Karan Johar unfollows SRK, Alia, Kareena on Instagram; still follows Priyanka
Synopsis
Karan Johar has quietly dropped Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and nearly every major Bollywood name from his Instagram following — but kept Priyanka Chopra. With no explanation offered and even Naagzilla lead Kartik Aaryan cut from the list, the move has left fans and industry watchers guessing.
Key Takeaways
Karan Johar reportedly unfollowed Shah Rukh Khan , Alia Bhatt , Kareena Kapoor Khan , Malaika Arora , and Manish Malhotra on Instagram on 28 May .
His Student of the Year trio — Alia Bhatt , Varun Dhawan , and Sidharth Malhotra — were all removed from his following list.
Kartik Aaryan , set to lead Johar's production Naagzilla , was also unfollowed.
Priyanka Chopra remains on his following list, along with Apoorva Mehta and Adar Poonawalla .
Johar now follows just 78 accounts while retaining 17 million followers.
No reason has been given for the mass unfollow; his recent production Chand Mera Dil had a lukewarm theatrical run after releasing on 22 May .
Filmmaker Karan Johar has reportedly gone on a sweeping Instagram unfollowing spree, dropping some of Bollywood's biggest names — including close friends and longtime collaborators — from his following list. The development was noticed by netizens on Thursday, 28 May, and has since set social media abuzz with speculation.
Who Got Unfollowed
Among those reportedly removed from Karan Johar's Instagram following list are Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Malaika Arora, and designer Manish Malhotra — all considered part of his inner social circle. The filmmaker has also unfollowed his Student of the Year protégés Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Sidharth Malhotra, whom he launched together in the 2012 ensemble film.
Notably, Kartik Aaryan — who is set to headline Johar's upcoming production Naagzilla — is also no longer on the filmmaker's following list, adding an unexpected dimension to the already puzzling move.
The Priyanka Chopra Exception
What has caught observers' attention is that Priyanka Chopra remains on Karan Johar's following list, despite the near-total clearout of prominent industry names. The only other notable accounts he reportedly continues to follow are Dharma Productions CEO Apoorva Mehta and business partner Adar Poonawalla.
As of the latest count, Johar's account shows him following just 78 accounts, while his own follower count stands at 17 million on the platform.
No Explanation Offered
The reason behind the mass unfollow remains unclear. Johar has not issued any statement or post addressing the development. Given his typically high social media activity — which frequently includes personal updates, Bollywood news, and glimpses of his children Roohi and Yash — the silence is conspicuous.
This comes amid a broader pattern of Bollywood celebrities periodically using social media actions to signal shifting alliances or personal distances, though attributing motive here would be speculative.
Professional Context
On the work front, Karan Johar recently produced Chand Mera Dil, starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya, which released in theatres on 22 May to mixed reviews and a lukewarm box-office opening. Notably, Ananya Panday is also among those he has unfollowed.
His next project, Naagzilla featuring Kartik Aaryan in the lead, is currently in the works. Whether the social media reshuffle has any bearing on his professional relationships remains to be seen.
Point of View
It reads as signal. What makes this unusual is the scale: dropping SRK, Kareena, Alia, and even Kartik Aaryan — the lead of his own upcoming film — in one sweep suggests either a deliberate statement or a dramatic personal reset. The Priyanka Chopra exception is the real story here; she has historically occupied a more independent orbit from the Dharma inner circle. Whether this translates into any professional fallout, or fades as a social media curiosity, will depend entirely on what Johar does — or says — next.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Karan Johar unfollow on Instagram?
Karan Johar reportedly unfollowed Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Malaika Arora, Manish Malhotra, Kartik Aaryan, and Ananya Panday, among others. The mass unfollow was noticed by netizens on 28 May.
Why did Karan Johar unfollow so many celebrities?
No reason has been offered by Karan Johar for the mass unfollow. He has not posted or commented on the development, and the motivation remains unclear as of now.
Does Karan Johar still follow Priyanka Chopra on Instagram?
Yes, Priyanka Chopra is among the few prominent names Karan Johar reportedly continues to follow, alongside Dharma Productions CEO Apoorva Mehta and business partner Adar Poonawalla.
How many accounts does Karan Johar follow now?
Following the unfollow spree, Karan Johar's Instagram account shows him following just 78 accounts, while he himself has 17 million followers on the platform.
What is Karan Johar's next project?
Karan Johar is currently working on Naagzilla, featuring Kartik Aaryan in the lead role. Notably, Kartik Aaryan is among those Johar has unfollowed despite the ongoing professional collaboration.
