Karan Johar on his sexuality: Shah Rukh Khan was the first man who didn't make me feel lesser

Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar

Karan Johar's association with Shah Rukh Khan goes a long way. Apart from their professional collaborations, they share a family-like relationship. Recently, the filmmaker's debut film, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, completed 25 years. Shah Rukh was the male lead. In an interview with We Are Yuva around the film's anniversary, Karan opened up about how Shah Rukh was the first person to make him feel comfortable about his sexuality.

Karan said in the interview, "He (Shah Rukh Khan) was born and brought up in a very progressive environment. He comes from theatre. He had worked with all kinds of people. My parents, perhaps, weren't able to understand things. My feminine side that was coming out so strongly was only met with laughter or with being made fun of. And then when I grew a little older, people got a little quieter about it. But I could tell whether there was a slight chitter-chatter about the way I was walking or speaking. I remember Shah Rukh Khan was the first, kind of like, man that didn't make me feel lesser for some reason. I feel like he accepted what in those days were considered being pansy, being effeminate or walking funny. He was just so cool about anything. He even had a lot of open chats with me. Whenever I had to say the biggest thing about my personality and sexuality, I spoke to him first. He was that one sense of support. Even he doesn't realise what he's been to me."

The filmmaker further added, "It's what he didn't say. It's what he didn't bring up. It's what he normalised, that I sat funny or walked funny. Whenever I said campy things, he laughed. He would hang out with me, laugh with me. It isn't what he said, it's what he didn't say. It's all that matters."

During Mid-Day's Sit With Hitlist print and podcast series, Karan revealed Shah Rukh never charges money for acting in his films. He shared, "I give him clothes, he loves clothes. With Shah Rukh, there is no such thing as a money exchange. I don't think he has ever asked me for money even for a film he has done. Whatever is given in our contracts with Shah Rukh are ‘It was a pleasure working with you, thank you so much' - and that's the contract. There is no contract. We don't have a contract with Shah Rukh."