On May 28, 2026, fans observed something shocking – Karan Johar unfollowed almost all Bollywood celebrities on Instagram, which immediately triggered speculation about behind-the-scenes fallouts in the film world. Names that were reported to have been unfollowed were Kareena Kapoor Khan, Malaika Arora, Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sidharth Malhotra, Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday, Manish Malhotra, and Shah Rukh Khan. What made it more interesting was that Priyanka Chopra was still on Karan’s following list, adding more fuel to the online debate.
DON'T MISS
KJo Clarifies
The filmmaker was quick to dismiss the rumours. Karan Johar took to Instagram to clarify the situation, stating that it had nothing to do with personal relationships or industry feuds but was a digital detox to reduce his time and energy spent on social media. His message was blunt. “It’s a DIGITAL DETOX!!!! “I’m unfollowing everybody to spend less time and energy on the gram!!!” “This can’t be national news for god’s sake.
Why A Digital Detox Is More Than A Trend Among Celebrities
Backed by science, KJo’s move. A study published in JAMA Network Open found that a one-week social media detox significantly improved mental health, with symptoms of anxiety dropping by over 16%, depression by almost 25%, and by over 14% for insomnia. More tellingly, a 2025 study found that blocking participants’ smartphones for two weeks had a greater positive effect on mental health than antidepressants. Participants spent reclaimed time socialising in person, exercising, and being in nature.
How to Keep Your Mind Healthy in a Digital World
Mental health experts suggest easy, actionable steps. Set device-free times, such as mornings, meals, and evenings, to encourage presence and mental rest, turn off non-essential notifications to reduce stress triggers, and create spaces in your home where digital devices are simply not allowed. Weekly mini detox sessions and one longer monthly reset are ideal. Research has shown that reducing screen time can yield benefits, including better sleep, less anxiety, and improved focus.
