Filmmaker Karan Johar has revisited a harrowing early-career memory, admitting that working with legendary choreographer Saroj Khan on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge left him deeply shaken and emotionally scarred.
Speaking candidly in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Karan revealed that he was publicly scolded and physically pushed by Saroj Khan during the filming of the iconic song Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna, an incident he says traumatised him at the time.
Karan was working as an assistant to director Aditya Chopra on the Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol-starrer when a last-minute production crisis unfolded. According to him, the team suddenly ran out of red scarves meant for the background dancers, a requirement that was handed to him at the eleventh hour.
With more dancers than available fabric and no immediate solution in sight, Karan improvised. He approached Jojo, Saroj Khan’s assistant, and pitched what he believed was a stylish workaround.
“I, to save the situation, went to Jojo, Saroj ji’s assistant, and very cleverly said, you know, Jojo, I think accha lagega (it will look good), unko bolo, apna ek haath pocket mein rakho (tell them to keep one hand in their pockets), stylish lagega, cool lagega (it will look cool, it will look stylish). Because I didn’t have any more cloth.”
The temporary fix appeared to work until Saroj Khan arrived on set. Karan recalled that the veteran choreographer immediately sensed that something was wrong. Once she realised he was responsible for the missing scarves, her reaction was swift and furious.
Looking back on the moment, Karan said, “She literally pushed me. She said, ‘Tu jahaan jaana chaahe, ja, Goregaon ja, laal kapda la, warna main shoot nahi karungi (Go wherever you need to go, go to Goregaon, bring the red cloth, otherwise I will not shoot)’.”
What followed was a frantic scramble through Mumbai streets as Karan and others rushed to fix the mistake.
“I still remember the visual of us running on the streets of Goregaon saying, ‘laal kapda! Laal kapda! (Red cloth! Red cloth!). I was scared for my life. I was traumatised, traumatised, you know, and she was really scary.”
Despite acknowledging Saroj Khan’s unmatched brilliance, Karan admitted their relationship never warmed.
“She was the best. She somehow did not like me. She never liked me.”
Saroj Khan passed away on July 3, 2020, at the age of 71, after suffering a cardiac arrest. She had been admitted to Mumbai’s Guru Nanak Hospital a month earlier after complaining of breathing difficulties.
On the professional front, Karan Johar has had a mixed run recently. His latest production, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, starring Ananya Panday and Kartik Aaryan, failed to resonate with audiences and has earned ₹49.5 crore since its release on December 25, 2025.
He has several projects in the pipeline, including Nagzilla, a supernatural high-fantasy comedy-drama starring Kartik Aaryan and directed by Mrighdeep Singh Lamba, slated for release in August.
Another upcoming film, Chand Mera Dil, a romantic drama featuring Lakshya and Ananya Panday, is scheduled to hit theatres on April 10, 2026.
Karan also saw critical recognition last year when his home production Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, was selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars. However, despite making it to the shortlist, the film ultimately failed to secure a final nomination.