended that I was crushing on her and gave her a card on Rose Day, not Valentine’s Day. She took the card and called me and actually maybe she was my first reality check.”
The director added, “She said, ‘You didn’t really want to give me this rose, did you?” I said, ‘No I really think you are nice, I like you.’ She said, ‘Yes, but you don’t want to give me this card or rose.’ I thought it was rather evolved of her because I really didn’t! So yes, I have exchanged but for all the wrong reasons and to be obviously very cool.”
Meanwhile, on the work front, Shah Rukh Khan will be next seen in ‘Dunki’, which is gearing up for a release on December 22. This will be his third film of the year after ‘Pathaan’ and ‘Jawan’.
