Veteran actress Farida Jalal, known for her memorable roles in Bollywood classics like "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge" and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai," recently opened up about her relationship with filmmaker Karan Johar and the reasons behind her absence from his recent projects. In a recent interview, Jalal expressed that she believes Johar's "loyalties shift very fast," suggesting this as a primary reason for not being cast in his films anymore.

Jalal reminisced about a time when she was an integral part of Johar's film setups, recalling the early days when his father, the late Yash Johar, would ensure that her role was written even before deciding on the protagonist. She fondly remembers Yash Johar as one of her favorite producers, a "gem of a person" who valued her presence in his films. She fondly remembers Yash Johar saying, "Dekhiye Farida, hero ka role toh baad mein likha jaata hai, aapka role pehle likha jaata hai (We write your character even before we've decided where to go with the protagonist)".

The actress first met Karan Johar on the sets of "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge," where he was assisting Aditya Chopra. They formed a close bond, and Johar often shared his aspirations of making his own films with Jalal, envisioning her, along with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, as part of his team. Jalal fondly recalls the day Johar narrated the story of "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" to her, a film she considers his best work. She was deeply moved by the film's sensitivity and Johar's meticulous approach to writing every scene, admitting that she cried during the narration.

However, Jalal revealed that their professional relationship experienced a shift after Johar took over Dharma Productions. While she appeared in his directorial debut, "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai," and later in "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham," opportunities became scarce in later years. The last time they worked together was in 2012 for "Student of the Year," where she played the role of Sidharth Malhotra's grandmother.

Jalal shared an incident where Johar called her personally to offer her the role of the grandmother in "Student of the Year," acknowledging that he knew he had "wronged" her in the past. While she appreciated the gesture, she couldn't help but feel hurt by the change in their dynamic. Despite understanding that "shifting loyalties" are common in the film industry, Jalal admitted that she was "deeply hurt" by the situation, describing it as a "deep wound" that will always hurt.

In addition to her comments on Karan Johar, Farida Jalal also revealed that she had declined a role in Nikhil Advani's "Kal Ho Naa Ho". She was offered the part of Jaya Bachchan's mother-in-law, but she found it unconvincing to play that role, considering she had recently worked with Bachchan as a contemporary in "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham". Jalal clarified that the decision was mutual, and she doesn't regret turning down the role.

Despite her disappointment, Farida Jalal remains a respected figure in the industry, recently garnering praise for her performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's web series, "Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar".