Karan Johar on kids entering Bollywood: 'I'll be too old to protect them'
Synopsis
Karan Johar — one of Bollywood’s most powerful filmmakers — says he is actively steering his twins Yash and Roohi away from the industry he built his career in, because he fears he won’t be around to protect them when it matters. It’s a rare, unguarded admission from an insider who has long been at the centre of the nepotism debate.
Key Takeaways
Karan Johar said on Koffee With Karan that he is “almost dissuading” his children from entering Bollywood .
His stated reason: “I will be too old to protect them at that time.” Kareena Kapoor Khan offered a counter-view, suggesting over-protection may itself be a problem.
Johar’s twins, Yash and Roohi , were born via surrogacy in February 2017 .
Yash is named after Karan’s late father, filmmaker Yash Johar ; Roohi is an anagram of his mother Hiroo Johar ’s name.
Filmmaker Karan Johar has revealed he is actively trying to dissuade his children from entering Bollywood, admitting that his primary fear is being too old to shield them from the industry's pressures when the time comes. The candid admission came during a recent episode of his chat show Koffee With Karan, which featured guests Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan.
What Karan Johar Said
Speaking openly about parenting and the challenges of raising children in the film world, Johar did not mince words. “Well, look, as I said, it’s not an easy place. It’s tough. I am almost dissuading my children from the business. And everybody says, ‘Why are you doing that? Why are you doing that?’” he said.
He went on to explain his reasoning plainly: “I am like, look, I will be too old to protect them at that time.” The remark underscored a rare moment of vulnerability from one of Hindi cinema’s most powerful insiders — someone whose own career is built on the very industry he is warning his children about.
Kareena Kapoor’s Counterpoint
Kareena Kapoor Khan offered a different perspective, suggesting that over-protection itself may be part of the problem. “But I feel maybe the protection is also what is causing the issue. I think sometimes we just have to, like, probably just… you know, we’re all so protective towards our children,” she said.
Kapoor Khan drew on her own upbringing, recalling how her parents encouraged a more independent approach: “I feel sometimes our parents just let us go and say, ‘Karni hai toh karo, you know, karo. You have to go and ‘ragdo’.’” Johar agreed with her sentiment before the conversation moved on to other topics.
About Karan’s Children
Johar is the father of twins Yash and Roohi, whom he welcomed via surrogacy in February 2017. Both names carry deep personal significance: Yash is named after his late father, the veteran filmmaker Yash Johar, while Roohi is an anagram of his mother Hiroo Johar’s name.
Karan himself is the son of Yash Johar and has built one of Hindi cinema’s most prominent production houses, Dharma Productions — making his reluctance to steer his children toward the industry a notably self-aware stance.
A Broader Conversation About Star Kids
Johar’s comments come amid an ongoing national conversation about nepotism and the unique pressures faced by star kids in Bollywood. His candid admission that the industry is “not an easy place” reflects a growing acknowledgement among industry insiders that fame and lineage offer no guaranteed protection from scrutiny, rejection, or mental health pressures. Notably, Johar himself has been at the centre of the nepotism debate in the past, making this self-reflective turn all the more significant.
Point of View
On-record acknowledgement that Bollywood’s pressures are real, and that lineage does not insulate anyone from them.
NationPress
5 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Karan Johar discouraging his children from joining Bollywood?
Karan Johar said he fears he will be too old to protect his children by the time they are ready to enter the film industry. He described Bollywood as ‘not an easy place’ and said the pressures that come with it concern him deeply as a parent.
Who are Karan Johar’s children?
Karan Johar has twins — a son named Yash and a daughter named Roohi — born via surrogacy in February 2017. Yash is named after his late father, filmmaker Yash Johar, while Roohi is an anagram of his mother Hiroo Johar’s name.
What did Kareena Kapoor say about Karan Johar’s parenting approach?
Kareena Kapoor Khan suggested that excessive protection may itself contribute to the challenges children face, noting that sometimes parents need to let their children figure things out independently. She recalled her own upbringing as an example of a less guarded approach.
Where did Karan Johar make these remarks?
Johar made the comments on an episode of his chat show Koffee With Karan, which featured Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan as guests.
How is Karan Johar connected to Bollywood’s insider culture?
Karan Johar is the son of veteran producer Yash Johar and heads Dharma Productions, one of Hindi cinema’s most prominent production houses. He has previously been at the centre of debates about nepotism in Bollywood, making his remarks about steering his own children away from the industry particularly noteworthy.
