Karan Johar on Guru Purnima: 'I am here because of Adi and SRK'
Synopsis
Karan Johar's Guru Purnima post is more than nostalgia — it is a rare, unfiltered window into how two late-night conversations, one in India and one on a Swiss hilltop, built one of Bollywood's most prolific careers. Without Aditya Chopra's midnight nudge and Shah Rukh Khan's unshakeable bet on an uncertain young man, 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' might never have existed.
Key Takeaways
Karan Johar posted a Guru Purnima tribute on Instagram on 29 July crediting Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan for his career.
Aditya Chopra approached Johar at 1 am and asked him to assist on 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' just as Johar was about to leave for further studies.
Shah Rukh Khan promised Johar on a hilltop in Switzerland that he would act in his directorial debut — a promise he kept.
That debut, 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' ( 1998 ), launched a collaboration spanning films including 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...' , 'My Name Is Khan' , and 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' .
Johar wrote: 'I am here… only and only because of the both of you.'
Filmmaker Karan Johar used Guru Purnima on 29 July to pay tribute to the two men he credits with building his career — producer-director Aditya Chopra and actor Shah Rukh Khan — sharing a deeply personal Instagram post recounting two conversations that, he says, changed the course of his life.
The Midnight Call That Started It All
Johar revealed that the first turning point arrived at 1 am, when Aditya Chopra asked him to assist on the landmark film 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' (DDLJ) — at the very moment Johar was preparing to leave for further studies abroad. In his own words, Chopra told him he had to become a director and that abandoning this path would be 'a huge mistake.'
A sleepless night later, Johar went to his father and asked for 'a year on a film set.' His father's response, as Johar recalled it, was characteristically grounded: 'To be a director you need only and only Passion.' Johar wrote that he was passionate, but 'wasn't sure anyone would believe me at that point… only Adi did.'
Shah Rukh Khan's Promise on a Swiss Hilltop
The second conversation took place on a hilltop in Switzerland, where Shah Rukh Khan approached a homesick-looking Johar and told him, in his words: 'tu director banega and teri pehli film main karoonga' (you will become a director and I will do your first film). Johar admitted he initially doubted whether Khan was serious, writing that he thought Khan might be 'low on oxygen.' But Khan followed up with Johar's father once they returned to India, making good on the promise.
That first film became 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' (1998), which went on to win multiple Filmfare Awards and cement both men as defining voices of mainstream Hindi cinema.
A Friendship That Shaped Hindi Cinema
The association between Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan began in the 1990s and grew into one of the most celebrated creative partnerships in Bollywood. Their collaborations include 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...' (2001), 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' (2006), and 'My Name Is Khan' (2010), with Johar also serving as producer and writer on 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' (2003).
Johar's Guru Purnima Message
Sharing a collage of photographs with both men, Johar wrote: 'I am here with my strengths and flaws… my ups and downs… my wins and my losses… only and only because of the both of you.' He also extended the tribute beyond his personal mentors, adding a 'big shout out to every guru who has paid it forward and created careers for others… selflessly.' The post drew widespread attention from the film fraternity and fans, underscoring the enduring emotional weight of these early mentorships in shaping one of Hindi cinema's most prolific filmmakers.
Point of View
Who appears in both stories as the quiet, grounding counterweight to the filmy dramatics — and whose instinct about passion over technique proved correct. The industry celebrates the glamour of these friendships; the structural question of what happens to equally talented people who lack such mentors rarely gets the same attention.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Karan Johar post about Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan on Guru Purnima?
Karan Johar shared an Instagram post on Guru Purnima, 29 July, crediting Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan as the two people most responsible for his filmmaking career. He recalled two specific conversations with them that he described as 'life changing.'
What did Aditya Chopra say to Karan Johar that changed his life?
At 1 am, Aditya Chopra asked Johar to assist him on 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' at a time when Johar was preparing to leave for further studies. Chopra told him he had to become a director and that not pursuing the path would be 'a huge mistake.'
What promise did Shah Rukh Khan make to Karan Johar in Switzerland?
On a hilltop in Switzerland, Shah Rukh Khan told Karan Johar, 'tu director banega and teri pehli film main karoonga' — that Johar would become a director and that Khan would act in his first film. Khan followed up on this promise after they returned to India, leading to 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' (1998).
Which films did Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan make together?
Their collaborations include 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' (1998), 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham...' (2001), 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' (2006), and 'My Name Is Khan' (2010), with Johar also serving as producer and writer on 'Kal Ho Naa Ho' (2003).
What did Karan Johar's father say about his decision to pursue filmmaking?
After Johar told his father he wanted a year on a film set, his father asked whether he would work hard and follow every instruction. He then told Johar: 'To be a director you need only and only Passion.' He ultimately gave Johar his blessing to pursue the path.
