Karan Johar on his personal style and iconic characters: "Pooh would have definitely had an army of sunglasses"

Few celebrities have shaped the conversation around fashion in Bollywood quite like Karan Johar. Known for his unapologetically bold style, statement-making eyewear and love for high fashion, the filmmaker has consistently used clothing as a form of self-expression. In an exclusive conversation with HELLO! India, Johar opens up about his evolving personal style, his The Devil Wears Prada-inspired eyewear collaboration with John Jacobs Eyewear, his advice for those afraid to experiment with fashion, and the one style rule he has completely stopped following.

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HELLO! India: You've always been known for making bold fashion choices. How do sunglasses help you express your personality?

Karan Johar: Okay, so here's the thing: sunglasses are not an accessory...they are an attitude. For me personally, a pair of sunglasses can completely transform a look and, more importantly, transform how you feel walking into a room. I've always believed that fashion is the armour you wear before you face the world, and sunglasses? They're the shield. They're mysterious, they're glamorous, and I think eyewear tells a story about who you are before you've even said a word.

HELLO! India: How has your approach to style evolved over the years, especially in the public eye?

Karan Johar: Earlier I was loud, maximalist, sometimes completely chaotic. But I have zero regrets because that chaos was authentic to who I was at that point. Over the years, I've arrived at this beautiful place of intentional boldness. I still love drama, I still love colour, I still believe more is more, but now it's curated drama. It's considered. I've learned that personal style is just an ongoing conversation you have with yourself, and mine has gotten a lot more interesting with age. Also, I've found incredible collaborators, designers and stylists who push me further. It's been a journey, and I'm very much still on it.

HELLO! India: You often champion individuality in fashion. What advice would you give people who are afraid to experiment with their style?

Karan Johar: I would say the fear of judgment is so much heavier than the weight of any outfit you could possibly wear. I understand the hesitation, the world can be unkind, people can be opinionated, social media can be brutal. But here's what I truly believe: no one who ever played it safe became iconic. Not in fashion, not in film, not in life. So, my advice would be to start small if you must. One bold lip, one interesting silhouette, one pair of sunglasses that make you feel like you're walking a runway even if you're just going to buy vegetables. And then notice how it makes you feel. Because the moment clothes start making you feel something, that's when style truly begins. Wear what gives you joy. Block out everything else.

HELLO! India: If you had to style sunglasses for one of your iconic film characters, who would it be and why?

Karan Johar: I think Pooh would have quite a unique take on sunglasses. She would definitely have an army of them, one for every occasion, and those occasions would be many, I'm sure. She had a few iconic pieces in the film as well, the yellow frames with her yellow outfit in the song Deewana Hai Dekho, and I think that was quite a different piece for that era. She really never held back as a character with her fashion and shades (pun intended!), so I would definitely style sunglasses for Pooh.

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HELLO! India: You've worked with some of Bollywood's most stylish stars. Who do you think has the most distinctive eyewear game?

Karan Johar: Ranveer Singh has a bold yet classy take on eyewear. I'd want to raid that collection for sure!

HELLO! India: How do you see the relationship between fashion and self-expression evolving among younger generations?

Karan Johar: Gen Z are using clothes to communicate identity, emotion and community. It's no longer just about aesthetics, it's about meaning. Social media has obviously played a massive role. When a kid in a small town can access the same references as someone in Paris or New York, the democratisation of fashion becomes real. I think what's coming is even more personal, even more fluid. Fashion will become less about trends and more about individual narrative.

HELLO! India: What's one fashion rule you've completely stopped following?

Karan Johar: Dressing appropriately for your age. I think a lot of us are expected to dress "sensibly" after we reach a certain age, and I refuse to do so. I think age is the most arbitrary reason to shrink yourself, and fashion is one of the most joyful forms of self-expression we have. I'm more experimental now than I was at twenty, and I intend to be even more so as I grow older.

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