Karan Johar and Rani Mukerji’s friendship spans decades, beginning with her casting in his directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, a film that launched not only an iconic on-screen pairing but also a lasting personal bond. Celebrating Rani Mukerji’s 30 years in the film industry, the duo recently sat down for an intimate conversation, during which Johar revealed a hilarious yet stressful behind-the-scenes story from Rani’s secret wedding to Aditya Chopra.
Rani and Aditya Chopra tied the knot in 2014 in a highly private ceremony in Italy. The wedding was kept completely confidential, with only 18 guests in attendance. According to Johar, secrecy around the event was taken extremely seriously, largely due to Aditya Chopra’s well-known insistence on privacy and control over public images.
Recalling the incident, Johar admitted he was personally warned by the groom. “I was one of the 18 people at the wedding. Aditya turned around and told me, ‘If the wedding information leaks, it will be only because of you,’” Johar said. The statement left him terrified of accidentally revealing the news and being held responsible for any leak.
At the same time, Johar was juggling professional commitments, as his film 2 States was nearing release. He needed to explain his sudden international travel to industry colleagues without revealing the real reason. “I remember I had to tell everyone I was leaving to go out of the country, but I couldn’t say why,” he shared.
The situation became even more awkward when Johar ran into Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor at the airport lounge. When asked where he was heading, Johar panicked and lied, telling them he was traveling to Manchester — while his actual destination was Italy. The lie soon caught up with him when the Kapoor brothers later learned about the wedding location. “They heard I was going to Italy and asked, ‘Tune jhooth kyu bola?’” Johar recalled, laughing.
However, behind the humour was genuine anxiety. Johar admitted he was extremely stressed throughout the trip, constantly worried that Aditya Chopra’s stern warning would come true if the news leaked. “I was petrified of being reprimanded by Aditya,” he said, adding that Chopra’s intimidating aura and concern over privacy had always kept him on edge.
Despite the tension, the wedding remained completely under wraps until the couple chose to share the news themselves. Rani Mukerji and Aditya Chopra later welcomed their daughter, Adira, in December 2015.
The revelation offers a rare glimpse into Bollywood’s most secretive wedding and highlights the lengths insiders go to protect personal moments from the public eye — even if it means lying to legendary Kapoor family members.