Karan Johar reacts to legendary director David Dhawan’s retirement decision

Karan took to Instagram to recount his reaction when David Dhawan said that ‘Hai JawaniTohIshqHona Hai’ would be his final directorial venture.

For generations, one director in Bollywood who has always served pure entertainment to audiences consistently, especially with his ‘No. 1’ series, is David Dhawan. Recently, at the special event organized by PVR INOX to celebrate David Dhawan’s cinematic journey, the director spoke about his decisionto retire, which he personally told filmmaker Karan Johar. This moment, for Karan, turned bittersweet, as explained by him in an Instagram Story.

Karan Johar shares a sweet note for filmmaker David Dhawan.

Taking to Instagram after the event, Karan shared an emotional note reflecting on David Dhawan’s contribution to Hindi cinema. He wrote that hearing about the filmmaker’s retirement stirred mixed emotions in him because David wasn’t just another successful director; he was someone who created an entire style of commercial comedy that inspired generations of filmmakers. He wrote, “Yesterday when I went to Davidjis celebration and he told me this was going to be his last film… I had a bittersweet reaction in my heart… here’s a filmmaker who is responsible for creating and entire Genre of films… A DAVID DHAWAN film spells entertainment.” Karan added, “What must he feel saying this when he is an institution that so many filmmaker’s have taken forward as inspiration…. He is LOVED and RESPECTED and CELEBRATED by our fraternity…. There’s NO opposing that!!! Here’s to your summer blockbuster with your son …. DAVID DHAWAN NO 1 man always.”

The man behind Bollywood’s biggest comedy classics.

Over a career spanning more than four decades, David Dhawan became one of the most successful directors in the comedy genre. His films were known for their larger-than-life humour, emotional family moments, catchy music, and mass appeal. Some of his most loved films include Coolie No. 1, Hero No. 1, Raja Babu, HaseenaMaanJaayegi, MujhseShaadiKarogi, and Partner. He also created some of Bollywood’s most iconic on-screen pairings, especially with actors like Govinda, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan. For many fans who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s, David Dhawan’s films weren’t just movies; they were comfort entertainers watched repeatedly with family.

David Dhawan’s final directorial project, Hai JawaniTohIshqHona Hai, marks his fourth collaboration with VarunDhawan. The film also stars Mrunal Thakur and PoojaHegde in lead roles, alongside an ensemble cast including Mouni Roy and Maniesh Paul. It is scheduled to release in theatres on June 5.