April Fool Day joke or reality : Karan Johar to get married this year?

One doesn't know if it is an April Fool’s Day joke, but the Bollywood gossip is alive with the buzz that filmmaker Karan Johar, known to be a confirmed bachelor all along, is all set to tie the knot.

Johar, 38, is said to be romantically involved with New Yorkbased Vandana Melwani, 31, and may get hitched with her this year. Not much is known about Melwani, who has no Bollywood or showbiz connection, except that she has been a close friend of Johar for quite some time.

“ Vandana’s family and Karan’s family share a very good relationship and have known each other for years now. About a year ago, Karan was spotted with Vandana in New York and then in London. Vandana does not belong to the film industry and is media shy,” said a source.

Sources further said that Johar’s frequent visits to New York could also have to do with meeting Vandana. It is wellknown that the writer- filmmaker prefers to fly off to New York to write his scripts without any disturbance, away from the humdrum of Mumbai.

“ If the reports of his impending marriage are indeed true, obviously the reason for Karan’s frequent trips to New York was not just about writing,” the source said.

Our efforts to reach Johar were unsuccessful, but our source added: “ Karan always denied dating anyone and has never been linked with anyone in Bollywood. He has repeatedly said he has no issues being single and is happy to be a bachelor.

“ However it was Karan’s mother, Hiroo Johar, who has all along wanted him to settle down. While Karan has clearly said time and again that there is no urgency to get married, his family would be happy to see him tie the knot.” If all things fall in place, Johar and Melwani could have a private wedding where only a select guest list of close friends and families would be invited.

Johar has neither denied nor confirmed the reports, although a section of the press suggested that he admitted his marriage plans to Melwani in a Dubai based Bollywood magazine. Most of his close friends in the industry have expressed surprise over the report. Many others feel it is someone’s idea of a practical joke for April 1.

Only time will tell, of course.