Karan Johar Opens Up About Her Suffering From Body Dysmorphia

Do you ever feel like you’re not happy with the way you look in the mirror or in photos? Well, it’s mostly because of the constant need to live up to unattainable standards of beauty. This has tragically distorted our perceptions of ourselves and made us our worst critics. Celebrities, who are often seen as the epitome of perfection, are not immune to this struggle either. The constant exposure to the spotlight and the public eye makes them vulnerable to certain body image issues, including body dysmorphia. The latest to come forward with his struggle with body image issues is famed filmmaker Karan Johar.

Karan Johar Opens Up About Her Struggle With Body Dysmorphia

Karan Johar opened up about his struggle with body dysmorphia in a recent interview with Faye D’ Souza and said that despite seeking professional help, nothing has changed. “I have body dysmorphia, I find it really difficult to get into a swimming pool. I don’t know how to do that without feeling sorry for myself. I have tried really hard to overcome it. It doesn’t matter what success you achieve, it doesn’t matter who you think you are in your own head,” Karan Johar said.

BDD, or body dysmorphic disorder, is a mental health condition. You may find it difficult to live a normal life if you have BDD because of your extreme dissatisfaction with the way your body looks, according to data from John Hopkins MedicineIf someone has BDD, their reaction to these things can get out of control.

“Even when I lose weight, and I try really hard, I always struggle with it, but I always feel like I’m fat. So I don’t want you to see any part of my body,” the 52-year-old filmmaker added.

Self-body shaming is a sign of body dysmorphic disease. Despite trying multiple therapies, Johar said nothing has changed since he was eight years old. Body dysmorphia can strike you at a young age and can last a long time unless you seek help.

Read also

Johar explained the difficulty of coming to terms with his appearance: “Even in intimate situations, I have to turn off the lights. I’ve been to therapy for that. All these issues… they all fester and cause mental health issues. I’ve even taken medication after I had a panic attack.”

Also read: Body positivity and sexual confidence: how to improve your body image and sex life

Body image issues are common

According to a 2016 study published in the Journal CureusAbout two percent of the world’s population suffers from body dysmorphic disorder. While it can affect anyone, the issue or condition is more talked about when a celebrity talks about it. In the case of body dysmorphia, many celebrities, from Priyanka Chopra to Sonam Kapoor to Illeana D’cruz, have spoken openly about their body image issues.

Illeana D’Cruz has often spoken about her struggles with body image. But over the years, she’s learned to embrace her appearance. “Imperfections are a part of life and you have to learn to love yourself. You’re human and you’re allowed to be imperfect, and you’re allowed to be flawed. There’s a lot of beauty in your imperfections, in your uniqueness,” she shared.

Also read: Overcome Body Dysmorphia With These Tips

It’s not just Bollywood celebrities, the wave of Body Dysmorphic Disorder has also gripped Hollywood, with A-listers like Megan Fox, Billie Eilish, Sam Smith and many more struggling with the disorder. Megan Fox told Sports Illustrated that body dysmorphia is a constant struggle for her and that the journey to self-love will be “never-ending.”

Billie Eilish told Rolling Stone that her body dysmorphia was at its worst in dance school. The constant struggle to find confidence and feel insecure is what she calls “the height of my body dysmorphia. I couldn’t look in the mirror at all.”

Body dysmorphia can lead to health problems

Symptoms of BDD are thought to be mild at first and may become worse over time.
Body dysmorphia can be treated and it is vital to address it to prevent problems. A study published in the journal Psychology and psychiatry found that people with BDD “face debilitating problems including detecting emotions, an overreliance on detail processing, abnormal eye scanning behavior, and a tendency to overestimate attractiveness.” It was also found that if left untreated, BDD can lead to more serious mental disorders, unsupervised cosmetic surgery, or even suicide.

Body dysmorphia can lead to serious problems, including suicide. In a 2024 study published in the journal Biological psychiatryfound that people with body dysmorphic disorder are three times more likely to self-harm. Another study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that people with BDD are at greater risk of developing substance use disorders.

BDD treatment can also result in a type of remission, where your symptoms may lessen, disappear, or fade away completely. While relapses are likely, where symptoms worsen, recur, or return, therapy can help you manage BDD and limit its impact on your life.