Filmmaker Karan Johar, who made headlines last year for his dramatic physical transformation, has once again rubbished rumours suggesting that he used Ozempic for weight loss. In a recent podcast, Karan not only addressed the speculation head-on but also opened up about his long, complicated relationship with weight, diet struggles during college and candid remarks from his mother, Hiroo Johar, about his appearance.
‘Our profession doesn’t allow routine’: Karan on weight loss struggles
Speaking on the Manyavar podcast, Karan explained why weight loss has never been easy for him, despite people assuming it’s “simple” if one follows a routine.“It’s all very simple if you regiment your life. If you give it some kind of routine… which can’t happen in our job, especially in my profession. We don’t have any weekends or national holidays, it’s very irregular,” he said.Highlighting the constant work pressure, Karan added, “Everyone is just stress calling me. I don’t reply for three hours to work related things when people tell me to call urgently.”
‘Punjabi moms are not always deluded’: On Hiroo Johar’s blunt honesty
While recalling his younger days, Karan spoke about the contrasting views his parents had about him. He revealed that while his father Yash Johar was convinced he could become a hero, his mother Hiroo Johar was far more realistic — and brutally honest.“My dad was in delusion land about me. He thought that I had puppy fat, it will go away, he is so handsome,” Karan shared.He continued, “But, my mother used to disagree and say, ‘What are you saying, Yash? He is so fat, so large.’ He wanted me to become a hero, and my mother used to roll her eyes saying no way he is capable or should be a hero. She always used to call me out. Punjabi moms are not always deluded.”
College days trigger and failed diet experiments
Karan revealed that his first serious attempt at weight loss happened when he entered college and stepped out of the comfort of school uniforms.“When I decided to lose weight for the very first time was when I had to go to college and wear coloured clothes,” he said, adding, “You blend in uniforms in school… You reach college and you see everyone is way thinner than you. Somehow, that really shook me up.”He also spoke candidly about experimenting with extreme diets — often with alarming consequences.“I have done General Motors diet repeatedly in the past. Once I did it for a month and I fell sick,” he recalled.Talking about the Atkins diet, Karan said, “I still remember that I was in my Accounts class during college. I fainted in that class because I was on this diet. That was the end of diet, my mother banned it.”
‘Contrary to what people think, I did not take Ozempic’
Addressing the Ozempic rumours directly, Karan firmly denied using the drug and explained the real reason behind his weight loss.“Contrary to what people think that I took ozempic or whatever, I am quite not,” he said.He revealed that medical tests at a health retreat helped him discover underlying issues.“I realised that I am acutely gluten and lactose intolerant. I actually didn’t realise… I was eating roti and not rice. But in reality, rice and potato are my friends.”
Thyroid medication, dietary changes and fitness now
Karan further shared that his thyroid levels were irregular, which played a major role in his weight struggles.“My thyroid levels were all over the place, so they put me on a thyroid medication. I didn’t know that I had a problem,” he said.Explaining what finally worked for him, Karan added, “Now, I have removed gluten completely… almond milk works very well for me. What I have also removed is sugar. The weight just went down with that and the thyroid medication.” On the fitness front, the 53-year-old filmmaker revealed, “What I do need to is get on to workout. I swim and play paddle ball currently. I used to play at Mannat earlier.” Go to Source
