Filmmaker Karan Johar became a father to twins Yash Johar and Roohi Johar on February 7, 2017, through surrogacy. Since then, he has often been questioned about raising children as a single parent. In a conversation some months ago, the director spoke candidly about parenting his twins and the emotional impact of harsh comments on social media.
During a discussion with Barkha Dutt, Karan revealed that although he has grown accustomed to criticism over the years, one remark about his children deeply affected him. “There was a comment that said, ‘Do you realise you’ve denied your children a mother?’ That broke my heart. It made me question my decision of being a single parent,” he said.
The filmmaker admitted that the comment left him extremely emotional. “That morning I read that comment and I cried.” However, a conversation with his children soon reassured him about his decision. “I went into my children’s room. They were about five years old. I asked them, ‘Are you happy?’ They said, ‘Yes, because you’re our Dada.’ That answered my question,” Karan shared.
He also spoke about how his approach to dealing with trolls has evolved over time. Initially angry at the criticism, he later became indifferent and now even finds some of the remarks amusing.
According to him, some comments are surprisingly creative, and he wishes the same energy could be directed toward something more productive. Despite facing online negativity, Karan emphasised that his focus remains firmly on his work and family, adding that being a father to Yash and Roohi is among the most fulfilling roles in his life.
Karan has also been vocal about his long-standing struggles with body image. As a teenager, he was often teased for being overweight, something that continues to influence how he views health and appearance today. Because of this, he admits to worrying when his children gain weight, consume excessive sugar, or skip sports activities.
In an earlier conversation with Sania Mirza, Karan reflected on how social media pressures can affect young minds and how he sometimes projects his own insecurities onto his children. “I know kids in school who have Instagram accounts and already feel anxious about their looks, their bodies, and even the number of followers they have. It’s crazy, they’re just kids. When we were growing up, no one cared about what you wore or how you looked.”
