This is REAL story behind viral Instagram photo of Karan Johar and Prabal Gurung

Fashion designer Prabal Gurung has denied he is in a romantic relationship with filmmaker Karan Johar after a photograph of the two became viral on social media. The Nepal-born designer said he was merely joking when he caption their photo as "pyaar kiya to darna kya" (why fear when in love while wishing the filmmaker on his 47th birthday. Johar had playfully responded to the photo, saying "control yourself bhaiyya (brother)". Gurung, in his statement after the photo fiasco, said Johar is one of his dearest friends but they are not dating.

"Can we have some humour and levity please. l feel very saddened and disappointed to need to say this, but to officially set the record straight: I am not in a romantic relationship with Karan Johar. "My recent Instagram post of the two of us was done with humour and my absolute love of Bollywood, its melodramatic flair and the one and only Madhubala. It has subsequently been misconstrued as Karan and me being in a relationship," the designer wrote.

Calling Johar a "mentor", "guru" and "big brother", Gurung said he and his family rely on the filmmakers in the time of need. "To misconstrue my deep love for Karan as a romantic relationship is immature, unfounded, and frankly, very damaging in the 21st Century in this time of incredible divisiveness and othering that is happening all over the world. I have been in a happy romantic relationship for over 5 years - with someone else - not Karan," Gurung wrote.

The Dharma Productions scion who is known for his larger-than-life work in Bollywood through his films, was in New York City to spend time with his friends that included Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor who are there for some months now for the former’s treatment. The trio was joined by fashion designers Manish Malhotra and Prabal Gurung. The cryptic caption along with the location mentioned in the post attacked much attentions and follwers went bersek over if it meant something about his relationship status.

On the work front, Karan’s Dharma Productions will soon release Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Good News. Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s Brahmastra is schedules for the summers of 2020 and Sushant Singh Rajput’s Drive, will also be produced under the filmmaker’s banner.