The friendship between Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and filmmaker Karan Johar is legendary in the tinsel town. Spanning over two decades, their bond has been celebrated and has resulted in numerous successful collaborations. However, what many are unaware of is the incident when Karan’s life was threatened by underworld don Abu Salem shortly after his entry into the film industry. It was during this challenging time that Shah Rukh Khan displayed unwavering loyalty and stood firmly by Karan’s side, ready to take a bullet for his dear friend.
Karan Johar Receiving Life Threat & Shah Rukh’s Support:
In 1998, during the premiere of the iconic film “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,” Karan Johar received threats from the notorious underworld figure Abu Salem. As a young filmmaker, Karan was understandably shaken, and his parents, Yash, and Hiroo Johar, shared his fear for his safety. During that time it was Shah Rukh Khan who stood by his side.
In his book, “An Unsuitable Boy,” Karan Johar shared this harrowing incident and wrote, “The phone rang. My mother picked it up, and it was a call from the underworld. A man’s voice said, ‘Your son’s wearing a red T-shirt, I can see him right now. And we’re going to shoot him if you release this film on Friday. For some reason, they didn’t want the film to be released that Friday; we didn’t know why. It was a call from Abu Salem, and my mother was shaking with terror.”
Karan further added, “As I came up those nine floors, she was going through really tough moments. When I reached, she just dragged me to the room and said, ‘You have to call the cops. This call has come and they said they’re going to shoot you, they don’t want you to release your film this Friday…”
Upon learning of the threat, Shah Rukh Khan swiftly came to Karan’s aid. Another extract from the book reads, “Shah Rukh said, ‘What nonsense!’ He went inside and dragged me out. He said, ‘I’m standing here in front of you. Let’s see who shoots you. I’m standing right here.'”I said, ‘No, no, no, my mother was…’
Karan further mentioned, “He told my mother, ‘Nothing’s gonna happen. I’m a Pathan. Nothing can happen to me and nothing will happen to your son. He’s like my brother. Nothing’s gonna happen.”
This incident when Shah Rukh Khan was prepared to take a bullet for Karan Johar stands as a testament to the profound friendship they share. In the face of adversity and danger, Shah Rukh’s unwavering loyalty and fearless protection showcased the true essence of their bond. This incident is a quick reminder of the power of true friendship in today’s complicated world.
Shah Rukh Khan’s unwavering support for Karan Johar exemplifies the depth of their connection, proving that true friends are willing to go to great lengths for each other’s well-being. While this incident gives us another reason to love SRK, it also leaves us pondering – we all deserve a friend like SRK!!