Prince William Calls Karan Johar an 'Icon', Eyes K3G

Prince William has not watched a Karan Johar film yet, but he now has a starting point. In a clip shared by BBC Asian Network, the Prince of Wales called the filmmaker "an icon," credited him with helping the Earthshot Prize find its feet in India, and agreed to pass on a journalist's tip that he should watch Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. The Indian Express, ABP Live and Gulf News reported the exchange on Oct. 20, and NDTV Profit carried the same quotes. Here is what William said, how the two came to be linked, and what is still unclear.

What Prince William said

According to The Indian Express, a journalist introduced Karan Johar as one of Bollywood's "biggest directors" and asked William how it was meeting him. William first remarked that Johar was being "modest," the paper reports, and then answered: "Really cool. I mean, he's again an icon, and he's been so helpful in kind of being able to help the Earthshot prize land, well in India. We want to make it a truly Indian Earthshot Prize. It's the biggest one we've done."

NDTV Profit and ABP Live carry the same quote. ABP Live adds that William credited Johar with helping the environmental initiative connect with India, which is hosting the global ceremony for the first time this year.

The K3G nudge

The lighter moment came next. The journalist asked whether William had seen any of Johar's films, pointing out that many British viewers grew up on his classic Bollywood movies. "No, he's being very modest. But I'm sure as time goes on, he'll introduce some more films to me," William said, as quoted by The Indian Express.

She then suggested Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, which fans know as K3G. "Yeah, we all say K3G anyway. If you meet Karan again, 'Tell him, I'm going to watch your film K3G, he'll love you,'" she said, according to the paper. William's reply: "Okay got it, I'll mention that too when I see him."

It is a well-chosen title for a first watch. K3G, which Johar directed and which released in 2001, is a family drama starring Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor, as The Indian Express noted when the film turned 20. Johar said at the time that the true challenge was "justifying the icons that were cast in the film." The Prince has now used the same word for the director himself.

How the two first met on camera

This is not the first time Johar and William have appeared together. In September, the official YouTube channel of the Earthshot Prize released a video of the pair meeting in London, at a building with a view of Big Ben, The Indian Express and India Today reported at the time.

In that video, Johar pointed at the landmark and called it "spectacular." William joked, "And we organised the sunshine for you," according to The Indian Express. The two went on to talk about India's long dry spell. "Almost three to four months without any proper rain. The farmers are struggling. Our water supplies are under stress," William said, as quoted by both outlets.

Johar used the meeting to announce the venue. "You know, Mumbai, India is going to host the Earthshot Prize. We have 15 finalists and then eventually five winners on the special night on the 17th of November. Five of them will win a million pounds each for the cause that they have dedicated their lives to," he said. William replied that the Earthshot Prize has had more finalists and more winners from India than any other country.

Karan Johar's role on Nov. 17

India Today reported that Johar is set to host the sixth annual Earthshot Prize Awards Night in Mumbai on Nov. 17. The 2026 edition also includes a two-day Earthshot Prize Summit for leaders, innovators, funders and businesses, the outlet said. The previous ceremony was held in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 5, 2025.

The finalists the pair discussed on camera included Satellites on Fire and Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, according to both outlets. The awards run across five categories: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World and Fix Our Climate, The Indian Express noted.

A crowded month for Johar

The royal praise lands during a busy stretch. Koffee With Karan returned for its ninth and final season on Oct. 14, streaming on The Peacock Hub on JioHotstar, according to a JioStar announcement that says the show is ending a 22-year run. Salman Khan was the first guest. The Indian Express and Gulf News report that Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna are next on the couch.

On Oct. 19, Johar also announced Student of the Year: After Dark, a series that India TV reports will stream on JioHotstar from Nov. 13. It is directed by Reema Maya, produced by Dharmatic Entertainment and marks Shanaya Kapoor's streaming debut. Johar's caption called the new chapter "gritty, gory, unabashed and absolute madness."

What we still do not know

The October reports describe Johar's meeting with William as recent and place it in London, but none of them say whether the Prince's new comments followed the September video or a later encounter. BBC Sounds lists an Asian Network Breakfast episode released on Oct. 15 that is billed as having Prince William on the show, though the reports we read do not say exactly when the clip was recorded. Johar had not publicly responded to the K3G suggestion in the coverage we found. Whether William does watch the film before he reaches Mumbai is, for now, the most charming open question of the season.

Sources

Cover photo: Kacy Bao, Wikimedia Commons, [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Karan_Johar_at_2025_Cannes_Homebound_Photocall_1.jpg](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Karan_Johar_at_2025_Cannes_Homebound_Photocall_1.jpg) (CC BY-SA 4.0).