Johar was recently at the receiving end for his comments on the lack of freedom of expression in the country.
Defending Johar, the 34-year-old "Haider" star said everyone has a view on current issues, but few decide to express and the filmmaker is one of them.
"Certain people want to express their views, certain people prefer not to express, but everybody has a view. Having said that, Karan (Johar) is somebody who has always spoken his mind. He has always expressed what he feels. So he decided to express," Shahid said in the Zee Cine Awards press conference here.
"I don't think one needs to be educated or intellectual to give views on social issues. I don't think anyone should consider themselves inadequate to speak about a current issue."
Shahid Kapoor, who is currently working on Vishal Bharadwaj's "Rangoon," will host the Zee Cine Awards 2016 with Johar.