Karan Johar in Red Sea International Film Festival held in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia)
At the third Red Sea International Film Festival held in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), the famous Hindi cinema producer-director Karan Johar (real name Rahul Kumar Johar, 51 years) admitted that there has never been any love story in his life, but he In most of the films, only love stories are delivered to the audience. To listen to him, a large number of Bollywood loving audience was present at Vox Cinema in Red Sea Mall, Jeddah, most of whom were Pakistani women who had watched all the films of Karan Johar. Seeing the huge crowd that gathered for him, it is clear that his stardom is no less than that of any actor or actress. His films are very popular in the Middle East countries.
He said that he is the father of two twin children and is raising them along with his 81-year-old mother. He said, “But I know what love is. I am afraid of those people who cannot find time for love.” Remember that in February 2017, Karan Johar became the father of two twins through surrogacy. He named his son Yash after his father (Yash Johar) and his daughter Roohi by inverting the name of his mother (Hiru). His father Yash Johar is a Punjabi and mother Hiru Johar is a Sindhi Hindu.
Karan Johar, started his career with blockbuster films like ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ (1998), said that seven years after ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ (2016), I have made ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’ (2023). . This May I turned 51. When I go to sleep, I think about the stories of my films, not about talk shows.
Regarding his new film ‘Kill’, he said that it is probably the most violent film in the history of Hindi cinema, which I am unable to muster the courage to watch together. Don’t watch it on an empty stomach otherwise you won’t be able to eat after watching the movie. This year, this film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and it is said that it was very much liked there. Remember that Karan Johar has produced it with Guneet Monga and the director is Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt. In ‘Kill’, a gang of robbers attacks the Rajdhani Express train going from Ranchi to Delhi at midnight. Two commandos of the National Security Guards confront them. Then the orgy of violence that takes place in the entire train is not only horrifying but heartbreaking. Violence is nothing new in Hindi cinema, but this film tries to create a lyrical aesthetics of violence on the lines of Korean-Japanese films.
Karan Johar, while answering in Hindi on the question of nepotism in Hindi cinema, said that nothing can be a bigger lie than this. He said that for example, when he saw Alia Bhatt’s audition in his new film ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’, he found that she was the best for the role of Rani. It does not matter to him whose daughter (Mahesh Bhatt) she is and which family she comes from. He said that till now he has given opportunities in films to more than thirty people. It’s a matter of luck that someone gets a chance and someone keeps waiting. He said that there has been nepotism in Hollywood also. It came to India much later. Actually, at the time of casting in cinema, you only listen to your inner voice (instinct). First of all, you make a film on your faith and trust. Recalling his father Yash Johar, he said that he used to say that people need people. We should stop worrying about success or failure and try to connect people. I am doing it right here in the cinema.
Recalling his father Yash Johar, he said that he was a film producer in the seventies. The most thankless job is that of a producer. Most of his time was spent in satisfying the ego of actors, directors and other people. He always said that failure does not matter to a person who works. Don’t listen to the outside noise, listen to your inner voice.
On the question of making a film in Hollywood outside Mumbai, Karan Johar clearly said that it is not in his control. They can make films only in Hindi. He said that my heart resides in my country India. Hindi is my language. I can make films only in Hindi. I will go to the whole world with that. He said that when I made ‘My Name is Khan’ (2010), I traveled to Los Angeles. Many business meetings were held with Fox Star Studio but things did not work out.
He said that he had met famous Hollywood actress Meryl Streep (age 74) for an hour and had dinner with her and he had fallen in love with her. Meryl Streep may no longer remember that meeting, but I am still obsessed with her. She is the best actress in our world. He said that once when he went to attend a fashion show of Gucci (perfume company) in Paris, a group of French spectators came near him and started shouting ‘Karan-Karan’. My film ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ was released in France a few days ago.
When asked what is the misconception around the world about Indian cinema, he said that the biggest misconception is that our films only have dancing and singing and the content is very less. This assumption is not correct. If you go into linguistic cinema, there is a plethora of content in Bengali, Malayalam, Marathi, Kannada and even Odia, Punjabi and Assamese cinema. We know how to tell stories.
On the question of NRI (immigrant) cinema, he said that there is no such cinema. We should not divide the audience into Indians and foreigners. Feelings and emotions can reach the entire world. There is no need to make a separate NRI cinema.
On the question of acting in films, he said that he tried many times but it did not work out. Last attempt was in ‘Bombay Velvet’ (2015). The director of this film, Anurag Kashyap is a great filmmaker. That film was a big disaster. I think acting is not my job.
When asked about the talk show ‘Koffee with Karan’, she said that before me, Simi Grewal (Rendezvous with Simi Grewal) and Tabassum (Phool Khile Hain Gulshan Gulshan) have been doing very popular talk shows. When I started my talk show in 2004, When I started ‘Koffee with Karan’, all my friends liked it and encouraged me. People still remember him even after 19 years. So started it again. But this is not my main work. When I sleep, I think about the story, not the talk show.
He said that Raj Kapoor and Yash Chopra are his idols. He learned a lot from them. It is also true that today film production has completely changed. When I started twenty-five years ago it wasn’t that complicated. Today new technology of camera and editing has come. There has been a digital revolution in cinema which has changed the magical experience of cinema. Now another new thing social media has come.
Often being in controversies, he said that he is a ‘troll favourite’. He is often trolled unnecessarily because he has a name and the trollers are anonymous people. I enjoy it too. But I am not afraid of criticism. I always like to meet my critics. I read reviews of my films carefully. Nowadays there is a lot of discussion about Artificial Intelligence. I feel that nothing can replace the original. Originality will always have a place in art. Therefore there is no need to panic. There is no threat to cinema from artificial intelligence.
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