Karan Johar, the name is enough. The filmmaker, who started his journey in Bollywood back in 1998 with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, is considered as one of the best directors in the film industry today. But it's not just his work that brings him all the admiration, it is his honest bond with Bollywood stars that get him even more love. 

KJo, as people lovingly call him, is considered as Bollywood's most famous BFF and we all know why. From his more than two decade long friendship with Kajol and Shah Rukh Khan, to his gossip bond with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karan is probably on every celeb's speed dial. Standing tall in times of need to celebrating their achievements, he is the quintessential best friend any Bollywood celebrity 'dost' can vouch for!

Today on Karan 48th birthday, let's decipher what makes Karan Johar Bollywood's best BFF and the strong bond he shares with B-town stars! 

KAJOL

Kajol and Karan's friendship goes back in the '90s. What started on DDLJ sets and a promise by the actress, that she will star in Karan's first-ever directorial, went on to become one of the most-talked-about aspects in his life. It was a shocker for the world when KJo and Kajol witnessed some ups and downs in their relationship. In Karan's autobiography, The Unsuitable Boy (2017), KJo openly spoke about the rift between the two which developed over the years. However, soon after when Karan became a father to two kids via surrogacy, he buried the hatchet with Kajol and publicly apologized and confessed his love for the actress-friend. Now, the two are back to being the besties, but the beauty of their friendship lies in acknowledging their distances and growing above the misunderstandings.

SHAH RUKH KHAN

Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar are 'buddies for life' and there are no two ways about it. What started off as an acquaintance back in 1995 on the sets on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, went on to become one of the strongest friendships in the history of Bollywood. The two hit a rough patch in the late 2000s due to a few 'insecurities' which Karan never denied. However, nothing could shake their friendship's foundation, and films after films, his and SRK's bond became stronger than ever. Karan openly admits that his dosti with SRK is 'unbreakable' and he is more like 'family, and elder brother' to him. What more, KJo is godfather to SRK's all three kids - Aryan, Suhana and AbRam and shares a sisterly bond with the superstars' wife, Gauri Khan. 

KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN

When it comes to Bollywood friendships, there’s no one quite like this duo. Karan and Kareena have always been the unapologetic couple that isn’t really a couple! Karan openly quoted in the past, had it been, he would have married Bebo in a heartbeat, as she is 'fun, fabulous, entertaining and this is like everything that I would look for in a life partner.' However, there was a time when the two parted ways during Kal Ho Na Ho filming in 2002-03 due to monetary matters, but Bebo-KJo sorted their way out. The two are the OG gossipmongers in the fraternity and are part of one of the most sought out Whatsapp group 'Guts', exchanging all the goss. Taking their friendship forward are now their kids, Taimur Ali Khan and Yash & Roohi Johar, the toddlers whose sightings from birthday and house parties tell the tale of another generation of friendship in making. 

ADITYA CHOPRA

Karan Johar, in the last season of Koffee With Karan, had confessed that YRF honcho, filmmaker Aditya Chopra is his 'truest, best friend'. In KJo's words, he and Aditya are exactly the opposite but share a bond like no other. The two go way back as they are not only BFFs but also cousins. Karan's mother Hiroo Johar is Aditya's late father Aditya Chopra's sister. Karan had once said that Aditya is the only person in this world he never lies to. KJo also attributes landing into film direction due to Aditya, and Chopra scion being the only person in the entertainment business whose experienced advice Karan trusts. 

TWINKLE KHANNA

Karan and Twinkle Khanna are childhood and school buddies. But did you know she was the first girl KJo ever fell in love with? So much so, Twinkle refused to be a part of his debut film Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in 1998, and there's was no bad blood at all, albeit a slight heartache. The role was eventually played by Rani Mukerji but Karan retained Tina as the character’s name, Twinkle’s nickname in real-life. Tina and Karan are crazy, savage, and brutally honest together. When Twinkle made a rare appearance on Karan's Koffee show with actor-husband Akshay Kumar, she roasted KJo like never before and let the world know how close these two are, despite not making it to the paparazzi section each day, together. 

RANI MUKERJI 

Karan accidentally met Rani, who was recommended to him by Aditya Chopra to be cast in KKHH when Tina's role was turned down by almost half of the Bollywood. Since then, there has been no looking back for these two. What's best, Rani ended up marrying Karan's closest friend, Aditya, years later, and now is family. In fact, Karan was the only person from the entire Bollywood circuit who was privy to Rani and Adity's secret marriage in Italy in  2014. The two are regulars at each other's house parties, lunches, and Durga/Diwali pujas. This is another friendship in Bollywood which is deeper than it seems on the surface, and even Karan prefers to keep away that way. 

ALIA BHATT

Karan is a millennial at heart and it is not an unknown fact that he shares some of his best bonds with Gen Z stars. Alia Bhatt, whom Karan enthusiastically launched with his 2012 film Student Of The Year, went on to become his biggest 'support system'. Karan has never hesitated to confess that he considers Alia as his daughter. the actress has also, time and again, gone on record and talked about her beautiful journey with her ' second parent and mentor'. Alia had also once said that she shares everything with Karan, even things that she cannot share with her family. Before Karan's twins were born, in 2016, Karan made a candid announcement that Alia might end up inheriting some of "my properties and whatever money I’m left with."

MANISH MALHOTRA

Karan and designer Manish Malhotra recently celebrated 25 years of friendship. From taking vacations together to partying, KJo shares a mutual love for fashion with the designer. The two are an active part of each other's films and ramp shows, constant social media buddies, and bling advisors. In his autobiography, Johar wrote that he often seeks advice from Malhotra, and their association is far stronger than what the world sees.

ABHISHEK BACHCHAN 

Friends like family! That's what Karan's bond is with 'Amit uncle's' (Amitabh Bachchan) son Abhishek Bachchan. Karan had once shared that he has some of his best childhood memories with Abhishek and his sister Shweta Bachchan Nanda, and the trio used to hang out together at birthday parties with other celeb kids like Hrithik Roshan, Aditya, and Uday Chopra, Zoya and Farhan Akhtar and others. KJo revealed that while he struck a friendship with Shweta and Zoya, Abhishek was always the one to bully him. But over the years, Karan and Abhishek have had each other's back. This yaarana stays away from the gossip column, and unlike other friends of Karan, this bond the filmmaker keeps is low, personal, and away from the prying eyes of media. 

Well, one has to be super lucky to have a best friend like Karan Johar and there's no doubt about that!