Filmmaker Karan Johar talks about his struggle with body dysmorphia and feminine voice

Karan Johar recently opened up about his lifelong struggle with body dysmorphia and having a “feminine voice.” In an interview, he reflected on how these issues have shaped his self-perception and experiences, both personally and professionally.

From a young age, Karan Johar felt that he did not meet societal and family expectations. He talked about his childhood insecurities and how he was not the son his parents wanted. The filmmaker revealed in his interview with Faye D’Souza that he believed he was not like other boys as his effeminate behaviour made him feel isolated and inadequate.

Karan has a poignant memory of a talent competition during his school days. While the other boys were performing various acts, Johar chose dancing. He vividly remembers the sneers and laughter of the audience, including his mother, which devastated him. He remembers crying in his room afterwards, wondering why he couldn’t be like the other boys.


To fit in, KJo enrolled in a public speaking course. But instead of gaining confidence, he was criticized for his voice. A mentor told him that his feminine voice would make life difficult and suggested that he take voice modulation classes to develop a deeper, more traditionally masculine tone. Johar kept these classes a secret from his parents, telling them he would take computer classes instead.

Despite these efforts, the ‘Rocky Aur Rani’ director continued to struggle with body image issues. He admitted that even now he suffers from body dysmorphia, which affects his daily life and self-esteem. The filmmaker described feeling so uncomfortable and insecure about his appearance that he avoids swimming in public and prefers to wear oversized clothes to hide his body. He also shared that during intimate moments, he insists on turning off the lights due to his insecurities.

His vulnerability extended to his role as a father as well. He expressed concerns about his children Yash and Roohi, particularly Yash’s weight. Having struggled with weight issues himself, Johar is hyper-aware of his son’s body image and genetics. He confessed that he accidentally shamed Yash for being overweight during a recent vacation, a moment he immediately regretted and hopes to avoid in the future.