Karan Johar's nostalgic note on pre-social media life goes viral
Synopsis
Karan Johar — one of Bollywood’s most active social media presences — paused to mourn what social media replaced. His punchy, wordplay-driven note reimagining ‘posting’, ‘scrolling’, ‘followers’, and ‘the gram’ as pre-digital concepts hit a nerve precisely because it came from the inside of the industry that profits most from those platforms.
Key Takeaways
Karan Johar shared a nostalgic note on his social media story on 15 May , longing for the pre-digital era.
The post used wordplay on terms like ‘posting’ , ‘scrolling’ , ‘followers’ , ‘likes’ , and ‘the gram’ to contrast old and new meanings.
Johar is the director of films including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai , Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham , and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani .
He heads Dharma Productions , founded by his late father Yash Johar .
Johar has hosted Koffee with Karan for nearly two decades , one of India’s longest-running celebrity chat shows.
Filmmaker and producer Karan Johar sparked widespread conversation online after sharing a heartfelt, reflective note on his social media story, expressing longing for the days before the digital age took over everyday life. The post, shared on 15 May, resonated with fans and industry watchers alike for its wry, poetic take on how social media has reshaped human interaction.
What Karan Johar Said
In his own words, Johar wrote: “Sometimes I think of those pre-social media days with love and longing…. When posting was in a letter box, when scrolling was a book or a notepad, when followers were for a worthy cause or even a guru, when likes were genuine appreciation, when the gram was just a weight and not baggage Those were the days….”
The note stood out for its layered wordplay — repurposing terms like ‘posting’, ‘scrolling’, ‘followers’, ‘likes’, and ‘gram’ to contrast their original meanings with their current digital connotations. Notably, the reflection comes from one of Bollywood’s most visible social media personalities, lending it an unmistakable irony.
The Man Behind the Moment
Karan Johar is widely regarded as one of Hindi cinema’s most influential figures — filmmaker, producer, talk show host, and entrepreneur. He made his directorial debut with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, going on to helm Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, My Name Is Khan, and most recently Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
Before directing, Johar cut his teeth as an assistant director on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the Aditya Chopra-directed blockbuster that redefined Hindi romantic cinema. He also made a brief acting appearance in the film.
Dharma Productions and the Johar Legacy
Johar heads Dharma Productions, the banner founded by his late father Yash Johar — a respected producer whose credits include Dostana, Agneepath, Duplicate, and Kal Ho Naa Ho. Under Karan’s stewardship, Dharma has grown into one of the largest and most commercially successful production houses in Indian entertainment.
Beyond the Camera
Johar has also built a parallel identity as the host of Koffee with Karan, a celebrity chat show he has anchored for nearly two decades, making it one of the longest-running and most-watched entertainment talk shows in India. On the personal front, he is a father to twins, Yash Johar and Roohi Johar.
The nostalgic post arrives at a moment when debates around social media’s impact on mental health, authenticity, and public life are louder than ever — and a filmmaker of Johar’s stature voicing such sentiments is likely to keep the conversation going.
Point of View
But it also reflects a broader fatigue among public figures who built their second careers on platforms they now find exhausting. The real question the post quietly raises is whether the entertainment industry’s deep entanglement with likes, followers, and algorithmic reach has made authenticity harder to sustain — even for those at the top.
NationPress
2 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Karan Johar write in his nostalgic social media post?
Karan Johar wrote a reflective note saying he thinks of pre-social media days ‘with love and longing’, using wordplay to contrast old meanings of words like ‘posting’, ‘scrolling’, ‘followers’, ‘likes’, and ‘the gram’ with their current digital usage. The post was shared on his social media story on 15 May.
Why did Karan Johar’s post go viral?
The post resonated widely because of its witty, layered wordplay and the irony of a major Bollywood personality — with a massive social media following — expressing nostalgia for a time before such platforms existed. It tapped into a broadly shared sentiment about digital fatigue.
What films has Karan Johar directed?
Karan Johar has directed Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, My Name Is Khan, and Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, among others. He also worked as an assistant director on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge before making his directorial debut.
What is Dharma Productions and who founded it?
Dharma Productions is one of India’s leading film production houses, originally founded by Karan Johar’s late father Yash Johar. Karan later expanded it into a major entertainment banner, producing several of Hindi cinema’s biggest commercial successes.
What is Koffee with Karan?
Koffee with Karan is a celebrity chat show hosted by Karan Johar that has been running for nearly two decades, making it one of India’s longest-running entertainment talk shows. It is known for candid conversations with Bollywood’s biggest names.
