Renowned Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has shared a deeply personal chapter from his teenage years, revealing he secretly underwent three years of voice and walking coaching to sound and move 'less like a girl'. The 51-year-old director made these revelations during a candid conversation with tennis star Sania Mirza on her podcast.
The Coaching That Changed His Life
Johar recalled being just 15 years old in 1989 when a public speaking coach delivered a life-altering observation. "The gentleman who ran the academy came to me after the first two sessions and said, 'You are a very bright kid but you sound like a girl'", Johar shared. The coach warned him that the world is tough on men who speak like this and offered to help develop a more baritone voice.
Reflecting on that vulnerable period, Johar explained the lack of awareness and support systems available at the time. "This was 1989. We weren't aware, there was no wokeness, there was no self-awareness or counselling to help you. It wasn't an inclusive time. You were vulnerable, scared and worried", he said, describing why he took the coach's advice seriously.
The Three-Year Secret
What followed was an intensive three-year training regimen that Johar kept completely hidden from his father, the late producer Yash Johar. "I paid for it, I went thrice a week for 2 hours each day, but I didn't tell my dad because I was so ashamed", Johar confessed. To cover his tracks, he told his father he was attending computer classes and used the money meant for those sessions to pay his voice coach.
The training wasn't limited to just voice modulation. "Three years I did voice and walking coaching because I used to walk and run like a girl", Johar revealed, highlighting the extent of his efforts to conform to societal expectations of masculinity.
The Computer Class Cover-Up Exposed
Johar's elaborate deception nearly unraveled when his father decided to test his supposed computer skills after three years. "At 19, the funniest thing happened. The computer came into my dad's office and he was like, 'You have been doing it for three years now, here is the computer'", Johar recounted. He had to confess he knew nothing about computers and quickly made an excuse to escape the situation.
Despite coming from what he described as a progressive household where his father never questioned his mannerisms and was proud of everything he did, Johar felt compelled to change himself. "I wanted to do this because that coach told me, 'You will not face the world with confidence that you need if you don't sound like a man'", he explained.
This revelation adds another layer to Johar's ongoing narrative about his struggles with identity and self-acceptance, offering fans a poignant look at the personal challenges behind his public persona.
