Karan Johar REVEALS Why He's Discreet About His Sexuality: 'I Don't Want Such A Large Part To...'

Karan Johar is one of the most leading names in the industry. In his stellar career, the film-maker has churned out cult films like Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, My Name Is Khan, Student Of The Year to name a few. Karan Johar has also been an active voice of incorporating queer themes in his cinema and yet he has maintained a shroud of secrecy around his own sexuality, which often becomes a bone of contention for his naysayers and trollers. Now, Karan Johar has finally spoken about the reason why he has been discreet about his sexuality.

In an interview with The Week, Karan Johar explained that he doesn’t want his sexuality to be reduced to a headline, “I don’t want such a large part of my life to be used as a headline. I think that’s what it will become, just a headline, and then the impact of all that I do will be lost. I have never hidden who I am. I’d rather do the work on ground level. I believe the impact of what I have done through my cinema, through the things I have said in my book (‘An Unsuitable Boy’, 2017, co-written with journalist Poonam Saxena), has already touched people in a way where they were able to start conversations with their peers and parents. I’ve received so many letters and emails from people telling me the way I have addressed sexuality in my films has helped them address the situation with their parents. I feel the job has started, and it is ongoing. I will continue to push that envelope. Me saying anything will just be sensational, it will just be ridiculed and reduced. But cinema is a far more impressionable medium,” he stated.

Karan Johar also added that Dharma Productions has always been at the forefront to give a platform to queer stories. He shared, “We deal with sexuality in as dignified a way as possible. We believe in positive messaging and, as a company, we feel passionate about telling the stories that could make you awkward. Right from Geeli Pucchi in Ajeeb Dastaans to Kiara Advani having an orgasm to one of my songs in Lust Stories, we talk about women’s right to sexual pleasure. We want to push boundaries.”

Meanwhile, on the work front, Karan Johar is currently hosting his popular celebrity chat show Koffee With Karan Season 8. His next movie, Yodha, starring Sidharth Malhotra in the lead, will hit theatres in March this year. Besides this, KJo will soon also be collaborating with Kartik Aaryan for a film which will be directed by Sandeep Modi.