Happy Birthday Karan Johar: KJo's Journey, Top Films, Upcoming Projects & More

Celebrating his 52nd birthday today on May 25, Karan Johar is a multifaceted figure in the entertainment world. Over the years, Karan has adored various hats as director, writer, producer, and has even dabbled in costume design and acting. As we celebrate his special day, let’s take a look at his journey in the entertainment industry, exploring his memorable contributions to the cinema and his exciting upcoming projects.

The Bollywood Journey

Karan Johar’s successful foray into Bollywood came in the form of his directorial debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, in 1998. The film, featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji, became an instant blockbuster and garnered numerous awards, including the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

It also established his solid professional partnership with the three superstars who headlined his first film.

Before he directed Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Karan Johar had appeared in an acting cameo as Shah Rukh Khan’s friend in Aditya Chopra’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

After the humongous success of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Karan Johar’s second film was even bigger.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) with a stellar and never-seen-before star cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, and Kareena Kapoor, solidified his reputation as a master of blockbuster cinema.

Next came Karan Johar’s Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006) and My Name Is Khan (2010), both of which achieved significant commercial and critical success. Both films were also headlined by Shah Rukh Khan.

But soon, Karan Johar ventured into new territory by launching three debutant actors — Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Siddharth Malhotra—in Student Of The Year (2012). This bold move paid off, as all three actors went on to become major stars.

In 2013, Karan Johar directed a segment of the anthology film Bombay Talkies. His subsequent directorial venture, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), starred Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Anushka Sharma, and was another feather in his cap.

Most recently, he directed Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani (2023), featuring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, which was a blockbuster.

Through his production company, Dharma Productions, Johar has delivered numerous successful films, including Dostana (2008), Agneepath (2012), 2 States (2014), Kapoor & Sons (2016), Dear Zindagi (2016), Dhadak (2018), Shershaah (2021), Gehraiyaan (2022), and Bedhadak (2023).

Beyond his film career, Karan Johar has become a beloved television personality. He is a household name thanks to his popular celebrity talk show, Koffee With Karan, and has served as a judge on reality shows like Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and India’s Got Talent

Top Movies

1. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)Written and directed by Karan Johar, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is considered one of the most evergreen romantic movies made in Hindi cinema. Apart from Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji, the film stars Salman Khan in an extended special appearance.
2. Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham (2001)Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham aka K3G, garnered widespread acclaim for its engrossing family drama. As mentioned above, the cast of the film featured Bollywood heavyweights such as Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, and Kareena Kapoor, in a conventional Indian family setting. Rani Mukerji made a memorable guest appearance.
3. Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003)Another romantic drama from Karan Johar’s production house, Kal Ho Naa Ho struck a chord with audiences and garnered positive critical feedback. Written by Karan Johar, it emerged as the highest-grossing film of the year and received numerous awards for its compelling storytelling and memorable performances, including two National Awards.
4. Agneepath (2012)Directed by Karan Malhotra and produced by Hiroo Yash Johar and Karan Johar under Dharma Productions, Agneepath (2012) is a remake of the 1990 film of the same name. The film stars Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt, Rishi Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Kanika Tiwari, Om Puri and Zarina Wahab. The film received several awards including Best Actor (Roshan) and Best Supporting Actor (Kapoor) at the 58th Filmfare Awards.
5. Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani (2023)In this Karan Johar directorial, Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt play a couple belonging to different cultural backgrounds. They decide to live with each other’s families for three months before tying the knot and mayhem ensues. Joining them are stellar actors including Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Shabana Azmi, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Churni Ganguly, Aamir Bashir, and Kshitee Jog portraying their family members.

Acting Stint

Karan’s acting journey began with a minor role in Aditya Chopra`s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). He later had cameo roles in movies such as Om Shanti Om (2007), Fashion (2008), and Luck By Chance (2009). However, his debut in a leading role came with Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet in 2015, where he portrayed the antagonist.

Upcoming Projects

Karan Johar has a bustling lineup of upcoming projects. Among them is his latest venture, Mr and Mrs Mahi, slated to release on May 31, 2024, under the banner of Dharma Productions.

Dharma Productions is gearing up for the release of Brahmastra – Part Two: Dev which will serve as a sequel to Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva (2022).

Another eagerly awaited film is Jigra, scheduled to release in September this year. The movie stars Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina and Aditya Nanda in lead roles.