Every Karan Johar Film, Ranked From Worst to Best
Director, writer, and producer Karan Johar’s body of work plays a foundational role in the Bollywood canon.
He brings over the top opulence, star-studded casts, unforgettable musical numbers, breathtaking destinations, and palpable chemistry to each of his projects. He knows how crucial a good conflict is to the recipe for cinematic success, and once you’ve seen one of his films, you’ll have to binge them all.
Here’s our definitive ranking of the feature films where he takes the double credit as writer and producer!
5. Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna
This film ups the ante from a love triangle to a love rhombus, asking the question, “What happens if you meet your soulmate after you’re already married to someone else?”. Dev and Maya navigate the complications that cheating, divorce, family, in-laws, and children bring to following your heart.
4. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
Ayan and Alizeh bond after catching their respective partners cheating, and begin a tragic tug of war full of jealousy and heartbreak. The film asks, “What if the person I love never loves me back?”, and the answer will keep you reaching for the Kleenex, so come to the couch prepared.
3. Student Of The Year
There’s only room for one hot guy at St. Teresa’s college until Abhimanyu and Rohan’s peacocking showdown ends in a stalemate and the two forge a friendship. This film brings the aesthetics of a 2000’s Abercrombie print ad to the big screen and asks, “What if me and my best friend fell in love with the same girl?”
2. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
This film takes the classic love triangle, and adds a tragic twist by asking, “What happens if your first love dies?”. Rahul’s daughter, Anjali, receives a letter from her deceased mother, Tina, tasking her with reuniting her father and his former best friend slash true love, who just happens to be her namesake.
1. Kabhi Khushi Khabie Gham
We’ve seen the ‘boy and girl from different social classes fall in love’ plot play out a thousand times, but this film asks, “What would you do if your adopted family didn’t approve of your partner?”. Rahul sticks by Anjali’s side, even if it means being rejected by the people he loves most. Years pass and their two younger siblings have major glow ups and decide to try and fix the mess all by themselves.