Karan Johar Instagram – For @archdigestindia : The bond between Gauri Khan (@gaurikhan), who has successfully carved a career as an interior expert and Karan Johar — a director, producer, talk-show host, and author—dates back to when he, as a young assistant director on the seminal film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, struck up a friendship with Gauri and Shah Rukh Khan. In the nearly three decades since, they have seen each other through different professional paths, the birth of five children (Khan’s three and Johar’s twins), milestone celebrations, and even some personal setbacks. While “#friendslikefamily” is now a hackneyed term, Johar has long been unequivocal that Khan is and will always be his chosen family. So when Karan Johar decided that the approximately 5,500-square-foot apartment extension to his penthouse home, nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac off Bandra’s Pali Hill, needed a gut renovation, Gauri Khan was the only choice. The home with its wraparound terrace served Johar, his mother Hiroo, and his twins Roohi and Yash tremendously during the lockdown. “It’s such a vast space, and with no furniture around, the kids could run around and play. Every evening, once Roohi and Yash were done with virtual schooling, we would gather there for chai, and get in some family time.” Photography by: Ishaan Nair Words by: Priyanka Khanna Production: Harshita Nayyar Karan Johar’s team: Manager: Lenn Soubam Fashion Stylist: Eka Lakhani Assistant Stylist: Arpita Chonkar & Mayuri Srivastava Hair: Aalim Hakim Makeup: Paresh Kalgutkar Gauri Khan’s team: Hair: Rishika Chaudhry Makeup: Saba Khan