In a candid interview with Faye D'Souza, Bollywood director Karan Johar bravely opened up about his long-standing battle with body dysmorphia. Despite his immense success in the film industry, Johar revealed that he continues to grapple with a distorted body image, a condition known as body dysmorphia. FYI, this mental health condition can be debilitating, causing sufferers to fixate on perceived flaws in their appearance, often leading to anxiety and social isolation. Karan Johar Takes a Dig at Actors Demanding High Remuneration, Says ‘Many of Them Are Not in Touch With Reality’ (Watch Video).

Johar described feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, resorting to wearing oversized clothing to mask his perceived imperfections. He shared how even moments of intimacy are impacted, with the need to turn off lights due to his anxieties. “No matter what the success you achieve, no matter who you think you are in your own head, I’m always in oversized clothes. Even if I lose the weight, and I try very hard, I’m always battling with it, but I’m always feeling I’m fat. So I don’t want you to see any part of my body," he said.  Arjun Kapoor Praises Karan Johar’s ‘Kill’, Calls It a 'Game Changer'.

Watch Karan Johar's Full Interview Below:

He further added, “Nothing has changed since I was eight. I self-body shame myself all the time. The day you feel you’re looking good…doesn’t matter what you’ve achieved. Even in situations of intimacy, I need to put the lights out. I’ve been to therapy for it. All these issues…all fester and create mental health issues. I even took medication after suffering from a panic attack.”

For the unaware, Karan has been open about his mental health, discussing it during promotions for Koffee with Karan Season 8, stating anxiety can affect anyone with or without triggers. He shared his ongoing use of medication without fear and previously addressed the topic with Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh on the show.

What is Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition that distorts perceptions and feelings about one's body and appearance. It often leads to persistent negative thoughts and emotions regarding physical appearance, significantly impacting both mental and physical well-being.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 06, 2024 02:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).