Karan Johar took to Instagram on Thursday to explain the reason behind his unfollowing spree on Instagram. Filmmaker Karan Johar recently sent social media into overdrive after fans noticed that he had unfollowed several close friends and industry colleagues on Instagram, including Shah Rukh Khan, Ananya Panday, Kartik Aaryan, and longtime friend-designer Manish Malhotra. Amid the mounting chatter, Karan has now reacted to the frenzy and clarified the reason behind his unexpected social media clean-up.At present, Karan Johar’s Instagram account shows that he follows just 78 people. (PTI)Karan Johar clarifiesOn Thursday, eagle-eyed social media users were quick to notice Karan’s sudden unfollowing spree on Instagram, sparking a wave of curiosity and speculation online.Fans soon noticed that the filmmaker had unfollowed several celebrities. Interestingly, Priyanka Chopra continues to remain on his following list.But friends like Kareena Kapoor and Malaika Arora, and his proteges Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, and Alia Bhatt don't figure on the list of people he is following. At present, Karan Johar’s Instagram account shows that he follows just 78 people.The unexpected social media move sparked widespread speculation online. Later, Karan took to Instagram on Thursday to address the chatter and explain the reason behind his unfollowing spree.“It's a DIGITAL DETOX!!!! Am unfollowing everyone to reduce my time and energy spent on the gram!!!” Karan wrote on his Instagram Stories.The filmmaker also urged people not to turn the matter into “national news” or sensationalise his social media activity.“This can't be national news for gods sake ...please clickbait something else! This is irrelevant,” added the filmmaker.Karan Johar's Insta StoryKaran’s recent workEarlier this year, Karan made a striking debut at this year’s Met Gala 2026, wearing a lavish creation by Manish Malhotra titled “Framed in Eternity.” Fully embracing the theme “Fashion is Art,” the ensemble transformed the works of Raja Ravi Varma into a moving, wearable tapestry.Karan recently produced Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, and Chand Mera Dil under his Dharma Productions banner. The film was released in theatres on May 22. It opened to mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and viewers alike. According to trade tracking website Sacnilk, Chand Mera Dil collected around ₹2.90 crore net in India on its opening day from 4944 shows.This year, the production house is bringing out Udta Teer starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan, and Naagzilla starring Kartik Aaryan. As a director, Karan's last film was Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani in 2023. The film, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, was a box office success.Sugandha Rawal has been writing about entertainment and lifestyle for over 13 years, and if there's one thing that's kept her going, it's a genuine love for storytelling. She completed her graduation in Journalism from the University of Delhi and went on to earn her Master of Media from IP University. Beginning her career in the fast-paced environment of news wire reporting, she learned the art of accuracy, speed, and storytelling under pressure. She later expanded her horizons in print journalism, where she honed her feature-writing skills and developed a keen eye for detail and narrative depth. These days, she's firmly rooted in digital journalism, adapting and evolving with a media landscape that never sits still. Over the years, Sugandha has covered everything from Bollywood and celebrity culture to wellness trends and lifestyle shifts. She enjoys spotting the drama behind headlines, the emotion behind interviews, and the details that others might miss. When she is not chasing the latest entertainment update or lifestyle trend, you will find her observing the cultural shifts that shape the stories we consume every day.Read MoreKaran JoharManish MalhotraShah Rukh KhanPriyanka ChopraAlia BhattAnanya PandaySee Less