Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan’s friendship is one of Bollywood’s most enduring alliances — built on decades of mutual trust, collaboration, and camaraderie. Beyond their legendary professional partnership, the filmmaker recently opened up about their personal bond, revealing that SRK is the only actor who has never brought up money with him.
On a podcast with Komal Nahta, Karan Johar expressed his perspective on actor payments and profit-sharing. He said, “A superstar deserves a hefty fee, but they should also be part of the profit-sharing model, whether through box office performance or a percentage of profits. When a film’s budget is heavily front-loaded, recovering costs becomes harder. The current industry scenario is unpredictable — sometimes big films fail, while smaller films turn into blockbusters. Kuch bhi ho sakta hai. That’s why a top star should command a high fee, and rightfully so, but should also have a stake in the film’s success.”
Karan Johar candidly remarked, “No actor ever says, ‘My last two films didn’t work, so I’ll return part of my fee.’ Wapas toh koi deta nahin hai. Sab lete hi hai.”
When asked whether his friendships in the industry help him secure better deals, Karan was clear: “I have never benefited from my friendships with actors. They are charming and warm at parties, but when it comes to business, everyone is focused on their own interests. The one exception is Shah Rukh Khan. For me, he’s more than a colleague — he’s a collaborator, a friend, a bhai. I call him bhai. He has never discussed money with me, nor with my father, Yash Johar. He simply says, ‘Whatever you want, send the paper and I’ll sign it.’ Even when I direct a film, he doesn’t insist on hearing the script first. I just tell him, ‘Bhai, I am directing this film,’ and he replies, ‘Ok. These are my dates.’ When it comes to fees, he says, ‘Whatever you want to pay.’”
Speaking about their off-screen relationship, Karan shared a heartfelt insight: “I enjoy pampering Shah Rukh Khan the most. Whenever I go shopping, it’s instinctive for me to think, ‘Bhai ko yeh pasand aa jaayega, khareed lo.’ He also surprises me with gifts. Sometimes I’ll find a beautiful present at home and know instantly it’s from him. Then I feel like reciprocating. It’s not something we limit to birthdays — it happens all year round.”
He added, “If I’m shopping, I send him pictures asking, ‘Bhai, do you like this?’ He does the same. He’s a passionate shopper just like me — we’re both retail maniacs (laughs). What I adore about him is his love for presents. Even now, when you give him something, he reacts like an excited two-year-old. The joy on his face when opening a gift is priceless.”
This rare peek into Karan Johar’s relationship with Shah Rukh Khan reflects not just a professional bond, but a deeply personal friendship built on trust, generosity, and shared memories — one that remains unmatched in the industry.