Karan Johar has opened up about why he struggles with romantic commitment, after Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani called him ‘commitment phobic’ on ‘Koffee With Karan Season 9’. The filmmaker said he is happy to commit to friends and his children but pulls back the moment someone shows love interest in him.
Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani call out Karan Johar
The conversation took place in the ‘Koffee Shots’ segment, where Karan Johar asked the couple to take a shot if they had been through certain situations. As the questions turned to relationships, Sidharth Malhotra flipped the script and asked the host why his romantic connections never became long-term bonds.Sidharth asked, “Why didn’t you make it a solid relationship? You think you have commitment phobia?” Recalling Karan’s own appearance in an earlier season, he added, “I want to say on your last season of Koffee, Karan is the most commitment-phobic person I know.” Kiara quickly backed her husband, saying, “That is true.”
Karan Johar explains why he pulls away
Karan said the issue is not about commitment in general. He explained, “I can commit to friendship and parenthood, but a relationship – I don’t like anybody who likes me.”He then described how he reacts when someone expresses interest. Laughing, he said, “It comes from low self-esteem issues. The moment anybody says I am really into you. I want to spend time with you. I want to meet you. I am like, ‘Toodles!’”
What he said about relationships in 2024
This is not the first time the filmmaker has spoken about his limited relationship history. In a 2024 chat with Faye D’Souza, he shared that he had been through “one and a half relationships” in his whole life. He also explained how his thinking about companionship has changed with age.He said, “I am single and haven’t been in a relationship for a very long time. In fact, I have been in one and a half relationships in my entire life. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy my single status. I don’t think I can change it now. Forget sharing a bathroom or bedroom or your space or schedule; I think the power of your day is with you. Your responsibility is to your children and your mom; that’s about it.”
From feeling the ‘vacuum’ at 40 to no need at 50
Karan Johar admitted that he missed having a partner when he turned 40, but his feelings were different by the time he turned 50. Talking about his efforts to find someone, he said, “I did feel the vacuum when I turned 40, but when I turned 50, I felt like I didn’t want it. I am not blocking it, but now I don’t see it happening actively. I have gone through agencies, blind date situations, and met people in the country and out of the country; now if I find it well and good, I don’t feel the need for it at all.”
Karan Johar as a single parent
Karan is a single father to twins Yash and Roohi, whom he welcomed through surrogacy in 2017. He has often said that his children and his mother remain the centre of his life.
