social-&-emotional
Why Karan Johar Took Classes to Be ‘Less Feminine’ — And What It Means for His Children
Published: 10/11/25
Updated: 28/01/26
Karan Johar is one of the most well-known filmmakers in India. He is confident, successful, and very expressive. Recently, he shared something very personal about his childhood. He said that when he was young, people used to tease him and call him too feminine. This affected him deeply. So much so that as he grew older, he actually took classes to change the way he spoke and behaved so that he would appear less feminine.
This story is not just about a Bollywood director. It is about how society treats boys and girls, how childhood experiences stay and affect even when you enter adulthood.
Growing Up With Judgement
As a child, Karan did not like sports. He loved music, films, dancing, and expressing his feelings. But the world around him believed that boys should act in a certain way. They expect boys to be rough, tough, and emotionless. When he did not fit this idea, some children made fun of him. Even some adults gave him advice that made him feel he needed to change.
He shared that one public-speaking teacher told him that his voice was too soft and that he should learn to speak like a man. He was advised to change his walk.
Imagine being a child and being told that the way you naturally are is wrong. That leaves a mark.
You may also like to read:
Taking Classes to Change Himself
Because of the society's judgment, Karan decided to take classes to change his personality. He took voice-training lessons to make his voice deeper. He took classes to walk and sit in a more masculine way. He tried to become the kind of boy society expected him to be.
But inside, he was still himself.
This is something many people experience. When the world tells us again and again that we are not right, we start believing it. We force ourselves to fit into a box, sometimes that box does not even belong to us.
Karan said that even today, those childhood memories influence him. He said that he grew up feeling like he had to constantly prove himself.
How It Affects Him as a Parent
Karan is now a father to twins - a boy and a girl. He loves them very much and wants them to grow up confident and secure. But he admits that sometimes his past experiences make him overprotective.
For example, he said he gets very anxious if someone comments on his children’s weight or appearance. Because he knows how it feels to be judged. He does not want his children to feel the pain he felt.
Boys Don’t Need to Be Less Feminine
This is a bigger issue in society that not many talk about.
Boys shouldn’t cry. Boys shouldn’t dance. Boys shouldn’t be soft or gentle.
And girls are also told they should be quiet, polite, and not too bold.
These rules are made by society. Let’s not impose them on the children. Children should be able to be who they are - whether that’s soft, loud, gentle, bold, artistic, sporty, emotional, or calm. There is no right or wrong way to be a boy or a girl.
Be the first to support
Be the first to share
