Karan Johar slams 'don’t cry like a girl' mindset: Filmmaker opens up about gender stereotypes on Sania Mirza’s podcast

Karan Johar has never shied away from speaking his mind, especially on topics that many still hesitate to acknowledge publicly. In a new episode of Sania Mirza’s podcast Serving It Up With Sania, the filmmaker opened up about the ingrained gender stereotypes that children often absorb at home—starting with something as natural as crying.

 

Karan Johar slams 'don’t cry like a girl' mindset: Filmmaker opens up about gender stereotypes on Sania Mirza’s podcast

 

He highlighted how language used casually by parents can end up reinforcing damaging notions about gender and emotional expression. “From the very young age, you know, we say all the wrong things at home to our kids. Yeah, we say things like ‘don't cry like a girl’. It's the worst thing you can tell a child because you're immediately genderifying crying. Crying is for everyone. It doesn't matter what your gender is. Yeah, because we associate crying with a feeling of weakness, right? That is where it comes from and only boys apparently should be strong and girls should not be like that. So, like you have a boy, I have a boy as well.”

 

Johar also recalled an incident from his own family that reflected the subtle yet pervasive stereotypes children grow up around. “Basically, one time my cousin was playing cricket and she was a girl and she was playing cricket. And with her husband and Ishan, the husband just said, oh no, tell Neha Khalla not to play or you know, tell her not to play. She's a girl and Ishan turned around and said, ‘Yeah, but my mom was a girl and she was a world champion. Yeah, so but that comes from our homes where we start and how we educate them.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The filmmaker noted that such attitudes stem less from malice and more from long-standing conditioning. He emphasized that change needs to begin early, within families by dismantling narratives that dictate what boys and girls “should” or “shouldn’t” do.

 

Over the years, Johar has consistently used public platforms to address taboo or often-ignored topics—from mental health and depression to stigma around IVF and surrogacy. On the personal front, he is raising his twins Yash and Roohi, born via surrogacy, and has frequently spoken about conscious parenting and building a more emotionally open environment for them.

 

With his latest remarks, Johar adds yet another layer to the growing conversation around gender sensitivity, emotional well-being, and the need to challenge harmful clichés passed down across generations.

 

Also Read: Karan Johar to headline Marrakech International Film Festival’s Conversation series; Homebound secures gala screening

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