On the occasion of Guru Purnima, filmmaker Karan Johar shared a deeply personal note, expressing gratitude to two people he says changed the course of his life forever—director Aditya Chopra and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

Recalling a defining moment, Karan revealed that it was Aditya Chopra who convinced him to abandon his plans for higher studies and instead assist on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Despite his own doubts, Aditya firmly believed Karan was destined to become a director. Karan also remembered his late father, Yash Johar, who encouraged him to work hard but reminded him that passion alone makes a filmmaker. "Only Adi believed in me," Karan wrote, crediting the YRF boss for setting him on the path to filmmaking.

Karan then fondly remembered another life-changing conversation with Shah Rukh Khan on a hilltop in Switzerland during the shooting of DDLJ. The actor confidently told him, "Tu director banega and teri pehli film main karoonga" (You will become a director, and I'll star in your first film). Karan admitted he initially thought Shah Rukh wasn't serious, but the superstar followed through on his promise after returning to India by speaking to Yash Johar.

That promise eventually resulted in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), Karan Johar's directorial debut, which became one of Bollywood's biggest blockbusters and launched his successful career as a filmmaker.

Ending his heartfelt message, Karan thanked both Aditya Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan for believing in him long before he believed in himself. "I am here with my strengths and flaws, my ups and downs, my wins and my losses, only because of the both of you. You both are the only reason I can tell stories today," he wrote, while extending Guru Purnima wishes to every mentor who has selflessly shaped the careers of others.
 

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