Prince William has given Karan Johar an unusually direct cultural endorsement. Speaking after an Earthshot Prize event in London, the Prince of Wales described the filmmaker as an icon and said Johar had helped the environmental initiative connect with India.
When a journalist recommended Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, William said he would mention the film next time the two meet. The exchange has pushed a 2001 Hindi film back into the international conversation.
A royal compliment, with a purpose
Johar was introduced to William as one of Bollywood’s leading filmmakers. William called the meeting “really cool” and added that Johar was “again an icon” whose assistance had helped Earthshot “land, well in India.” He also described Johar as modest.
The warmth had a strategic context. William said the ambition was to make it “a truly Indian Earthshot Prize,” calling it the biggest edition the initiative has done. The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation, recognises innovative solutions to environmental challenges; the India edition is being positioned as a larger, more localised affair.
Why K3G still resonates
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham released in 2001 and remains one of Johar’s best-known films, with an ensemble cast and a story built around family loyalty. For many British audiences it is also a familiar entry point into modern Hindi cinema. The journalist’s recommendation was not arbitrary: K3G has enough diasporic recognition to work as a bridge between a British royal audience and Hindi screen culture.
The moment is less about a new release and more about shelf life. A 25-year-old film can still be offered, in a London conversation, as the title a global figure should see next.
What to watch in November
The Earthshot Prize is being held in India for the first time. Its two-day summit will close with the award ceremony on November 17, 2026. Johar’s involvement comes as his calendar is already crowded:
- Earthshot’s first India edition ends with the award ceremony on November 17, 2026.
- Johar’s Koffee with Karan is reportedly heading into its final season, with Salman Khan expected in the opening episode.
- Student of the Year After Dark, starring Shanaya Kapoor, streams on JioHotstar from November 13, 2026.
Johar has described the new series as “gritty, gory, unabashed and absolute madness,” marking a tonal shift from the original student franchise. Actors Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna are also expected on the talk show while promoting Ranabaali.
Soft power, one screening at a time
The royal exchange works as a small lesson in soft power: an institution uses a cultural figure’s reach to make a global campaign feel local, and Bollywood gets recognition in return. For our readers, the takeaway is not just a headline about a prince and a star. It is that Hindi cinema’s older hits still carry enough public memory to be recommended, and accepted, in rooms far outside the industry.
Source: NKTV
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