Karan Johar has opened up about how his childhood trauma continues to influence his parenting. Speaking with Sania Mirza on her podcast Serving It Up with Sania, Karan reflected on the deep scars left by being bullied for his weight as a child, and how those fears resurface when he looks at his twins, Yash and Roohi. I want to tell you that 50% of me is so scarred by my childhood that I get paranoid that my kids would gain weight,” Karan confessed. “I keep saying, ‘Don’t eat sugar.’ But a part of me wants to liberate them from it. I get angry if they miss or bunk a football class because they have too many classes in school.”
‘Football was not for you’: Karan recalls childhood bullying
Karan went on to share the painful memories of being body-shamed as a child. “I remember I was told, ‘Play dabba gul because football is not for you.’ That stayed with me,” he said, recalling how such remarks eroded his confidence. The director admitted that his parenting style now fluctuates between being protective and being fearful, as he doesn’t want his children to face the same ridicule.
Karan Johar on modern parenting
Karan expressed concern about children growing up in a world where self-worth is often tied to looks and followers. “Kids today feel anxiety about not looking ‘hot enough’ or not having enough followers,” he said. “I’m worried they might go online and find clips that may embarrass them.”
A father shaped by love and fear
Karan Johar became a father in 2017 through surrogacy, naming his twins after his parents ,Yash Johar and Hiroo Johar (Roohi being a rearrangement of Hiroo). Despite his fears, he said he wants his children to grow up kind, confident, and accepting of everyone.Karan is currently gearing up for his next production which is titled ‘Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri’. The film stars Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday, slated for a Christmas 2025 release.
