‘Every film is a mistake’

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He is known for his larger-than-life cinema. He has given us some of the most unforgettable films of recent times. From Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Dostana, Wake Up Sid, My Name Is Khan to latest Student Of The Year. But the man behind some of the biggest blockbusters, Karan Johar, reveals that he wants to break his larger-than-life cinema image and tell stories which need to be told.
“There is a kind of generalisation that comes with my work. People believe that I represent commercial cinema. But I am trying to break that image. Though I love masala films, there are heartening stories that need to be told as well,” says Karan
No wonder, Karan’s newfound love for indie cinema has made his production house Dharma productions distribute The Lunchbox. Though the director will go behind the camera once again next year, he insists there is a dire need for big production houses to take up films like The Lunchbox.
“This film is making news all over and we have huge expectations from it back home as well. However, there are many other films that deserve to be well promoted and distributed. But since no larger production house takes note of these, they go unnoticed. It’s unlike Hollywood, which is a completely cultivated industry for such films,” puts forth Karan. And for making indie cinema noticeable in India, Karan gives credit to Anurag Kashyap. “He is the pioneer of this movement. He has taken indie cinema to another level. He is a brand now and if his name gets associated with a film people do take notice of it,” says Karan.
Ask Karan when will he make a film like The Lunchbox and he says, “Never, I can never make a film like this. I am incapable of making a film like this. In fact, envious is the word I would use. I am envious of Ritesh Batra, who made it and the fact that I am not the one who made the film,” says Karan.
Dharma productions has already launched 14 debutant directors (including Ritesh) so far. “And I am proud of all of them. The high one gets from making the first film is unmatchable. Since I cannot get that feeling again I get to learn so much from debutant directors. They all have taught me a lot and I have also tried to teach them lessons from the mistakes that I have made,” says Karan.
And what mistakes are those? “Every film is a mistake. Whenever I look back I feel Kuch Kuch Hota Hai was a ridiculous story, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham could have been at least 30 minutes shorter, Student of the Year had more emotional intensity and I had shot the end of Kal Ho Naa Ho differently. But it was my father who had insisted that SRK has to be shown dying in the end as the audience needs to cry,” says Karan.
Karan does not just make blockbusters and turn an actor into a star; he himself also has the makings of a Bollywood star. He will be facing the camera in upcoming Bombay Velvet and recently made news with his dance moves on the sets of Jhalak Dikhla Jaa. Talking about his dancing talents he says, “I am a born dancer. I just practiced for 15 minutes before the shot. I am a natural when it comes to dance,” quips Karan.
His show, Coffee With Karan, which he confesses is very close to his heart, will be on air from December. So how does he manage to do so many things? “I am a Gemini, there are two Karans in me,” comes a prompt reply. “There is one who is promoting The Lunchbox and there is another who is at the sound recording of Gori Tere Pyar Mein,” laughs Karan.
In the end Karan adds that though he is single he is waiting for a wrongly delivered dabba with a love letter for him, “So that a beautiful love story can unfold for me just like it happens for Irrfan Khan and Nimrat Kaur. I am waiting for that now.”