New Delhi: October 16, Karan Johar commemorated 25 years since his directorial debut, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, was released in 1998, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, and Rani Mukerji. To celebrate this milestone, he engaged in an exclusive conversation with us at the Pinkvilla Masterclass, where he discussed his journey in the industry. Karan Johar reflected on the casting coup he achieved for his first film and delved into the six films he directed thereafter, exploring the realms of romance and drama. Now, after exploring these genres for the past 25 years, Karan Johar is ready to venture into the world of action as he prepares to direct his next film.
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Karan Johar on Dulhania 3
When asked about the possibility of an action film, Karan responded by saying that he believes action should be motivated by emotion. He emphasized that simply having fighting scenes without any reason behind them would not interest him. He believes that action should be a subset of a story driven by strong emotions. Karan mentioned that if he can develop a narrative that puts emotions at the forefront, the action will naturally follow. The next step would be to bring talented individuals on board for the project. Karan also expressed his thoughts on the franchise culture in the Indian film industry.
While he confirmed that a third installment of the Dulhania franchise, starring Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt, is in the works, he admitted that he is not fond of creating too many sequels. He mentioned that he doesn’t have a definite plan for these things, but expressed his excitement for making another Dulhania film since it is a unique love story franchise that they have created. So, while Karan is open to the idea of an action film and making sequels, his focus remains on creating meaningful narratives driven by strong emotions.
The director said, “We are currently in the process of creating few franchises, but I’m not willing to reveal them just now. For me, the focus is always on the story rather than creating franchises for the sake of it. I believe that many projects fail because they prioritize franchises over crafting good films. Franchises should only be made when there is a compelling story to tell, not just for the sake of continuity. Sometimes I’m advised to create sequels for commercial reasons, but I often question whether it’s fair to the audience. However, this approach seems to work in the industry, and it is successful. I’ve been approached numerous times to make a sequel to ‘Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham’ (K3G), but the story concluded where it needed to. I place more faith in well-crafted stories rather than relying on franchises and numbers.”
Karan Johar’s Work Front
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Karan Johar is currently enjoying the success of his romantic movie Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, which starred Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. The film received mostly positive reviews and did well at the box office. Karan also has several upcoming productions in the works, including Kill, Yoddha, Mr and Mrs Mahi, and Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam.
