Karan Johar says Shah Rukh Khan made him feel comfortable with his sexuality
Moviemaker Karan Johar has credited Shah Rukh Khan with making him feel comfortable with his sexuality - insisting the actor didn't make him 'feel lesser'
Karan Johar has credited Shah Rukh Khan with making him feel comfortable with his sexuality.
The 51-year-old moviemaker - who is openly gay - has admitted his parents struggled to understand and other people would laugh or make fun of him, but he says SRK was incredibly supportive and "so cool".
During an appearance on YouTube show 'Be A Man Yaar', he said of the actor: "He was born and raised in a very progressive environment. He comes from the theatre. He had worked with all kinds of people. My parents, perhaps, weren't able to understand things. My feminine side that was coming out so strongly was only met with laughter or with being made fun of. And then when I grew a little older, people got quieter about it. But I could tell whether there was a slight chitter-chatter about the way I was walking or speaking."
He added of meeting SRK: "I remember Shah Rukh Khan was the first, kind of like, man that didn't make me feel lesser for some reason. I feel like he accepted what in those days were considered being pansy, being effeminate or walking funny. He was just so cool about anything. He even had a lot of open chats with me. Whenever I had to say the biggest thing about my personality and sexuality, I spoke to him first. He was that one sense of support. Even he doesn't realise what he's been to me."
He added: "It's what he didn't say. It's what he didn't bring up. It's what he normalised, that I sat funny or walked funny. Whenever I said campy things, he laughed. He would hang out with me, laugh with me. It isn't what he said, it's what he didn't say. It's all that matters."
