Shah Rukh Khan on Karan Johar at Unsuitable Boy launch: 'He's the most beautiful person I know'

Read all the highlights from Karan Johar’s no-holds-barred memoir An Unsuitable Boy here:

It was Shah Rukh Khan who had the most touching words of the evening. 

As he took to the stage to launch the book, he delivered an ode to his friend and colleague of many years:

“Karan’s is an extremely beautiful and important life,” SRK said. “Why ‘An Unsuitable Boy’? His autobiography could have have been titled ‘The Good Boy’. His parents would vouch for that. It ​could also be called ‘The Intelligent Boy’. Not in terms of Wikipedia knowledge, but Karan has the gift of knowing people inside out. It is very tough to keep up with me so I can say he is one of the best conversationalists (I have come across). His book could even have been titled ‘The Sensitive Boy’ — even I am very sensitive, so I know!”

“It could have been called ‘The Brave Boy’,” SRK continued. “He will remain the most beautiful boy I have ever seen in my life. After 25 years of work, and at 51 years of age, I feel I have truly arrived because there is a full chapter dedicated to me in his book.”

Karan Johar: ‘Kajol killed every bit of emotion I had for her for 25 years. She doesn’t deserve me’http://www.firstpost.com

On the subject of Kajol, however, Karan was less forthcoming. 

“I don’t want to say anything more (about her),” he told Shobhaa. “Chapters end. Books end. Relationships end.”

Shobhaa asked Karan about his equation with Shah Rukh Khan.

“I found SRK very animated and real when I met him for the first time,” Karan replied.

Karan and his father, Yash Johar, had gone to meet Shah Rukh to discuss casting him in Duplicate. 

“How SRK respected my father meant the world to me,” said Karan. “My dad started as a production assistant so his instinct made him carry the actors’ bags even when he became a huge film producer… He even asked me to lose some weight so that he could launch me!”

Karan Johar’s An Unsuitable Boy: Like his films, this book delivers solid, emotional storytellinghttp://www.firstpost.com

As Karan discussed his films with Shobhaa, the subject of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, and the infidelity it showcases, came up. Karan had this anecdote to narrate: 

“When I was watching Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji’s lovemaking scene in KANK  during a preview, a couple was sitting next to me. The man assured his wife that it is a dream sequence… As soon as they realised that it was actually happening in a KJo film, they left the hall!”

Quotable quote:

“People judge my sexuality because they think they own me, since I am in their living room every day as a TV personality.”

— Karan Johar to Shobhaa De

Manish Malhotra — one of Karan’s closest friends — stepped into the event at this time.

Next to speak was Shobhaa De. 

“Like Karan, I have always picked winners,” she began, to laughter from the audience. 

“His book is remarkably candid and courageous. He has shared his vulnerabilities and fears,” Shobhaa said.

As she took to the stage, Unsuitable Boy’s co-author and senior journalist Poonam Saxena spoke up: “Karan Johar is one of my two favourite persons to interview in the industry. It’s not tough to guess who is the other one!”

“His voice is very inviting,” she added, pointing out that Karan is the first director to write his memoirs when he’s at the peak of his career. 

“It proves he is fearless and a trend-setter,” Poonam said, quipping,. “When you read the book — kuch kuch hoga, zaroor hoga!”

The idea to get Karan Johar to write his autobiography was Shobhaa De’s. Shobhaa has her own  imprint at Penguin Books India, called ‘SDe’ which has previously brought out the memoirs of Yash Birla, and Kareena Kapoor’s style guide, among works by other celebrity writers.

True to Bollywood form, the other guests for the evening began trickling in a little over 45 minutes after the event was scheduled to start. First up was the man of the hour, Karan Johar, accompanied by mother Hiroo Johar. Karan was followed by Shah Rukh Khan, with wife Gauri.

Kapoor & Sons director Shakun Batra was among the first of the many celebrity guests to arrive at the launch.

Publishers Penguin Books India had the stage set at Taj Lands End for Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan to launch An Unsuitable Boy, on Monday evening,