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Karan Johar reminisces about his mom calling him 'overweight, bulky', shares his genuine weight loss approach: 'Not using Ozempic' - Featured image
Health and Fitness

Karan Johar reminisces about his mom calling him 'overweight, bulky', shares his genuine weight loss approach: 'Not using Ozempic'

Dr. Adrian Vale, MD
Reviewed by Dr. Adrian Vale, MDInternal Medicine · Board-Certified Obesity Medicine
·January 13, 2026·2 min read

On this page

  • Early Family Perspectives on Weight
  • Initiating Weight Loss in College
  • Challenges with Strict Diets
  • Health Discoveries and Dietary Adjustments
  • Upcoming Projects

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Bollywood director Karan Johar reflects on his parents' contrasting views during his youth, detailing his weight loss struggles in college through strict diets and health discoveries. He credits specific dietary changes and medication for his transformation, debunking Ozempic rumors. Health tracking apps like Shotlee can assist in monitoring such journeys.

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On this page

  • Early Family Perspectives on Weight
  • Initiating Weight Loss in College
  • Challenges with Strict Diets
  • Health Discoveries and Dietary Adjustments
  • Upcoming Projects

Early Family Perspectives on Weight

Karan remembered that his father believed he merely had temporary puppy fat as a child, while his mother openly criticized his excess weight. He explained, 'My father lived in a fantasy about me. He assumed my puppy fat would vanish, praising how attractive I was. Yet my mother would strongly disagree, telling him, 'Yash, what are you talking about? He's so overweight, so huge.'' His dad envisioned him as a leading man, but his mom would dismiss that idea, rolling her eyes and insisting he wasn't suited for it. She frequently pointed out his flaws, noting that Punjabi mothers aren't always delusional.

Initiating Weight Loss in College

Karan disclosed that his motivation to shed pounds began during his college years. He recounted realizing in college that 'all the others were significantly slimmer' than he was, which deeply unsettled him. The director also mentioned attempting the General Motors diet multiple times previously and even collapsing once due to the Atkins plan, a protein-heavy regimen.

Challenges with Strict Diets

He described, 'I followed that Atkins diet. I tried it for a full month and ended up ill. I vividly recall passing out in my Accounts lecture at college while on it. That marked the diet's end; my mother forbade it after learning about it, unaware I had been on it. It's purely protein-based, allowing things like a nine-egg cheese omelet, no carbs whatsoever. You could eat fried chicken, but it was extremely rigorous.'

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Health Discoveries and Dietary Adjustments

The filmmaker admitted he was unaware of his thyroid issue until diagnosed and prescribed treatment. Additionally, he eliminated gluten, opted for almond milk, and eliminated sugar. Through these modifications and thyroid meds, his weight decreased.

Upcoming Projects

Currently, the filmmaker has Nagzilla, starring Kartik Aaryan, and Chand Mera Dil, with Lakshya and Ananya Panday, in development. Nagzilla, a supernatural high-fantasy comedy-drama produced by Dharma Productions under Mrighdeep Singh Lamba's direction, is set for an August release this year. Meanwhile, Chand Mera Dil, a romantic drama, is planned for April 10, 2026.

Source Information

Originally published by Hindustan Times.Read the original article →

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Dr. Adrian Vale, MD — Internal Medicine · Board-Certified Obesity Medicine
Medically reviewed

Dr. Adrian Vale, MD

Internal Medicine · Board-Certified Obesity Medicine

Dr. Adrian Vale is a board-certified internal medicine physician with a clinical focus on obesity medicine and metabolic health. He reviews Shotlee guides and articles on GLP-1 medications, peptide therapy, and weight-management protocols for clinical accuracy.

View all articles reviewed by Dr. Adrian Vale, MD
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