Karan Johar Picks Favourite Film Looks, Shares One Style Rule

Karan Johar has been dressing Hindi cinema’s heroes for decades, but two wardrobe moods still stay with him. In a fresh chat with Variety, he named Ranbir Kapoor’s Ayan Sanger from Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shah Rukh Khan’s Dev Saran from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna as the on-screen looks he admires most from his own filmography.

That pairing is a treat for fans. Ayan’s look was younger, artistic and a little unruly, while Dev’s was sharp, polished and quietly wounded. The common thread is character: both men wear their inner lives as much as their clothes.

The two looks he still loves

Karan Johar was asked which character wardrobes continue to impress him. He did not pick a costume epic. Instead he chose two men wrestling with love and self-worth. He told Variety he loves “the way Ayan Sanger dressed” and “the way Dev Saran dressed,” pointing to how the clothes carried each performance.

For Bollywood fans, the answer matters because KJo has always treated costume as a second script. His characters’ arcs often turn on a jacket, a kurta, or a necklace. Small wardrobe details become part of why these characters stay in memory.

His style shift: monochrome, sequins, quiet luxury

KJo’s own closet tells a similar story of evolution. He moved from monochromatic outfits to sequinned, elaborate looks, and more recently has shown interest in understated luxury—an approach that values refined, logo-light pieces over loud branding.

That latest turn is worth noting. It aligns with the bigger shift in celebrity dressing where restraint reads as confidence. For an audience that tracks every appearance, KJo’s choices often signal where the style conversation is heading.

Dress for yourself, not the world

His advice is simple. “Please dress for yourself and not for the world,” he said. He made it clear he does not endorse seeking validation through your wardrobe. That is a refreshing line from someone who has spent years on red carpets and magazine covers, and a healthy reset for anyone who dresses for the camera before themselves.

The same interview brought a personal reveal. KJo has started wearing his mother Hiroo Johar’s jewellery, especially her solitaire necklace. “She doesn’t know I have semi-stolen it from her,” he joked, adding that the piece has made its way into his wardrobe and safe.

Style notes to steal

Here’s what his comments add up to:

• Start from pieces you genuinely like, not from what will photograph well.
• Sentimental accessories can carry more meaning than a new designer purchase.
• Let your style evolve—monochrome today, sparkle tomorrow.
• If everyone on a red carpet looks the same, be the exception.

KJo also had a pointed take on event fashion. “Most people on the red carpet look exactly like the red carpet,” he said. The line is playful, but the nudge is real: a red-carpet appearance should not erase personality. Event dressing can become a uniform, and KJo clearly wants individuality to win.

Professionally, KJo last directed Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, released on July 28, 2023, with Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. The director has not announced his next film yet, but as long as he is talking style, there is plenty to enjoy.

Source: The Times of India