Prominent Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar has conducted an unexpected cleansing of his Instagram following list, removing several high-profile names from the industry including long-time collaborator Shah Rukh Khan and actress Ananya Panday. The move, noticed by eagle-eyed social media users, has triggered widespread speculation about potential rifts within the film fraternity.
Fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who has been closely associated with Johar's productions for decades, was also among those unfollowed. However, actress Priyanka Chopra remains on Johar's following list, adding to the intrigue surrounding the selective nature of this digital distancing.
Johar, who heads Dharma Productions, has maintained a decades-long professional relationship with Shah Rukh Khan, directing him in blockbusters including 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' and 'My Name is Khan'. Ananya Panday made her film debut through Dharma Productions in 2019 with 'Student of the Year 2', making the unfollow particularly noteworthy.
Neither Johar nor the affected parties have issued statements regarding the Instagram activity. Industry observers note that social media management strategies vary among celebrities, with some periodically reducing their following lists. The incident has nonetheless generated significant discussion among Indian cinema enthusiasts, particularly given the close-knit nature of Bollywood's inner circle.