There’s an air of expectation at Dharma Productions. It’s the air of an office used to rejoicing. Their last collaborative venture 2 States has killed it at the box office. They’re expecting the same with Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. Celebrations have become a way of life for Karan Johar. Revelry is what defines Karan Johar. The past few years have seen his movies do exceedingly well. He’s emerged as a powerhouse producer. He’s made waves as a talk show host. As if all this wasn’t enough, he now ventures in front of the camera. As a antagonist in Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet, he’s supposed to have pushed the envelope once again. On the personal front, he’s moved into his palatial home, which has been done up by Riteish Deshmukh. “It’s Riteish’s first Dharma production,” he jokes. The state-of-the art home has been the talk of show town. Clearly new beginnings for the nouveau actor.
What instigated you to act?
Facing the camera is not new to me. I’ve done several cameos in the past. I’d told myself I should act in one film at least. As a director you enter that zone. You instruct your actors how to do a scene. I’m a little more animated in my instructions, many times I’ve landed up acting well while directing and sometimes I’ve acted really bad then I tell them don’t copy me. So I was always interested in acting. I thought I should do a part, that would suit my physicality, my personality. I know Anurag well. He came to my office and narrated Bombay Velvet. I gave him feedback on the script. There was an antagonist running through the film named Kaizad Khambatta. Anurag said why don’t you play Kaizad. I was like where did that come from. I was shocked but a part of me was jumping with excitement. I thought to myself where am I ever going to be offered a negative role. It’s Anurag’s movie, I have great regard for him and his vision as a director. Then there’s Ranbir (Kapoor) of whom I’m immensely fond and there’s Anushka (Sharma), I thought I’m not going to get this opportunity again, let me go ahead and do it.
So take us through the first few days of your acting stint.
We got into it when we did the look test. I had to change my look. Niharika (designer) and Anurag had a vision and I went through with it. Frankly, I’m what I’m in the film because of Anurag and Ranbir. Even Niharika made me comfortable in the clothes. I don’t wear colour in my day to day life and my character wears bright colours. I’ve a different hairstyle. It was all so unusual. The first two days of shoot were simple. I could tell Anurag was easing me into it. On the third day, I had a big scene that’s when I hit the right sur. On the second day, I remember Ranbir had to hit my head against a car window. I was like all method acting. I told Ranbir to bang it hard. At the end of the day, I had a migraine. I thought I would burst a blood vessel. I got carried away, but it was fun. It wouldn’t have been so much fun if it wasn’t for Ranbir. He realised I was in a new zone, he wanted to make me comfortable
and he went out of his way to do that for me.
And did you love facing the camera?
Yes. I love it. I love that you have to put glycerine in the eyes. I love taking that one second to check my hair in the mirror. I love it when I have to get up early morning for a shoot. I’m worried then and all these ‘hero-heroine’ thoughts run through my head. I never thought I would be doing these things. So when I walk the red carpet, or face the camera or give an interview I love it. It’s like a dream come true. Whoever thought I would work in front of the camera? Now whether you like me or not, you can’t erase me from film memory. You can’t ignore me now, I’m in your face.
You really do enjoy this na?
Yes, I was born for showbiz. I remember I was 15. And my name was announced on stage for English elocution. I was good at debates and elocution. I was a star contestant. It was my last year in school. And my teacher announced for the last time I call upon stage Karan Johar from the red house. I recited the poem and there was a huge applause. At that moment, there was a bubble in my head which said, Karan you’re going to be famous in life. I was 115 kilos. I knew I couldn’t be an actor but I knew I would be famous. I can’t forget that momen. I remember registering it and I put it out to the Universe. I carried that aura with me. I was not the best-looking guy around and I have had to combat issues. People thought I was effeminate. I would hear words like ‘pansy’ being said in my building compound or by seniors at schools. They were hurtful and I’d think what can I do to be famous. I said to myself I refuse to fade into oblivion, I need to be someone, something, somewhere. I put it out so strongly that it happened a decade later. I used to be conscious about my hands, the way I moved them. Feared people will say I am ‘girly’, they’ll call me fatty. It was like a double whammy of problems. But you have to rise above them. And then you realise you’ll be loved if you are lovable. Then it doesn’t matter if you are effeminate, or fat. After that, I stopped caring about my hands or my weight.
You’re known for your people skills today. Most industry folk talk about how you’ve been an influence on them.
Ya that’s a quality that I have. But I must tell you, I’m exhausted being myself. I’ve always been there for the people I’ve loved, whether it’s Rani (Mukerji), Shah Rukh (Khan) or Adi (Aditya Chopra). There are so many people I have great relationships with, like the entire Bachchan family. There are so many personal relationships, some which I’ve inherited from my parents. How many will last only time will tell. But when I turned 40, something within me changed. I told myself now I have to start living for myself. I have to start being, not selfish but
I have to stop being so selfless. There’s a space between being selfish and selfless. I’m trying to find that spot in the middle. So when you need me I’ll be there. I’ll always care and love you but it’s also now about me. The only arrogant statement I will make in my life is that if you lose me as your friend it is your loss. Because you are not going to find someone, who will be there for you the way I have been. I realised that while people are there for you, they don’t stop living their lives and justly so. There are directors, actors, technicians whom I’ve helped when they were struggling. And then you go to that same actor, actress or technician after they’ve made it and you realise they’re not stretching themselves for you. That hurts. So now I’ve started making it about me.
The rumours doing the round is that you and Kajol have had a fallout? Is that true?
Kajal and I have had two decades of love, friendship and affection and that will always remain.
Are you admitting there’s a problem?
Next question.
There are talks that Shah Rukh Khan and you too have drifted apart?
I hate the fact that I have to justify the immense love and respect I have for Shah Rukh. There are four people who’ve contributed to my life, my father (the late Yash Johar), Shah Rukh Khan, Yash Chopra and Adity Chopra. I’m here because of them. SRK and I haven’t worked professionally in a while but that can’t take away the immense respect and love we have for each other. We have a bonding factor, the affection he and I both have for my father. He treated my father as his own and even today he gets emotional when he talks about him. Many people have tried to put a wedge in our friendship. But it’s an unbreakable bond. There’s nothing wrong between SRK and me. Nothing can ever break our bond because I’ll never allow it and nor will he. When we hug each other, it’s genuine love and affection that transpires in that moment. He might get angry with me at different junctures. He has the right. I even told him once you’re the only human being who can slap me and I will take it. There are a few men who have emotionally replaced my father in my head and he is one of them. He has the same authority over me like he has over Aryan. He is someone whom I’ve placed on an emotional pedestal and I will never take him off that.
Coming back to your productions, you’re making a large variety of movies. Movies which are not regular Karan Johar fare.
What I have done is I’ve created resources. I designate and delegate and then stay out of the director’s path. All the movies that I’ve produced are the product of the director’s vision. I set it up and get out of there then I come on the final cut and offer my suggestions as a cinegoer and not as a filmmaker. A movie is a director’s prerogative. There are certain kind of films that I feel comfortable making. I’ve tried experimenting too. I’ve failed sometimes and sometimes succeeded. I’ve been adventurous enough to go out there and make films. I’m excited that Shashank is the 14th director we’re launching.
When a movie like 2 States does well, do you pat yourself?
Every time my directors make a successful film, I’m like well done. My instincts kick in when I meet new filmmakers. I sit in a room and in 10 minutes I can tell whether a person will deliver or not. I rely heavily on my instincts. You need to have a clean head space and you should act on your instinct. When I launched Wake Up Sid with Ayan Mukerji, people were like look at him he is just a kid. Ayan had this happy cool look, only I knew there was ambitious talent ticking inside. The same boy goes ahead and makes a Rs.180 crore blockbuster next. Similarly, during Agneepath, they said you’re remaking your fathers film. How can you make it, it’s a cult film, how will you pull it off? I have immense respect for Karan Malhotra. 2 States was a journey of a quiet boy who was my assistant. He’d developed the script on the side as an academic exercise. I’m beaming like a proud parent.
How do you look back at your last film, Student Of The Year?
Every one asks why are you making films with newcomers. Student Of The Year was the best decision of my career because it got me three stars. And they’re all doing good work. SOTY is nothing but frivolous fun, it not something to take seriously. It’s not going to shake foundation of cinema and move any movie mountains. It’s meant to be a hearty timepass glamorous movie with dance and gaana bajana. You’re supposed to go home and forget about it. I laugh when critics take it seriously. I’m not taking it seriously why are you? I had so much fun making SOTY. I made my youngest film at 40. That only makes me happy.
You think you have a finger on the audience pulse?
I always know when a film has gone wrong. When I watch it in my editing room, I know if it’s going to work or not. You can’t be blinded. When you’re blinded by your own creativity it’s death. You cannot believe that you are invincible. You have to understand and acknowledge the brilliance of others and also understand your own work. I find a lot of filmmakers being defensive about their work. I’m the first to know what’s wrong with my film. I won’t stop making mistakes but it’s important to know where you went wrong. It’s important to not be deluded in order to succeed in this industry. And that’s the most difficult part because delusion is the biggest disease and there’s no vaccine for it. The only vaccine for it is your own internal understanding of yourself. The other thing I don’t understand is how as an industry we do not acknowledge someone else’s brilliance? It doesn’t make you lesser known but inspires you to do better.
How do you deal with competition?
I get jealous all the time. When I see a great film I’m jealous, I’m envious but I acknowledge it. I’m so envious of Rajkumar Hirani’s writing. I’m like why wasn’t I given the skill to write like him. I could never be that good. I don’t know how to be that good. But am I negative about it? No… Then I feel I’m also Karan Johar. Should I behave like a fan other directors? No director is my fan. I don’t think any director has respect or cared for my work. But I don’t care because I am so happy with what I have made. I met Dibakar Banerjee for the first time and I told him that I loved his movies. All he said was ‘thank you’ and walked off. I was like he could have complimented me about liking at least one of my films. But I’m having such a great time that whether anyone likes me or not, it doesn’t bother me. At one point,
I used to surf the net, read reviews, get upset, get sad. Now I’m not bothered as long as I get validation from my audience.
Is Kareena Kapoor Khan miffed with you because of Shuddhi?
No not at all. Bebo and I are fine. How many people will have a problem with me? Bebo’s fine, there’s no problem.
Finally Where do you find the time to do so much in life?
I don’t have a personal life. That accounts for around eight hours of the day. When you don’t have a lover, spouse, wife you have eight hours free. So I put that into other things. The only person I have to worry about is my mum. And we have an understanding, so I’m sorted. Every hour of my life is dedicated to me and work is my love. It’s the only thing that won’t cheat on me, the only thing that is unconditional and also the only thing that I won’t have to get divorced from or be heartbroken about. So having a relationship with your work is the best relationship in the world because it’s on your terms. You get addicted to it and there’s no scope for heartbreak.