Karan Johar Reveals ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ Was Born From His Own Heartbreak

May 25, 2025: Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar, known for his emotional storytelling and cinematic brilliance, recently made headlines at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, where he walked the red carpet in stunning outfits. He was there for the premiere of Homebound, a film produced under his banner, along with director Neeraj Ghaywan and the star cast.

Karan, who made his directorial debut with the iconic Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998, has delivered several blockbusters like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham.., My Name Is Khan, Student of the Year, and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. But what many don’t know is that Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is more than just a film—it’s a deeply personal project inspired by his own experience with one-sided love.

On his 53rd birthday, May 25, 2025, Karan reflected on the emotional journey that led to the making of the 2016 romantic drama. In a recent appearance on Raj Shamani’s YouTube podcast Speaking with Raj Shamani, Karan revealed that the story of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil stemmed from his real-life heartbreak, which left him dealing with emotional turmoil and anxiety attacks.

Calling unrequited love the “worst feeling in the world,” Karan shared how the pain ultimately empowered him. He adopted a mindset of “reverse positive logic” to cope with the experience. Initially, he had planned to make a historical film, but after the pandemic, he yearned for happiness, which led him to pen Ae Dil Hai Mushkil instead.

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Last year, Karan shared a heartfelt Instagram post featuring behind-the-scenes pictures from the film, calling it one of his most personal projects. He wrote, “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will always be personal to me… It was all my life learnings about falling in love, dealing with unrequited love, and also how resilient we can be even when the heartbreak feels so final.”

For the uninitiated, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, written, produced, and directed by Karan Johar under Dharma Productions, stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the lead roles. The film explores themes of friendship, love, and emotional healing, and its music and performances continue to resonate with audiences even years later.