Karan Johar's Instagram unfollow spree: 'It's a digital detox'
Synopsis
Karan Johar unfollowed nearly all of Bollywood on Instagram — Shah Rukh Khan, Alia Bhatt, Kartik Aaryan included — and reduced his following list from thousands to just 74. His explanation: a 'digital detox.' The real story is a high-profile celebrity publicly rejecting the social-media performance game he helped define.
Key Takeaways
Karan Johar unfollowed nearly all Bollywood celebrities on Instagram , including Shah Rukh Khan , Kareena Kapoor Khan , Alia Bhatt , and Malaika Arora .
Johar called the move a 'digital detox' aimed at reducing time and energy spent on the platform.
He now follows just 74 handles, down from a much larger list, despite having 17 million followers.
Priyanka Chopra , Dharma Productions CEO Apoorva Mehta , and Adar Poonawalla remained on his following list.
His latest production 'Chand Mera Dil' released on 22 May to mixed reviews; 'Naagzilla' with Kartik Aaryan is next.
Filmmaker Karan Johar sparked widespread curiosity on 28 May after he unfollowed several of Bollywood's biggest names on Instagram, including Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Malaika Arora, and designer Manish Malhotra. The mass unfollow triggered a wave of speculation online before Johar stepped in to set the record straight.
Johar's Own Explanation
Addressing the buzz through an Instagram Story, Johar was characteristically direct. 'It's a DIGITAL DETOX!!!! Am unfollowing everyone to reduce my time and energy spent on the gram!!! This can't be national news for gods sake… please clickbait something else! This is irrelevant!' he wrote, dismissing the frenzy with a note of exasperation.
Who Made the Cut — and Who Didn't
The cull was sweeping. Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, and Alia Bhatt — all proteges from his 'Student Of The Year' franchise — were removed. So was Kartik Aaryan, who is set to headline Johar's upcoming production 'Naagzilla'. Notably, Priyanka Chopra was among the very few industry names who remained on his following list. Dharma Productions CEO Apoorva Mehta and business partner Adar Poonawalla also stayed. Johar, who commands a following of 17 million, now follows just 74 handles.
The Bigger Picture
The episode underscores a growing trend among celebrities stepping back from the performative aspects of social media, even as platforms remain central to their public image. For Johar — known for his prolific Instagram presence, which regularly features updates on his children Roohi and Yash as well as Bollywood commentary — the move is a notable shift in approach.
What Johar Is Working On
On the professional front, Johar's banner Dharma Productions recently released the Ananya Panday and Lakshya-fronted romantic entertainer 'Chand Mera Dil' in cinemas on 22 May, to mixed reviews. His next production, 'Naagzilla', starring Kartik Aaryan, is in the pipeline. Whether the digital detox extends beyond Instagram or proves temporary remains to be seen.
Point of View
But it also reveals the bind celebrities face: years of curating a hyper-connected persona make any departure from it a story. The more interesting question is whether this signals a genuine recalibration of how top-tier Bollywood figures use social media, or simply a momentary reset before the next promotional cycle kicks in. Either way, the fact that a filmmaker's Instagram following list became a trending topic says as much about the media ecosystem as it does about Johar.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Karan Johar unfollow celebrities on Instagram?
Karan Johar said the mass unfollow is part of a 'digital detox' to reduce the time and energy he spends on Instagram. He addressed the speculation directly through an Instagram Story, dismissing the coverage as unnecessary.
Who did Karan Johar unfollow on Instagram?
Johar unfollowed a wide range of Bollywood names including Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Malaika Arora, Manish Malhotra, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, and Kartik Aaryan, among others.
Who is still on Karan Johar's Instagram following list?
Priyanka Chopra, Dharma Productions CEO Apoorva Mehta, and business partner Adar Poonawalla are among the few who remain on his following list. He now follows just 74 accounts in total.
What is Karan Johar's upcoming project?
Johar is producing 'Naagzilla', headlined by Kartik Aaryan. His most recent release, 'Chand Mera Dil' starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya, opened in cinemas on 22 May to mixed reviews.
How many followers does Karan Johar have on Instagram?
Karan Johar has approximately 17 million followers on Instagram. Despite this large following, he has pared back the number of accounts he follows to just 74 as part of his stated digital detox.
