5 Honest Parenting Moments Karan Johar Shared On His Podcast This Father's Day
This Father's Day, explore 5 heartfelt parenting confessions Karan Johar made on his Audible podcast—from raising twins to redefining modern families.
This Father's Day, there's no better voice to turn to than Karan Johar—one of Bollywood's most celebrated directors, a cultural icon, and most importantly, a doting single dad. In his Audible podcast Live Your Best Life with Karan Johar, the filmmaker opens up like never before, offering tender insights into modern parenting, unconventional family structures, and the emotional minefields of raising children in the spotlight.
Episode 4 of the podcast, titled Modern Families, brings together Karan Johar, Ira Khan, Neha Dhupia, Avantika, and Durjoy Dutta in a refreshingly honest conversation. What emerges is a portrait of parenthood rooted not in convention but in compassion. As Karan rightly puts it, 'There is no one correct way of being a family as long as there is true understanding and support." Here are five moments from the podcast where he reminds us what it means to raise children with empathy, vulnerability, and joy.
1. When He Braced Himself for That Conversation With His Twins
One of the most emotional revelations came when Karan spoke about the inevitable day his twins, Yash and Roohi, would ask how they were born. 'Those questions have started," he told Masaba Gupta in an earlier episode. 'While I've been poetic so far about it with them, I've said, 'You've come from Dada's heart.'" But he knows the poetic answers won't be enough forever. 'I will have to have a chat with my twins, about how they came into this world…" he says, acknowledging the difficult—but essential—conversations ahead. For Karan, parenting is about telling the truth, gently but honestly.
2. When His Kids Roasted His Wardrobe Choices
Even a fashion-forward dad like KJo isn't immune to some playful trolling—especially from his own kids. In one hilarious anecdote, Karan shared how Yash and Roohi keep his style instincts in check. 'Dada, you look like a clown," they once declared, much to his amusement. Whether it's his mother asking him to change outfits or his kids serving savage critiques, Karan laughs it off with love. 'When I'm traveling, I miss their brutal honesty, their hugs and, most of all, the joy of our little family unit of four." It's a reminder that family grounds you—in the best (and funniest) ways.
3. When He Called Raising His Kids With His Mother 'The Best Decision" of His Life
Karan Johar has never shied away from embracing his unique parenting journey. Raising twins as a single father, with his mother Hiroo Johar by his side, hasn't been easy—but it's been rewarding. 'Raising Roohi and Yash with Mum is the single best decision I've made in my life," he says with conviction. 'Best. But it was certainly not the easiest." In a world that often defines family by rigid structures, Karan's life is a testament to what matters most: love, stability, and support, regardless of the shape it takes.
4. When He Spoke About His 'Found Family" With Deep Gratitude
Not everyone is born into the perfect family—but some are lucky enough to build one. Karan credits much of his emotional strength to the close-knit circle of friends who have become family: Gauri Khan, Farah Khan, Neha Dhupia, Shweta Bachchan, and Kajal Anand among them. 'I had no siblings, but I did have… a found family," he shares. 'My children couldn't be further from lacking 'a mother's love' – they have my mum and the endless support of my tribe." It's a powerful reminder that love is not always about biology—it's about showing up, again and again.
5. When He Tried To Be A Sports Dad (Even If Football Isn't His Thing)
Every parent has their insecurities. For Karan, it's sports. Recounting a moment with Neha Dhupia, he shared a touching story of his son Yash asking him to run a race at school. 'Why don't you run this race with me?" Yash had asked. Karan panicked—'I'll lose to my seven-year-old!" But the request hit home. 'I have to figure out how I balance my strengths and weaknesses so my children have an all-around existence," he says. From encouraging football to pushing himself out of his comfort zone, Karan is learning to parent not just with love—but with effort.
Through his podcast and personal anecdotes, Karan Johar isn't just redefining what a modern Indian family can look like—he's also dismantling the idea that fathers must be stoic, or that parenting has to follow a script. Whether it's being roasted by his kids, reflecting on single fatherhood, or honoring the role his friends play in his children's lives, Karan is living proof that love, in all its imperfect forms, is what truly builds a family.
This Father's Day, his journey is a reminder to lead with vulnerability, show up with intention, and embrace the beautiful, messy, joyful truth of being a parent.
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