When filmmaker Karan Johar looks back on his childhood, one particular memory from 1981 stands out: a fashion show organized by his mother Hiroo Johar and his aunts. With no prior experience in business or fashion, the women took a leap of ambition and curated a collection with a then-upcoming designer named Abu Jani. The collection was affectionately named Alkapri, derived from the initials of his children — Alka, Karan, and Priyanka. Sharing a black-and-white picture from the event on Instagram in May this year, Karan wrote, “Memories can be therapeutic… wanted to share this indelible memory that I have… My mother and my aunts wanted me to have a clothing show (not that they had any experience in fashion or any business eye at all… but to offer them ambition…).
Zeenat Aman’s graceful presence
The highlight of the day, however, was the presence of Bollywood’s top style icon Zeenat Aman. Karan revealed that his mother asked the star to inaugurate the exhibition and she graciously agreed. In the picture, Hiroo Johar and Zeenat are seen standing side by side, with a young, wide-eyed Karan peeking between them. Looking back at the snapshot, Karan admitted, “This picture is from the exhibition day and my mother asked @theezeenataman to inaugurate it and she very graciously did so…. If you look closely, a very awestruck StarStruckand Zeenat Aman Fan has taken a picture! (Me!)”
Karan recalls sitting quietly in the corner
For Karan, that afternoon was more than just a family event; it was the beginning of a lifetime of fashion and storytelling. He recalled sitting quietly in a corner, soaking in the glamour, the conversation, and the humor of Abu Jani. “I look back and feel like that was the beginning of my love story with fashion and the fashion industry… #thisplace,” Karan confessed.
