"They taught me more than....": Karan Johar's tribute to Varun, Alia & Sidharth on Teachers day creates buzz

Karan Johar may be one of Bollywood’s most celebrated filmmakers, but on Teachers’ Day, he turned the tables and called himself the learner. Taking to Instagram Stories, Karan shared the poster of his 2012 directorial Student of the Year and wrote a note of gratitude for the film’s debutants, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and Sidharth Malhotra. “They have taught me more than they will ever know (or I will give them credit for). Love to my students who inadvertently were also my teachers,” he wrote, tagging the trio. The heartfelt confession showed just how much the journey with these actors has stayed with him.

Student of the Year: A Beginning That Changed Many Lives

Released in 2012, Student of the Year wasn’t just another campus drama. It marked the entry of three complete newcomers, and Karan made a bold decision, to treat them like stars from day one. As he recalled on Komal Nahta’s Game Changers podcast, both Sidharth and Varun had been his assistants, while Alia had walked in straight from school. Instead of treating them as debutantes, Karan told his team to handle them like “megastars.” That confidence not only boosted their spirits but also set the stage for three remarkable careers.

Where the ‘Students’ Stand Today

Thirteen years later, the three have carved out their own spaces in Bollywood. Alia Bhatt has risen to the very top, winning accolades for both mainstream blockbusters and critically acclaimed projects. Sidharth Malhotra has found success with films like Shershaah and continues to strike a balance between commercial and performance-driven roles. Varun Dhawan has built his reputation as a mass entertainer, recently expanding his range with more experimental scripts. For Karan, watching their growth has been more than just a filmmaker’s pride, it has been an emotional journey of seeing his so-called “students” become teachers, shaping his own perspective along the way.

A Bond That Goes Beyond Films

Karan Johar’s Teachers’ Day note wasn’t just nostalgia, it was a reflection of the bond he shares with Alia, Varun, and Sidharth. What started as a director nurturing newcomers has grown into a lifelong relationship of mutual respect and learning. With each of them standing strong in different phases of their careers.