Mumbai, August 2: Bollywood’s multi-talented filmmaker Karan Johar celebrated Friendship Day by reminiscing about the friendships that have shaped his life. He shared how his friends have consistently inspired him to think differently and carve out a space for himself.
In a heartfelt note on Instagram, Johar reflected on various friends who have entered his life. He wrote, “As a plus-sized child, I would often look out of my building window. Honestly, I was trying to find kind words for myself. I watched boys play street cricket and my first question was – why can’t hopscotch be a national sport? Yes, I am Gen X; that was our reality. I couldn’t run or play. My second question was, why did I have no friends? The biggest gift of being an only child was self-pity. While I lamented my problems, a charming Parsi girl named Farzana Mancherji came into my life.”
He continued, “She pulled me out of my lethargy and made me realize that I was a hyper-dramatic drama queen. I just needed to step out of my bedroom and create a new space for myself. She was my first friend, and even after 47 years, Farzana holds a significant place in my heart.”
Karan also spoke about another friendship that has defined him both personally and professionally. He shared, “My lifelong friendship began when I entered the sixth grade. I had always been in sections 2A, 3A, 4A, and 5A, but due to a clerical error, I was placed in section C. I didn’t know anyone and felt alone again. My principal stood me in front of the class and awkwardly asked, who would be Karan Johar’s friend? Silence. She asked again, and then, with a backlight reminiscent of Mani Ratnam’s films, a hand shot up. It was Apoorv Mehta. Today, he is my boss, best friend, and CEO of Dharma Productions. He said to bring vegetarian snacks the next day. Clearly, that was the only criterion. He helped me make many friends and made me realize that I had to rise above my complexes – weight, awkwardness, acne – and embrace myself if I wanted others to accept me.”
Karan expressed, “I believe it’s that simple. Today, my friends are my family. I feel like the luckiest person in the world to have such wonderful friends. Recently, I spent 15 days in the ICU with my mother. She is now home and recovering. It made me realize how much love I have in my life. No matter what your wealth is, the only investment that will always yield the highest returns is friendship.”
He concluded, “I want to thank all my friends who stood by me during my tough days and nights. I love you all, and you know who you are. My love and loyalty to all of you will last a lifetime.”
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