Proud of who I am: Karan Johar on his sexuality

Karan Johar says that he is not “embarrassed” but “proud” of his sexuality, asserting that it’s his orientation which defines him.

The filmmaker, who for the first time addressed the curiosity around his sexuality in his biography An Unsuitable Boy, says the book was his final answer to the world and he will not get into any further details.

“I have never expressed my sexual orientation in those many words. I have insinuated a lot and have said what I wanted to say in my book. I will never say that I’m embarrassed or ashamed to say it. I’m very proud of who I am and who I will always be. Whatever I have written in the book is the truth and I stand by every word of it,” Johar says.

The filmmaker says people criticised him for not being direct about his orientation in the book and he still gets trolled on social media for it.

“There were two kinds of criticism. First, I was asked why I didn’t make it clear what I wanted to say. And my reply to that is, ‘it’s my right’. Another criticism I faced was that people asked me why I am like this. There are so many people out there who don’t understand the concept of personal orientation. Every morning wake up to a lot of trolling on Twitter, Instagram, and on other platforms. If I post a picture with a pout then people make filthy comments,” he says.

Johar, who debuted as a director in 1998, adds that the comments used to make him angry initially but now he feels “amused”.

I have said what I wanted to say in my book (An Unsuitable Boy) and I stand by every word of it KARAN JOHAR,

FILMMAKER

PHOTO: HTCS