Karan Johar: 'Shah Rukh Khan said he'd take the bullet for me when I got a threat from the underworld'

Director-producer Karan Johar, who has delivered several hits with superstar Shah Rukh Khan, recently shed light on their intimate bond. In an interview with Mid-Day, the Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani director, who donned the hat after seven years for the Alia Bhatt-Ranveer Singh starrer, revealed how his debut directorial, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, was packed with threats from the underworld. The 51-year-old also mentioned how King Khan assured him that he would take a bullet for him at the premiere of the 1998 hit film.

SRK’s undeterred support for KJo

As part of the conversation with Mid-Day, Karan Johar revealed snippets from a ‘scary incident’ that unfolded on the premiere night of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol and Rani Mukerji. The filmmaker shared that he was hiding in a hotel room after receiving a threat from a gangster.

On Bollywood’s Baadshah being his most cherished friend, the ace director revealed how he stood by him like a rock. Karan said, “I’ll never forget how Shah Rukh brought me out. He said, ‘I’ll take the bullet for you, you just stand here’. That’s when I realised this is a forever relationship.”

Not just this, Karan Johar had previously opened up about underworld death threats during the release of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in his autobiography ‘An Unsuitable Boy’ as well.

On Underworld threats in his autobiography

Speaking in extensive detail about the threat in his 2016 autobiography, ‘An Unsuitable Boy’, Karan Johar wrote how a man from the underworld named Abu Salem called them and asked them not to release Kuch Kuch Hota hai on that particular Friday in 1998. Not just this, he also added how his mother-producer Hiroo Johar was paralysed with terror when she heard ‘we’re going to shoot him if you release this film on Friday’.

Shah Rukh Khan’s reaction to the phone call

Karan Johar also revealed Shah Rukh Khan’s reaction to the call. In ‘An Unsuitable Boy’, the filmmaker revealed that the Jawan star called up his mother Hiroo Johar and assured her that nothing would go wrong with her son.

The superstar called the entire incident ‘nonsense!’ while dragging his close friend out of the room. He said, “I’m standing here in front of you. Let’s see who shoots you. I’m standing right here.’ I said, ‘No, no, no, my mother was…’ He told my mother, ‘Nothing’s gonna happen. I’m a Pathan. Nothing can happen to me and nothing will happen to your son. He’s like my brother. Nothing’s gonna happen’.”

Professional commitments

Work wise, Karan Johar is winning accolades for the film Kill which is backed by him and Guneet Monga’s production house. Kill starring Lakshya and Raghav Juyal premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2023 recently. The 48th annual festival took place from 7 to 17 September.

Shah Rukh Khan has been basking in the historic success of his film, Atlee-helmed Jawan. At the same time, he is shooting for Rajkumar Hirani’s Dunki. The film will also star Taapsee Pannu, Boman Irani among others. The comedy drama is slated to be out around Christmas and New Year this year.